Inside The Pyramid

Want to further pursue your health by following the food pyramid’s guidlines? Here’s the government’s food pyramid custom made to meet your personal health needs:

Link: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains.html

How to Properly Do A Push Up

Don’t know how to properly do a push up that gives you the best workout? Want to know different types of push ups that work several key muscles in the body for muscle development? Look no further than the embeded video below:

Different Types of Stretches

Hip Stretch – Cross left  foot over right knee.  Clasp hands behind right thigh and gently pull the leg in towards you, keeping upper body relaxed.  Switch Legs

Hamstring Stretch – Lie on floor with knees bent.  Straighten one leg and slowly pull it towards you, clasping the thigh, calf or ankle.  Keep knee slightly bent. Switch legs.

Inner Thigh Stretch – Sit on floor with feet pressed together.  Keeping abs in, lean forward until you feel a gentle stretch in your inner thighs.  

Lung Stretch – In lunge position, rest back knee on the floor, with front knee at 90 degree angle, abs in.  Gently press forward until you feel a stretch in the front of the leg/hip. Switch legs.

For more stretches, check out: http://exercise.about.com/cs/flexibility/l/blstretch.htm

European Eating Habits

“…the things were put on the table in a slovenly outlandish fashion, fish, soup, and meat all at once, and puddings and tarts and cheese all at once. No finger glasses, and a patched tablecloth–in short a want of style and neatness which is found in every hotel in England”

A quote summing up how Europeans are against the heating habits of the Americans. Continuing on saying that the American dish is not preparded well. Greasy and rich of “butters and fat”.

‘God sends meat and the Devil send cooks’ is a saying which applies with full force to this country. There is food in abundance, but it is dressed after a manner that is enough to appaul even a hungary stomach” – Margaret Hall

Going on to state how the abbundance of food on our plate is even appealing to a full stomach, which should be changed to the European way of preparing food.

Link: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/europeans/habits.html

ESPN: Boxing Most Physically Demanding Sport

Degree of Difficulty: Sport Rankings
SPORT	END	STR	PWR	SPD	AGI	FLX	NER	DUR	HAN	ANA	TOTAL	RANK
Boxing	8.63	8.13	8.63	6.38	6.25	4.38	8.88	8.50	7.00	5.63	72.375	1
Ice Hockey	7.25	7.13	7.88	7.75	7.63	4.88	6.00	8.25	7.50	7.50	71.750	2
Football	5.38	8.63	8.13	7.13	6.38	4.38	7.25	8.50	5.50	7.13	68.375	3
Basketball	7.38	6.25	6.50	7.25	8.13	5.63	4.13	7.75	7.50	7.38	67.875	4
Wrestling	6.63	8.38	7.13	5.13	6.38	7.50	5.00	6.75	4.25	6.38	63.500	5
Martial Arts	5.00	5.88	7.75	6.38	6.00	7.00	6.63	5.88	6.00	6.88	63.375	6
Tennis	7.25	5.13	7.13	6.75	7.75	5.63	3.00	5.00	8.38	6.75	62.750	7
Gymnastics	5.38	6.13	6.63	5.00	6.38	10.00	7.50	6.88	4.50	4.13	62.500	8
Baseball/Softball	4.63	5.75	7.63	6.50	6.75	4.75	5.13	5.63	9.25	6.25	62.250	9
Soccer	7.75	4.50	5.13	7.25	8.25	4.75	3.63	6.25	6.50	7.50	61.500	10
Skiing: Alpine	5.13	5.25	6.00	7.38	6.13	5.63	8.38	6.00	5.13	5.63	60.625	11
Water Polo	7.88	6.63	6.88	5.38	6.38	5.00	4.25	6.38	6.25	5.63	60.625	11
Rugby	6.75	7.00	6.38	5.88	6.00	4.13	6.50	7.88	4.38	5.63	60.500	13
Lacrosse	6.63	5.13	5.75	7.00	6.63	4.75	4.38	6.13	7.13	6.88	60.375	14
Rodeo: Steer Wrestling	4.00	7.00	7.88	3.88	4.88	5.00	7.88	6.88	5.13	4.00	56.500	15

Surprised? I certainly was. I thought for sure basketball, football, and hockey were going to be neck and neck for first place and never considered boxing in the top 5. What do you think?

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

Is Fast Food Really That Bad For You?

Naturally, fast food companies are campaigning more bang for your buck to draw you in. Three times the amount you should be consuming. 2,000 calories diet? Nearly half of your calories of the day will be gone once you decide to order the large combo. Plus all the high sugars and fats in the food, you’ll find yourself in a fast food addiction, according to studies. It’s easy to pull around the drive thru for a quick sandwhich on your way to work in a cheap and affordable way. But is it really cheap anymore when you’re older and you have heart problems?

For more information: http://www.personalpowertraining.net/Articles/Why_is_Fast_Food_so_Bad.htm

Study: Physically Fit Students Score Higher than the Less Physically Fit.

Physically fit students are not only losing weight, but are scoring higher grades because of it. Two thirds of the students were fell under the state’s weight standard for their age and gender. The other thirty-five percent of the students who met or exceeded the state’s fitness standard scored higher than the other sixty-five percent of the students.

Studies are already being looked at for a correlation between being physically fit and grades. If studies further confirm a link between the two, we may see schools further investing towards physical education in order to improve their student’s education.

Link: http://www.nationalpost.com/life/health/story.html?id=f6da3a5e-1cb5-4285-8a33-dca87d95393e

Top 10 Most Unhealthy Foods

1. Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie

2. Olive Garden’s Tour of Italy

3. Progresso Traditional, Vegetable Classics, and Rich & Hearty soups

4. Häagen-Dazs ice cream

5. The Cheesecake Factory Chris’ Outrageous Chocolate Cake

6. Pillsbury Grands! Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll with Icing

7. Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter Popcorn Snack Size Bags

8. Starbucks Venti (20 oz.) White Chocolate Mocha

9. Chipotle Chicken Burrito

10.  Cold Stone Creamery Gotta Have It Founder’s Favorite

Link: http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

Healthy Eating Tips

- Fresh vegetables and fruit should be the majority of food on your grocery list

- Your grain and cereal products should be made from whole grains

- Choices of meat should contain mostly fish, poultry, and lean meats

- Dairy products should include yogurt, low-fat milk, and cheese

- Careful of dressings like mayonnaise, and salad dressings including fats

-  Sandwich’s: Choose PB & J sandwiches over lunch meats sausages and hot dogs.

For more information, visit: http://nutrition.about.com/od/healthyshopping/a/groceryshoplist.htm

Which gym is for you?

1. What reason(s) are you pursuing for going to a gym?

2. Research what each gym has to offer

3. Visit gym(s) you were thinking about joining, then make a decision.

Here are some gyms to start you off:

Gold’s Gym

One of the biggest names in the business, Gold’s has over 600 locations throughout the USA and more than 20 countries.

YMCA

Look for a YMCA near you. They offer great deals for family memberships and usually have a wide choice of fitness activities including gym, pool, basketball, etc.

Fitness First

A great regional chain of gyms in the mid-Atlantic states and Florida. Lots of offerings for different fitness goals and reasonably priced.

Curves

An international health club dedicated to providing affordable, one-stop exercise and nutritional information for women.

Consider: Cost, location, and is your gym too crowded?

Link: http://www.squidoo.com/find-a-gym