UltimateFitnessGear Archive Page
Monday, December 29, 2008
There are a number of different fitness workouts and exercises you can look into to keep fit and in shape. You can choose from everything from yoga to jogging to the treadmill. However, one form of fitness training that has quickly gained in popularity is Pilates training.

The main reason this has quickly caught on is because of the fact that it is a workout that is going to condition the entire body. Instead of spending hours focusing on each body part, you can complete a workout that will hit every part of your body. This allows you to spend an hour or so per day working out every facet of your body you want to touch.

Another reason this is such a popular fitness workout is because it is extremely portable. For most exercises, all you are going to need is a Pilates band or mat. These are easy to take with you anywhere you are going to be working out and are by no means an expensive purchase.

Pilates bands are small and lightweight making it easy for you to bring to the gym, out to the park, or down to the basement. However, you will be amazed at what type of results you can get from these small accessories. They are effective for light resistance workouts and can greatly improve conditioning and muscle tone.

These bands, which are also identified as Flex-Band or a Thera-Band, are used for many different types of fitness programs. However, there are many reasons they are popular with Pilates. They are great for lengthening major muscles and can tone your entire body. This is especially true for your abdominal muscles. Because of the extreme versatility of these bands, they can target areas of the entire body and will greatly improve flexibility and joint mobility.

As highlighted a couple of times in this article already, Pilates bands are small and easy to transport wherever you are going to be working out. However, they are also extremely cheap to purchase. You can purchase them for as low as $5 to $10 depending on the strength of resistance, which you can choose from regular to extra-strength.

If you are not completely sure on how to use these bands or are looking for further exercises, there are a number of videos you can purchase as well. This can be a great way to start your experience with Pilates and take full advantage of everything they have to offer you.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Sunday, December 28, 2008
As you begin working out and putting together a fitness schedule, it is important you give yourself goals to work toward. This can help you stay motivated and give you something to strive for. However, there are some mistakes you can make when plotting out your goals that can have an opposite effect.

The whole point of setting goals is to give yourself something to shoot for. Therefore, you do not want to make goals that anybody can achieve. If you are just getting started, you do not want to make a goal of working out twice a week for 10 minutes. Push yourself so that you get something out of your workout.

At the same time, you do not want to set unachievable goals. This is a great way to get you to quit right off the bat. You do not want to set a goal of losing 100 pounds in the first week or increasing your bench press by 200 pounds. This is where it becomes vital you find the balance between something too easy and too difficult to attain.

As you set your fitness goals, you cannot set goals that are not tangible. You want to put some kind of number on your goal whether it is you reaching a certain pant size, losing a certain amount of pounds, reaching a certain weight, or lifting a certain amount. Put a number on your goal.

Something far too many people make the mistake of doing is setting a final goal. While it is fine to set a goal to work up to, you want to include milestones along the way to achieve as well. Give yourself a goal for you to work toward in the first week, then in the first month, first few months, and a year from now. This way you always have something to strive for.

The last mistake to avoid when plotting out your goals is not giving yourself incentives. If you have nothing to work for you are going to find yourself not pushing as hard as you can. Give yourself some kind of reward after each goal you meet. The larger the goal is the bigger the reward should be.

Setting fitness goals is vital when it comes to actually accomplishing what you set out to achieve. However, you need to be cautious about the mistakes listed in this article when setting them. You can actually do more harm than good by making the mistakes noted here.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Prenatal ExerciseWhen you have been a part of a fitness program for many years it may be difficult to know what to do when you become pregnant. Many women worry whether they can keep up with a fitness regimen during pregnancy and the best thing to do is to ask your doctor about it.

Pregnancy may not be the time to start an intense program if you have not been active before now. However, there are things you can do to get started to make sure that your pregnancy will go smoothly and that your baby will stay healthy.

Within the first trimester of your pregnancy it is a good idea to stick to short exercise and to do it when the weather is cool. The reason for this is because the fetus is not able to regulate their own temperature at this time.

If you have been exercising up to the pregnancy then it is important to stay consistent with it during the pregnancy. You can safely do exercise 3-5 times a week if you are doing them for 25-30 minutes.

Staying hydrated is very important during your pregnancy because you are doing this for you and your baby. The way to tell if you are hydrated enough is to look at your urine; it should be clear like water.

Take it easy while you are stretching because you do not want to go to maximum tension or do more difficult stretching. Your joints will have more laxity when you are pregnant.

You will want to keep track of your heart rate while you are exercising and not go above 60%-70% or your regular resting heart rate. A good way to keep track is to purchase a heart monitor to make it easier. You should also know that since there are fluctuations in your body during the first two trimesters your heart rate will not be totally accurate.

It is a good idea to continue aerobic training during pregnancy to keep your heart and lungs conditioned. Activities like swimming, walking, or yoga are better than high impact when you are pregnant.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Friday, December 26, 2008
Lady doing a sit up.
Although no one dreams of growing up and having belly fat, it happens to many of us. As we begin to age our metabolism slows down greatly bringing out the gut. However, you do not have to just put up with your embarrassing belly fat. There are ways you can increase your metabolism to regain the image you have hoped for.

The first tip to help you increase your metabolism is to eat breakfast every day. It is vital you have some kind of breakfast to fire up your metabolism at the beginning of the day. It has been found that those who eat a healthy breakfast have far last weight problems and health issues than those who overlook the first meal of the day.

As you could probably guess, you want to stay away from sugar. The human body naturally digests and metabolizes this quickly converting it into fat storage. Instead of overloading your body with sugars, start feeding it complex carbohydrates that can be found in fruits, vegetables and high fiber foods.

Something few people even think about is the benefit of spicy foods. Any food that is going to make you sweat is going to raise your metabolism. Therefore, peppers, onions, salsa, and anything else you can think of is going to help you eliminate that belly fat.

The next thing to keep an eye on is your overall meal plan for the day. Some people think if they skip meals they will be doing their body good. However, skipping meals can actually lead to your metabolism slowing down. This will give you the opposite effect of what you had hoped for.

Instead of skipping meals, what you want to do is eat smaller meals. Eating five to six small meals spread out throughout the day can give your body constant supply of energy. This makes it all the more important you have a weekly menu to follow along with so that you know exactly what you will be eating and when.

As for the liquids you consume, you are probably well aware of the importance of water. Water is the lubricant that is going to keep you going and will be the liquid that will flush out toxins ad waste products from your body. You need to be consuming at least eight glasses of water per day.

Another liquid that often gets put on the back-burner is green tea. Green teal is going to boost your metabolism naturally and efficiently. So put down that cup of coffee and start putting green tea into your system.

If you are looking to eliminate your belly fat, raising your metabolism is the way to go. This article highlights many of the ways you can go about raising your metabolism to get the results you have been looking for.


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
One of the biggest excuses for why people do not workout is because of a lack of time. The problem with this excuse is everyone has more than enough time. It is all about how you are using your time. Here are a few ways you can fit exercise into your schedule that you may have overlooked.

Far too many people complain about traffic to work or they try to find the closest parking space possible to avoid having to walk. There is a solution for how you can add exercise into your daily life right there. Although you may have to leave a little earlier than usual, you will be amazed at how much exercise you can get from walking rather than driving or trying to find the closest spot.

As soon as you are at work, think of little ways that you can expand on the amount of exercise you are getting. Instead of calling a co-worker to bring a message somewhere for you, why not hand-deliver it and walk over there yourself? Elevators are another workout killer in the office. Take the time to walk up the stairs to get your heard pumping and build those leg muscles at the same time.

Another way to make the most of your work schedule is to take your breaks as the perfect opportunity to get some exercise in. Depending on how long of a break you get, you can stop by the gym for a quick run or jump in a couple of games of pick up basketball. These are times most people would lounge around and eat.

At home a great way to increase your fitness is to play with the dog. Instead of throwing a ball and playing fetch, why not take your dog for a walk or jog with them? Not only does it get them exercise, but you can benefit greatly from it as well.

Lastly, utilize your lazy television time as well. If you have shows that you enjoy watching and it is your downtime for the day, you can still benefit from this time. Few people enjoy commercials and they are always on it seems like. During these commercials, climb your stairs a few times or doe some light lifting.

As you can see, there are countless ways you can exercise regardless of how busy your schedule is. Whether it is walking instead of driving, working out on your break, or taking a jog with the dog, it is vital you realize all of the opportunities there are to make the most of your time.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Monday, December 22, 2008
Guy Running on a TreadmillWhether you are looking to walk, jog, or run, having a treadmill in your home can be a lifesaver. It can be difficult to motivate yourself to get to the gym or to run around the park. But having a treadmill in your home eliminates any of the excuses you can come up with. Here are five features you will want to look for in a treadmill.
  1. Speed
    The first thing you are going to want to look at with your treadmill is the horsepower of the motor. If you are planning on walking on your treadmill, this really is not a huge concern for you. However, if you are planning on getting up and down on the machine then you want to find one that has a high speed and a powerful motor to last you a while.


  2. Incline
    Having an incline can be beneficial to give you a varied workout from the constant straight jog or run. Treadmills will vary in the degree of incline offered. This is another feature you need to determine how important it is to you. Most are going to come with at least a 10 percent incline. However, there are some that offer as much as a 20 percent incline.


  3. Preset programs
    Preset programs can be nice for those who want a varied workout without having to change it in the middle of their run. Look to see how many programs you will have to choose from on your treadmill so that you can change from day to day. Some programs will alter the speed, some the incline, and others will change both throughout your workout.


  4. Cup holder
    Although it may seem like a small feature to look for, you will be amazed at how beneficial it can be to have a cup holder. You may be able to place your treadmill right next to a desk that you can put a water bottle on, but this is not guaranteed. Having a cup holder in the treadmill ensures that you can have water an arms length away during your work out.


  5. Warranty
    The last thing to look for as you begin shopping for a treadmill is a long warranty. While treadmills are build sturdily, you want to make sure it is going to last you several years because of the price you are going to pay. Just know that the more you initially pay on the machine the longer the warranty is going to run typically. But you want to have at least a 10 year warranty on the overall treadmill.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Sunday, December 21, 2008
It is a proven fact that a positive mindset can help one achieve great goals in life. The same is the case with weight loss. Although no one likes weight loss plans, those who keep themselves motivated are the ones who are most successful in losing weight.

No matter how proven your weight loss plan is, if you are not motivated to put it into practice it will be rendered ineffective. Weight loss motivation is a key element that distinguishes those who are successful with weight loss from those who are not. So rather than getting all worked up about your weight loss plan, how about working up some motivation?

A good weight loss plan involves two main aspects: diet and exercise. Both these aspects require motivation in order to be effectively carried out. Weight loss motivation means focusing on the benefits of diet and exercise. It helps you say “No” to a high calorie diet and enjoy your low-fat recipes. Weight loss motivation keeps you going with your exercise routine without making excuses.

Although the effectiveness of a weight loss plan can help you achieve your goals, your level of motivation can do more.

Here are some ways to motivate yourself:
  • Focus on getting fit and not on losing weight. Fitness brings a positive picture to mind whereas weight loss brings a burdensome feeling. Even if the weighing scale is not showing many results in the beginning, you will definitely feel fitter.

  • Treat yourself with some non-food things you like for every pound of weight loss. Maybe you can take a day off or buy some clothes that you always wanted.

  • Tell yourself that you will look better and will be able to wear all those clothes that you always wanted.

  • Set achievable goals and monitor your progress rather than going for a crash course diet.

  • Associate with those who have lost weight successfully. This will give you confidence that you can do it as well.

Constantly look for ways to be motivated rather than for ways to lose weight. Hypnotherapy has helped many people to be motivated to lose weight and avoid binge eating. Weight loss motivation will always help you stay focused on the solution and not on the problem.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Body Fat MonitorThere is not one of us who could not afford to lose some of that excess fat as well as those extra pounds. The best way for you to do this is by beginning, with cutting back on the amount of food that you eat as well as watching what we eat. However, when it comes to exercise that may be asking just a little much.

Many of us just do not have the time to go to the gym and we are usually too tired to even think about by the end of the day. Then there are those of us that would look extremely comical if we were dressed in spandex and going for a jog. The majority of this group would not have even an ounce of coordination left in their body, so aerobics would definitely be out of the question.

No matter what exercise programs are presented to us, the majority of us would have some really excellent excuses on why we cannot participate. However, excuses will not help you get that excess fat off your body. All of us want to look good and feel good. We just do not want to put a lot of effort into to get the results we want.

If there was an alternative way for you to get that extra fat off would you try it? There are things that all of us can do that will enable us to get that extra unwanted fat off our bodies, which will make your body, look much healthier and more importantly be fitter.

The first thing that you need to do is cut out all those sodas! Sodas can cause us to retain unwanted fluids. Do not even think about switching to diet sodas, because they all have the same effect as regular sodas on your body. Just like sodas, energy drinks are filled with unneeded sugar and caffeine. When it comes to soda, just say no!

You need to cut out sugar whenever you can. You can do this by using a sugar substitute such as Splenda, which by way does not have that nasty after taste as some substitutes have. In the place of sugar you could use honey since it is all natural it is much better for you.

Replace your sodas and sugar with green tea. Research studies have shown that green tea can help boost your metabolism, which will help your body burn unwanted fat. Since you do not have time to become in an exercise program, but you want your body to look and feel good, at least give it a try.

Another great way for you to boost your metabolism is, instead of eating three large meals during the day, start eating six small meals. No matter what you eat, it is vital that you always eat a good breakfast. Eating breakfast helps get the fat burning process started early in the day, which continues throughout the day.


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Friday, December 19, 2008
Nutritional SupplementsNutritional supplements are substances that are taken orally in order to make good the loss of essential nutrients required by the body. Nutritional supplements also provide the body with nutrients that cannot be obtained from the foods we eat.

Modern fast foods deprive us of the essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Nutritional supplements help us nourish our bodies with these essential nutrients when we cannot manage a well balanced diet. Proper nutrition helps our bodies to fight diseases and to maintain health.

Nutritional supplements are also taken for special purposes. For example, there are special supplements formulated for athletes in order to give them higher energy and avoid fatigue. Protein supplements are taken by body builders in order to build muscle mass.

Nutritional supplements do not have to be FDA approved and therefore it is important that you do some research before buying them. The internet is a good place to do some research. You can read reviews, compare prices, read about the contents of the product, and also find out about the benefits of that product.

There are many online stores that allow you to ask questions and provide testimonials of those who have benefited from the products. These supplements are also delivered at your doorstep.

Some of the nutritional supplements you will find in the market are:
  1. Multivitamins: These are recommended for those with poor eating habits. They are also recommended for pregnant women, nursing mothers and postmenopausal women. Elderly persons, vegetarians and children with poor appetites can benefit from multivitamins. They are generally rich sources of vitamin A, E, folic acid, iron and calcium.


  2. Mineral supplements: These contain specific minerals and vitamins that are beneficial for certain illnesses. For example supplements rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc and silica are available for those suffering from arthritis.


  3. Herbal supplements: These are safer to use and are easily absorbed by the body. They are a rich source of antioxidants and can energize and invigorate the body. Those who suffer from allergies can also take these supplements.

It is important that you consult a medical doctor or a certified nutritionist before you put yourself on any nutritional supplement plan.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Walking ExerciseIf you are looking for a low impact exercise that gives consistent results, walking may be the exercise for you.

Walking is a very low impact exercise. It is a great routine to start out with if you a new to exercise. It is fun, effective, and low cost.

What equipment do you need? A good pair of shoes, and that is pretty much it. You may choose to purchase special exercise clothing, but that is not mandatory, just lace up and go.

Warm up.
As with any exercise program, it is vital to warm you muscles up. To warm up, you can walk at a slow pace for three to five minutes to get your muscles warm.

Stretch
It is important to stretch after you have warmed up. You should always avoid stretching cold muscles, to prevent tearing them. Remember to start at the top of the body and work your way down when stretching. Try to stretch most, if not all, of your major muscle groups.

Cool Down
To cool down after a workout, continue your activity at a slow pace for five to ten minutes to slowly lower the temperature of the muscles. This prevents the stiffness and soreness you may sometimes feel after an exercise routine.

How fast should you walk?
Walking should be done at a brisk pace, but you should be able to carry on a conversation without being out of breath. You can test your pace by practicing the “talk test”. If you are unable to carry on a conversation you should slow your pace.

Walking has been proven to be a good overall exercise that helps to tone the body and burn calories. It is a low impact exercise that can be done by almost anyone, and is also a good maintenance exercise that helps maintain weight loss.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Workout MusicWe all know that music is a great motivator, but do you know why?

Music acts as a distraction.

Listening to music while exercising gives your mind something other to focus on than your exercise. This is especially true for runners. Listening helps to distract you from the distance still left to run. It also decreases discomfort by allowing you to focus on the music rather than pain and fatigue that can sometimes accompany your workout routine.

Listening to upbeat music contributes greatly to a positive mood while exercising.

What types of songs should you listen to?

The type of music you choose to listen to is very important, and plays a large roll in the effect that it has on your performance. You should choose music that is upbeat and associated with exercise in some way. If you are a runner you should choose music that has a similar tempo as the pace at which you run. Studies have shown that the tempo should be between 120 to 140 beats per minute. You should probably try to avoid listening to meditation music while running a 5K race.

Choose music that you like

This may seem obvious, but it is important to choose music that you actually like. If you choose music that you do not like, that will have a negative effect on your workout.

You may also want to make your play list long enough for your entire routine. That way you can tell by listening to your music how much longer you need to exercise.

Up beat music, plus exercise leads to a winning combination. Make sure your tunes are up beat, positive, likeable, and long enough to last for your entire routine. Adding music to your workout can help you stay more focused and feel happier during your workout.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Exercising PartnerWe all know that exercising alone can get boring at times. What better way to keep the momentum going than to find an exercise partner.

When searching for your partner, you may want to consider teaming up with your spouse. If you both have weight loss and fitness goals this can be a great way to stay motivated. If the thought of having you significant other as your exercise partner is a little frightening, ask a friend to be your exercise buddy.

Being held accountable for your progress is very motivating when it comes to fitness. Finding an exercise buddy can help tremendously with that. Working out together not only keeps you accountable, but also helps to keep you motivated.

Everyone goes through “slumps”, times when they get too busy, or even lose site of their goals. When you have someone that you trust to communicate with about your feelings and habits, it can help pull you out of that slump. Or better yet, prevent it from happening all together. There are times when tasks can seem too big to tackle alone, but it is often easier to get through the big stuff with a little help. Your exercise buddy can give you that.

Along with the above mentioned benefits of working out with a partner, there are also specific exercises designed for partners. Using each other can prevent the need for certain other pieces of exercise equipment. For example, the assisted press, the back-row leg lift, and the trust squat are all exercise moves designed for partners.

If walking is your exercise of choice, it is safer to walk out doors in pairs rather than alone. The same goes for running as well.

As you can see, having an exercise partner (or buddy) can not only help you to stay motivated, but also help you stay safe and even help you get tone.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Monday, December 15, 2008
Today, we know almost everything about how the human body works, yet we are unsuccessful in controlling obesity. Knowledge, technology and health policies seem to be failures in dealing with this problem. Furthermore, every plan seems to be contrary to the other. How can you choose from the myriad of weight loss plans that are daily projected in front of you?

Ask these questions before choosing your weight loss plan:
  1. Has it been designed by an expert?
    The weight loss industry has become a lucrative business, as everyone is trying to make money by selling weight loss plans. Check out if the weight loss plan has been created by a certified nutritionist and fitness expert.

  2. Has the plan been tested?
    A plan that has been tested for its effectiveness, and backed by a certified panel of medical experts can be relied upon. Moreover, it must survive critical analysis of experts other than those on the panel.

  3. Does it fit your daily schedule?
    One must admit that life gets busier and tougher as time passes. A plan that sucks your time and energy is not worth it.

  4. Is it simple?
    A weight loss plan must not be too sophisticated to understand and perform. A simple step by step routine is the best. The focus should be less on the concept and more on the action.

  5. Is it enjoyable?
    No one likes rigorous routines. Most weight loss plans are too difficult and discouraging. A weight loss plan must be patient and encouraging, and must not add to the stress of daily living.

  6. Does it have success stories?
    A good weight loss plan will have many success stories. Now, don’t be fooled by false testimonies that come with most weight loss plans. A well-tested plan will have many true testimonies. It is best if you know the people testifying.

  7. How much does it cost?
    A good weight loss plan must be reasonably priced. Always check for recurring costs that can be a drain on your budget.

  8. What are the risk factors?
    Every program does not benefit everyone. Check out if you fit the category for which that particular exercise is recommended.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Carbon FootprintWith many people wanting to Go Green and help the environment, we’ve just found out that what you eat also has an effect on the environment. In a recent Time Magazine article entitled, Eat Your Greens scientists were quoted as saying that we can reduce our carbon footprint by eating foods with a low carbon cost.

Although this may at first sound silly we investigated more and found out some interesting facts. When you eat a more green diet, you are actually eating more ecologically friendly food and decreasing your waistline. The prescription for a green diet includes fruits and vegetables, fish and lean meat (like chicken), and whole grains. These make a big difference to what we emit to the environment.

Foods like red meat, dairy products, pork and processed snacks have a higher carbon cost. When you are thinking about the footprint, you have to also think about how things are grown, manufactured and brought to the supermarket shelf. The more work that has to be done the higher the carbon cost.

When we started thinking about this we also figured that working out probably helps the footprint if you are eating a more healthy diet. Think about it a minute and you can see what we mean. In the article they give the example of a cow that is grain fed and then belches methane which is more potent as a green house gas than CO2. We also put out methane when we have eaten beef. So, it stands to reason that if you are putting out less methane by eating better foods, you are reducing the footprint.

Another fascinating fact is, if just one person decided to switch from a red meat based diet to one that is mostly vegetarian they would save CO2 in a similar amount as an individual training in their Toyota Camry for a Toyota Prius. This is an impressive idea!

We don’t know how many people area actually doing this but it will be very interesting to see what happens. The bottom line is to eat more greens and lose weight while helping the environment.

ChaLEAN Extreme - P90X - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Saturday, December 13, 2008
SupplementsWhen you decide to choose an intense workout program it will most likely be difficult to get all the nutrition you need for that particular program. The average American diet loses something in the translation of their food from their plates to their bodies. The problem is that most people do not eat whole foods but eat a lot of junk.

If you find yourself eating a lot of junk food or pre-packaged foods you can be sure that your body is not getting what it needs. Trying to have the energy and the stamina to do a program like P90X or Hip Hop Abs, without good nutrition will be difficult. This is why many of the programs create a food plan and a nutritional supplement to go with it.

When you are looking at supplements it is important to know what you need. Everyone needs to take a multi-vitamin that gives you the vitamins that you need. Add to that a proper dose of minerals and antioxidants so that all of these things make you healthy.

Although you could choose any supplement on the market it is a good idea to do those that come with your weight loss program if you have the option. The reason this is important is because the program has already developed a regimen that coordinates with their program easily. They have tried them out and made sure that what they provide is exactly what you need in order to make it through their program.

As an example, the P90X Peak Health Formula contains a multi-vitamin and then minerals and antioxidants that help your body support your immune system, your cardiovascular system and gives support to your skin, nails and hair. You will not have to add an additional supplement to this program since you have everything you need. The nice thing about using these is that they are premeasured so you don't have to worry about how much to take.

Supplementing any diet is important when you are active but do not take care to eat the proper nutrition. Knowing what to use is also important for ultimate energy, strength and stress release.


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Friday, December 12, 2008
Nutrition is something that everyone talks about but that few people use. It is an important aspect of your daily life and it is very important if you are doing any training program. Many people worry that they are not getting enough nutrition and we can say that most people are not.

Nutrition is important because it helps the body in many ways. Your bones, skin, cells and muscles depend on getting certain nutrients that include vitamins and minerals. When they do not get these you can have physical problems. Vitamins and mineral deficiencies can lead to injuries when you are working out. The best thing to do is to eat a well balanced diet.

There are many diets that people use but most fitness trainers will tell you that lots of fruits and vegetables with nuts and seeds can help your body gain the nutrients that it needs naturally. If you are a very busy person this can be difficult to do. The good news is that you can carry fruit with you and eat it during the day as you go from one busy appointment to another. If you are too busy to take fruit, you can also add a protein shake to your daily diet.

A protein shake provides you with all of the nutrients you need. There are two types of shakes however: one type gives you added protein and one that can actually act as a meal replacement. If you are using one for a meal replacement it should say that it is for that specific purpose. The FDA has certain retractions that all meal replacements must have in order to be used for this purpose.

If you are looking for a good meal replacement Ultimate Fitness Gear has a type that will work. It comes in flavors, one of which is chocolate, and it gives your body the essential vitamins and minerals it needs while also giving you much needed energy throughout the day. They are usually pretty tasty and you can always add fruit.

The bottom line is to make sure your body is getting the nutrition it needs to keep healthy during and after your workout routine.


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The new Chalean extreme workout routine has finally been released. As of December 12th, 2008 the newest workout from Beachbody has been released. Along with the Chalean extreme workout program, you have options to choose the best kit for your fitness needs.

Currently there will be a base kit, with everything you need to get started and then you can upgrade to a ChaLean Extreme Deluxe complete kit or just purchase a smaller version of the complete kit. Confusing? Yes I know it can be, but if you have used the P90X workout you will know that you cannot go wrong with the kit you choose. If you are fairly strong or athletic I would suggest purchasing the more advanced complete kit, rather than the base kit.

Just by reading this post and to celebrate the release of the Chalean Extreme workout take this coupon code for $5.00 of the shipping cost of the Chalean Workout. At the end of the checkout cart put chalean5 in the coupon code section and thats it!


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
By Jude Buglewicz
  1. Where was Chalene Johnson born? Chalene Johnson was born and raised in Michigan. She's the oldest of three children, and credits her mother, one of the first "Jazzercize" instructors in Michigan, as her greatest inspiration. She and her younger sister, Jenelle, went to their mother's classes and changed the records for her between routines. You can see Jenelle in ChaLEAN Extreme, following her sister's moves and continuing their mother's passion for fitness and good health.


  2. What was Chalene's first Beachbody program? Turbo Jam. Turbo Jam launched in August 2005 and quickly became the number 1, best-selling infomercial on TV. Today, there are thousands of hardcore Turbo fans all over the world. It's even been translated into Japanese!


  3. Whose "celebrity" radio show was Chalene on recently? Gayle King's The Gayle King Radio Show. Chalene flew to New York City to be interviewed on Gayle's show, part of the Oprah and Friends XM radio network, in October. If you know anything about Oprah Winfrey, you know that Gayle is her very best friend. Turns out, Gayle has been exercising with Turbo Jam since the summer of 2007, and recently got Oprah to do some Turbo workouts while they were on the Obama campaign trail.


  4. How many "Elite" signature moves are there in Turbo Jam? Eleven. The moves target your core and abs and are inspired by dance and martial arts, two of Chalene's lifelong interests. Each one targets a specific muscle group or body part to strengthen and sculpt your physique, and promote overall balance and core strength.


  5. How much body fat can you burn in 3 months on the ChaLEAN Extreme program? Up to 60 percent! By building lean muscle mass, you increase your metabolism and burn fat even after your workout. You lose fat and inches and get tighter and more toned because Muscle Burns Fat™!

P90X Workout - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Workout DVDs


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Tuesday, December 9, 2008

By Steve Edwards

"When I'm personally training someone, I don't use Turbo Jam®," said Turbo Jam creator Chalene Johnson. "So when Carl [Daikeler, Beachbody® CEO] asked me to bring personal training to the masses, I jumped at the chance. ChaLEAN Extreme combines legitimate strength training with cardio, along with helpful diet tips, motivation, and other tools. With this program, I essentially come into your home."

Since Turbo Jam, which is also called Turbo Kick® at gyms around the country, is one of the most popular fitness programs in the U.S., I was very interested to hear why its founder would embark on something completely different. At Beachbody, we're well aware that there are numerous ways to get someone into shape. But this was the first time we'd turned one of our trainers loose to create a personalized program that would fit the masses. The resulting program is something that's completely different than the movement-to-music medley of workouts that is Turbo Jam. ChaLEAN Extreme test group results were off the charts. Today, we sit down with Chalene to get the scoop on ChaLEAN Extreme.
  • Steve Edwards: When we talked originally about Turbo Jam, you were all about the music. Is it true that there won't be any music in ChaLEAN Extreme?

  • Chalene Johnson: When I'm personally training a client, I don't use music. There is some music [in the videos], but it's in the background. This isn't dance. I don't want a distraction. I want them to slow down. It's about total mental focus, and music can interfere with that. I don't want people moving to a rhythm, using momentum, or anything that can break down form. For entertainment, I use my personality and my 20-plus years of personal training experience. The cardio workouts have great music, though!

  • Steve: So it's not a complete about-face from Turbo Jam. What does the program consist of?

  • Chalene: The program consists of 4 months of workouts. Each week is broken down into strength one day and cardio the next. It's based on undulating periodization, so you can mix and match and continually keep the program fresh.

  • Steve: Let's shelve the technical talk until later. What else do they get?

  • Chalene: I come home with them.

  • Steve: That's got to be expensive.

  • Chalene: It would be, yes. Most people can't afford to pay for a personal trainer, but almost everyone could use one. My goal was to create the one-on-one experience you get when you hire a trainer. I come into your home and help you reorganize your life.

  • Steve: That sounds challenging, to say the least. How do you accomplish such a thing that will work for everyone?

  • Chalene: It's all about changing their lifestyle. First, I get into their car. They get an audio program that covers everything from how their childhood may have affected how they feel about food to how to stop thinking like a short-term dieter. I discuss how to change your way of thinking. This often means changing habits. Sometimes, it means changing friends, or at least finding new ones that support your healthy lifestyle.

We've got an epidemic in the country, and someone needs to step forward and do something about it. Especially for moms—we have to break the trend of how we show care. For 100 years, we've been trained to show love and care with fattening sugary foods. There are better ways to show kids how we care about them. There are better ways to show ourselves. I talk about how to rewire the voice that speaks to you. Essentially, if you really care about someone, wouldn't you give them every opportunity for a healthy lifestyle? That's the attitude I try and instill in them, about their loved ones and themselves.

Then, I come into their home. They get an instruction[al] DVD, with my family showing you how to reorganize your kitchen to make healthy food prep[aration] more realistic. Some stuff that you hear in advice columns, it's, like, get real[.] They can't do that. They don't have time. So I show them how a crazy busy mom does it, because I am a crazy busy mom. If I can do it, anyone can.
  • Steve: Want to share a few of these tricks with us?

  • Chalene: Sure. We will eat what's convenient, especially kids, so you want to acknowledge this fact and prepare for it. So the first thing we do in the DVD is to rearrange the fridge, the pantry, the whole kitchen. Watch kids—actually anyone—in a kitchen. The first thing they do when they aren't sure what they want to eat is to open the fridge. Then, they move to the pantry. So one of my tricks at home is to wash fruit and keep it at eye level. This makes healthy snacks the first thing you see.

Most of this prep[aration] happens when you first come home from the market. I prepackage chips, pretzels, and other [snack] foods into single servings. If you give someone a bag of chips, they'll overeat pretty much 100 percent of the time. But a small serving is plenty to satiate their craving, and it doesn't ruin your diet for the day. If you grab a small serving, instead of a whole bag, your mind tends to sign off on the craving.

The tips I give are easy. They won't turn your life upside down. The goal is to simplify it, to make everything easier. Because we're all busy. The more organized we are, the easier life becomes.
  • Steve: What else do they get?

  • Chalene: There's a beautiful nutritional book. It's like a coffee-table book, with big photos of [almost] every recipe. It provides you with all of the ammunition to make simple, healthy meals with stuff you can find in any store. At its core are recipes that are very simplistic. I didn't want you to need to find a certain store and use expensive ingredients. Anyone has the means to make these recipes.

And there's a guidebook, of course, but a really thorough guidebook. It had to be thorough because I talk a lot about using heavy weights, and I wanted something that you could take to the gym, if that becomes necessary. It's also designed to take with you when you travel so you never need to miss a workout. There are photos of all the moves, and you are urged to record the weight you use. And there's a lot about the science behind super-slow training and breakdown sets—the reasons that you're doing this program.
  • Steve: Okay, let's talk tech for a bit. Explain why you use weight training instead of cardio when the goal is to become leaner.

  • Chalene: As you know, nothing can reshape your body like weight training. Adding muscle increases your metabolism, resulting in a leaner you. This program utilizes all of the latest research. Movements are done slowly, with strict form. You progressively overload your muscles, which creates the most hypertrophy [muscle growth].

  • Steve: A lot of women aren't going to want to hear about muscle growth. Want to address the myth of bulk?

  • Chalene: It's such a ridiculous myth! Women who get bulky have to train so hard for it—way over the top of what a normal strength program offers. Not one woman in the test group ended up with larger measurements. They all ended up leaner, tighter, and smaller.

  • Steve: Let's talk about undulating periodization. All of our Beachbody programs use some form of periodization. For those who don't know, this term refers basically to training in different blocks, each with a different focus. The goal is to eliminate a results plateau, which happens whenever you do the same type of training over and over. At its most basic, we see something very simple, like the Sectional Progression™ concept of Power 90®. P90X® is far more advanced, using 4-week training blocks to create what we call "Muscle Confusion."

  • Chalene: Undulating periodization is different than traditional in that it allows you to mix and match your workouts, similar to how you'd create different programs with P90X. Because you can mix and match your workouts and the way your program is structured, you can always keep things fresh, new, and exciting. Plus, if you blow it and fall off the program, you don't need to go back to the beginning. These workouts will allow you to jump back in anywhere. This means that you can restart anytime you want, and this eliminates guilt and excuses for quitting.

  • Steve: Tell us about your cardio element. Is it like Turbo Jam?

  • Chalene: No, as there is no coordination requirement. No dance. [The ChaLEAN Extreme workouts are] like my boot camp workouts. Anyone can do them. You don't have to stay on a beat. But I also encourage you to do any cardio that makes that [happen]. Anything will work with the program.

When it comes to cardio, the best workout is the one you look forward to and will do with the greatest intensity. So if you like Tony, Shaun, Debbie, or whomever, I encourage you to do that. Whatever it is that inspires you will work.
  • Steve: Do you worry about this being too complicated for the masses? It sounds like you're attempting to revolutionize the way many people have been taught to think.

  • Chalene: It's actually simple, but the first DVD we want everyone to watch is Burn Basics. I ask you to erase everything you've learned about strength training—again, it's what I'd do as their personal trainer. I then teach anything you'll need to know. I do an in-depth analysis about form, how to know if you've selected the right weight, etc.

It teaches the concepts that they need to understand. For example, why we need to use different weights and different exercises, and how to do so in a way you won't get injured.
  • Steve: Speaking of weights, do they need to have a lot at home?

  • Chalene: The bands work great, so you don't need to buy a collection of weights. If you are going to invest in weight[s], I highly recommend the Bowflex® SelectTech® [Dumbbells]. These allow you to move up and down in half-pound increments, which is something that's very rare to be able to do even in a health club. They are a little expensive . . .

  • Steve: But people spend hundreds, and often thousands, of dollars on treadmills, ellipticals, and other machines that only have one application and end up as a place to hang their laundry.

  • Chalene: Yes! And these are so much more useful. You'll use these for the rest of your life, because you can always use weights, no matter what exercise program you end up doing. And they take up very little space.

  • Steve: Since Turbo Jam has been so successful, why would you design something completely different?

  • Chalene: Because I was given the opportunity. As a trainer, I've always prescribed both cardio and strength training. Turbo Jam is what I teach to classes, which are limited by what's in the health club. It's fun, and it's great exercise, but how I teach to a group has always been different than how I work as a personal trainer.

Clubs have always been afraid to make an investment for heavy weights for group exercise. More than cost, it's that they think women are afraid of weight. But at the club I teach at in Southern California, we've been offering three classes a day, four times per week, and have a waiting list every month.
  • Steve: How have your legion of Turbo Kick teachers reacted to the new program?

  • Chalene: They haven't done it yet. They know it's coming, and are excited to teach it to their students. But that, ultimately, will come down to the clubs and whether they will invest in the equipment. What I've created is a way for trainers to do group personal training. It's an outlet for those who can't afford a personal trainer, and hopefully, it will be in the club's best interest to offer it.

P90X Workout - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Workout DVDs


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Monday, December 8, 2008
Say no to fast Food.From time to time, we will all suffer with the battle of the bulge, but what can we do about it? The main reason we diet is to lose weight. In order for you to do this, you will need to not only eat less, but you will also need to eat the right types of food. You need to substitute the foods you eat that are not nutritious with healthy foods.

Some foods that can be used to substituted for foods that are not that good for you are almonds, low fat yogurt, soup, acai berries, spicy foods, and green tea. Anyone who is trying to lose weight should eat almonds when they feel the need to snack. They are packed full of omega 3, which is one of few healthy fats that your body needs.

Almonds will also give you are more of a satiated feeling. When you are out on the go, almonds will make a great snack. Eating soup is also a great way to lose those unwanted pounds since it has high water content. They are really filling, so that you end up eating less.

Another great food that can help you lose weight is low fat yogurt. Recent studies have shown individuals who eat low fat yogurt will lose weight quicker. It is a high source of calcium. When you need a quick snack, you should definitely consider one of the many flavors of low fat yogurt that are available. To lose weight more quickly you should eat it yogurt three times a day.

Many spicy foods can cause your metabolism rate to increase since they contain capsaicin, which will make you feel satiated quicker. This will cause you to eat much less.

Acai berry contains omega 3 and 6, which will increase your metabolism. They are also a great source of fiber and aid in your digestive system. Amino acids can be found in acai berries, which help in building strong muscles.

Finally, a drink that is rich in water and gives individuals that full feeling is green tea. In the past several years, green tea has increased in its popularity. It is a great substitute for your afternoon snack. Many people find that they can lose weight by drinking green tea since they do not eat as much.

Green tea is a great way for you to boost your metabolism levels. For example, if you are used to having a soda in the afternoon just to help you stay alert, you should definitely try drinking green tea instead. Green tea will give you much more energy than any soda could ever give you, plus it can help you lose those unwanted pounds.

By making positive changes in your diet, you will be able to stick with these new healthy habits easily. You will also be able to lose that unwanted weight and can even be able to keep from gaining additional weight.


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Sunday, December 7, 2008
By Joe Wilkes
  1. What is the biggest-selling restaurant food? French fries accompany 22 percent of meals served in restaurants. Burgers are in second place at 17 percent.


  2. Who were M&Ms invented for? M&Ms were originally invented for soldiers to carry in their K rations as regular chocolate tended to melt.


  3. What costs more to produce a can of soda, the can or the soda? In most cases, the can costs more to produce. Especially since the invention of high-fructose corn syrup, sodas only cost a couple of pennies a serving to produce. With those kinds of profit margins, you can see how restaurants can offer free refills.


  4. How much of a typical chicken nugget is chicken meat? About 16 percent is meat. The rest is ground chicken skin and other ingredients. According to Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, there are 38 ingredients in a McDonald's Chicken McNugget. Fifty-six percent of the nugget is corn.


  5. How many Twinkies do Americans consume each year? 500 million. Chicago, the birthplace of the Twinkie, is also the Twinkie-eatingest city—no statistics as to how many are deep-fried.

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Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Thursday, December 4, 2008

By Steve Edwards

Winter is hard on your skin. Even the healthiest of us have a rough time coping as the days shorten and the thermometer begins to drop, which is why words like dry, chapped, itchy, and flaky are often associated with snow, wind, and cold. Here is a 10-step program to help your skin survive the winter.

Winter, Lotion, Fruit, and Water
  1. Hydrate. This is, by far, the most important thing you can do during the winter. When it's cold, it's hard to drink enough water. For one, you don't get thirsty. But even when you are, drinking cold water can cause your body to revolt, creating a catch-22 that can leave your skin dry and itchy. Our bodies are mainly made up of water. Here are some of the roles that water performs:

    • Regulating body temperature

    • Carrying nutrients and oxygen to all cells in the body

    • Moistening oxygen for breathing

    • Protecting and cushioning vital organs

    • Helping convert food into energy

    • Assisting the body to absorb nutrients

    • Removing waste


    That's a tall order of functions; and the organ that's most affected when deprived of water is the largest one, your skin. It's hard to convince yourself that when it's cold you often need as much, if not more, water than you need when it's warm. This is because cold air is drier than warm air. Exacerbating the issue is the fact that artificially heated air is drier than naturally heated air, creating a need to hydrate even more.

    Do keep in mind that water need not be cold, or even just water. You can hydrate with almost any liquid, but most have added ingredients (sugar, caffeine, alcohol, etc.) that will hurt you in other ways. This makes keeping an assortment of herb teas an excellent winter accessory choice.


  2. P90X® Exercise. Most of us work out to keep healthy and/or look good in a bathing suit. If that's all you thought exercise did, welcome to the bonus round. Working out also does wonders for the skin by toning, reducing stress, and increasing circulation. Increased circulation means that your blood can deliver oxygen and nutrients to your hide.

    Exercise also makes you sweat, which flushes toxins out of your system. Additionally, it releases sebum, a mixture of fatty acids, waxes, triglycerides, and cholesterol that acts as the skin's built-in moisturizer. Researchers at Eberhard Karls University in Germany believe that sweat also releases dermacidin, an antibiotic that limits disease-causing bacteria, thus reducing your chances of getting a skin infection. So pop in that P90X®, Turbo Jam®, or Rockin' Body® video for healthy skin!


  3. Lotion Moisturize. Try doing it as soon as you get out of the shower, and do your best to make this a ritual. Post-shower, when your natural oils have been washed off, is a vital time for moisturizing. Even if you're pressed for time, taking a minute to add moisturizer to your entire body is worth it, since your skin absorbs it best when it's warm and damp. You don't have to limit this to once a day—your skin would be pressed to get too much lotion—but after a shower is by far the most effective time.

    Try finding products free of fragrance and parabens. Also, don't buy products that contain mineral oil or petroleum. Both of these will clog your pores and can trap sweat and dirt, thus causing acne. For your face, you should also try to use a moisturizer that contains sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 (more on this in #7).


  4. Take hydrating baths. While soap dries your skin, there are ingredients that, added to a bath, will help hydrate you. Baking soda works if your skin is very dry and itchy, but as a precautionary measure, choosing a hydrating bath substance makes more sense. A perusal of any skin care aisle will provide you with myriad options.


  5. Shower less. Soap and water do more than just wash away dirt. Soap removes natural body oils that do more than just protect our skin; soap removes body oils that help us fight off environmental toxins. Our preoccupation with cleanliness can actually have an adverse effect on our health. Not that you shouldn't bathe, but doing it more than once per day is excessive, especially if you're not sweating profusely. And if your skin feels dry and itchy, opting for a moisturizing bath is the prudent call.


  6. ActiVit® Multivitamins - Take your vitamins. Vitamins and minerals do all kinds of things for your skin. Zinc and protein speed healing and reconstruct damaged tissue, as does vitamin C, by aiding the production of collagen—the protein-building blocks vital to all your connective tissue. Vitamin E helps with circulation, which flushes out toxins. Both vitamins C and E deliver antioxidants, which are believed to fight against sun damage, smoke, and the dreaded hole in the ozone layer—although they are by no means a substitute for sunblock and a good hat. To ensure you get all the vital nutrients you need every day, it's a good idea to take a premium multivitamin like ActiVit®, which includes 200 percent of your daily value (DV) of vitamin C and 100 percent your DV of vitamin E.

    Fatty acid supplementation, like fish oil, also helps ensure that your nutritional profile is strong and ready to combat the evils of winter (Core Omega-3™ is a great way to meet your fish oil needs).


  7. Use sunscreen. Most of us are conditioned to add sunscreen while skiing or going to the beach, but daily sunscreen use on your face and neck should be practiced. Many facial moisturizers have sunscreen as an ingredient. Because they are more expensive, it makes economical sense to have two bottles of moisturizer, one for your face and neck, and one for the rest of your body.

    Make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum in addition to having a high SPF. It should protect against both UVB rays, which cause superficial sunburn and skin discoloration, and UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin, accelerating aging and causing skin cancer. Make sure you don't forget your ears and the back of your neck when applying sunscreen as they are prime real estate for skin cancer. Don't forget your lips, either—try to use a lip balm with an SPF 15 or higher to avoid drying and burning. The stuff's cheap, so keep a tube in your car, at your desk, at home, etc.


  8. Eat fruit. All the damaging effects of cold, dry air create free radicals—nasty little oxidized molecules that are believed to cause tissue damage at the cellular level. Among other things, free radicals contribute to the development of cancer. The best way to neutralize them is with antioxidants, like the ones you get from many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, berries, leafy greens, and beets. You'll also find antioxidants in green tea and some in tasty items like chocolate. But fruit, which is harder to find during the winter, is the best natural source of antioxidants and has a number of other hydrating and health effects to help keep winter's ill nature at bay.


  9. Humidify. When Mother Nature isn't cooperating, it can make sense to use man-made solutions. Humidifiers come in all shapes, sizes, effective ranges, and prices. From the poor man's solution of boiling a large pot of water to highfalutin units that can make life in an igloo mimic life in the Amazon jungle, the principle is the same: to add moisture into a dry environment.


  10. Skin-friendly couture. Cottons, silks, and other skin-friendly fabrics that glide over your skin can help lessen the irritation of winter. Unfortunately, many traditional fabrics that keep you warm can also make you feel like you're wearing a Brillo pad when the northern winds begin to blow. When you can, layer with something soft as a base.


Chalene Extreme Workout - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam - Workout DVDs


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
By Joe Wilkes

True or False?
  1. Lima Beans - True: Raw lima beans are poisonous. Lima beans contain cyanide compounds that can cause illness or even death if the beans are eaten uncooked. The cooking process turns the cyanide into a harmless gas. Fortunately, most strains of lima beans available in the U.S. have been bred to contain super-low levels of cyanide. But if you're in another country and you begin craving raw lima beans, watch out!


  2. False: Swimming too soon after eating causes cramps. Although the saying has been repeated so often by paranoid poolside parents that it is presumed to be a medical fact, there is no substantiated evidence proving that swimming after eating causes the kinds of cramps that fearful moms and dads purport will cause drowning of the young 'uns. Of course, cramping is possible with any activity, but having food in your system is unlikely to make a difference.


  3. Honey - True: Honey does not spoil. Honey is "cured" by bees to the point that it has a very stable pH level and has an extraordinarily long shelf life. Honey has even been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and it's still edible! In part, this is because honey's low moisture content prevents bacterial or fungal growth.


  4. True: Cashew shells are dangerous. You may have noticed that cashews, unlike peanuts, are never sold in their shells. This is because cashew shells are coated with a naturally occurring oil that is extremely caustic to human skin. Contact with cashew shells can quickly cause burning and blistering. In fact, the oil is toxic enough to be included as a common ingredient in insecticides.


  5. Gumball Machine - False: Swallowed chewing gum takes years to pass through the body. This is another one probably concocted by worried parents who wanted to discourage their children from swallowing their gum—out of fear that their children would choke. While swallowed gum is a choking hazard, the notion that habitual gum swallowers are just a gumball or two away from a gruesome pink intestinal blockage is false. Depending on what the chewing gum is made of, it will either be dissolved by stomach acid or pass out whole through the digestive system. Yum!

Chalene Extreme Workout - P90X Workout - P90X Plus - Power 90 Workout - 10 Minute Trainer - Shaun T - Ab Workout - Turbo Jam - Workout DVDs


Your Place For: Workout Routines - Workout DVDs - P90X
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