Discover This Fruit I Never Heard Of

As I talked about above, Kevin Gianni talks alot about eating raw food which is one of my favorite things to do. This is why I enjoy the blog so much.

Raw Food, Fitness, Life and Music

I've been visiting the blog from Kevin Gianni where he is trying to change the world "one show at a time". I am enjoying it, especially the food preparation videos.
The fitness videos are okay except for the part where he is twisting to warm up before doing some ab exercises and the lack of any attention to core stabilization awareness while performing the exercises. This could lead to a back injury.
So just make sure you tighten your abs, buttock and pelvic area if you perform the exercises in this blog. Otherwise, I like the blog very much and enjoy the food preparation tips in the kitchen. Next time I go to the grocery store I'm buying some collards so I can make the vegetable wraps. Her is the link to the blog. Enjoy.
Cecelia at www.myfitness24-7.com

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/

Cellulite Does Not Descriminate

I was discussing cellulite with a girlfriend today and some of the products that are out in the market. It seems that there is a epidemic of cellulite in the world. Even those celebrities that are firm and fit still have cellulite.



Apparently, there is a product by Nu Skin that can be used at home. Its a Galvanic device the improves the appearance of cellulite. I haven't tried it yet but I will soon as I am very skeptical. Heck, if Beyonce and the other celebs haven't found a cure what hope is there for me? This device reportedly also can improve hair growth, tone skin and muscle and lift your butt! Does this sound too good to be true? Here is the German video on this product:



I don't know. I wonder how many of these treatments it takes and what the cost is of this device and the creams and gels. I would think that the general public would lean towards a more faster and permanent result like plastic surgery. What do you think?
Cecelia at myfitness24-7.com

Could This Be My Next Comfortable Shoe?

I've been wearing the MBT Shoes for three months. My posture has definitely improved as well as leg, butt and lower abs have become more toned. Being on my feet every day for 5-8 hours still makes my legs and feet feel tired and sore. However to a lesser extent than any other shoe I have tried so far. I have not tried the Z-Coil she yet and I am in the process of researching them. Again, another ugly shoe.
I do not like the look of the coil in the heel. I understand it costs $35 to add a cover over the coil. The shoes cost around $200. (MBT shoes cost around $255 depending on the style.) I think it would be well worth it. I saw a couple of nurses wearing the Z-Coil athletic shoe at Stanford Hospital. In speaking with them, they stated that the shoes really alleviate the impact on their feet and legs.
Here is a short video showing the athletic shoe. Picture a white leather cover over the heel area.

Take The Knots and Kinks Out Of Your Muscles

During these winter months, I've felt my body tighten up. In going out in the cold, I naturally constrict my body. Consequently, I don't feel as loose as I would like to. Sometimes the tissue around the muscles (fascia) gets knotted up or sticks to the muscle fibers. This causes the muscles to tighten and/or lose the normal motion that is supposed to exist in the fibers. Circulation and oxygen is also decreased due to restricted motion. For this problem, we often recommend massage therapy or a technique called Myofascial Release. If we cannot afford to pay for this treatment or do not have the time, "Self-Myofascial Release" can be performed with a foam roller. I have taken these videos from YouTube that can demonstrate how to go about this. These videos are somewhat slow but once you learn the technique, its yours.
If you have a particularly tender point and you work it really well to loosen it, you may want to apply a cold pack for 15-20 minutes afterward to reduce any inflammation and increase circulation and faster healing.

Your Six Pack Abs Are Just Around The Corner

I've been watching several videos on the quickest and most effective way to get "Six Pack Abs". There appears to be many ways this can be done in anywhere from 10, 6 and 4 minute routines. However, most of the videos are not comprehensive in explaining d how important it is to work the back also. Lets face it, poor posture will cause your abs to sag. A great abs workout should include the whole mide section including the sides and back. I found this video from ww.Buzz.com which I think is excellent and I highly recommend it. It might seem slow because of the explanations but once you get the message and the correct form on how to perform these simple abs exercises, you will be able to do them on your own at home. Performing them daily would be ideal in the beginning for a couple of weeks. Then, you can go to 3-4 times a week. These are good basic exercises that you can add to your routine when you are on the go or traveling and want to get your ab work in.

I hope you enjoyed the video. It may seem cut and dry, but it really explains the importance of FORM which cannot be overemphasized in order to get good results and prevent injury.
Cecelia @www.myfitness24-7.com

Spark Up Your Indoor Workout This Winter

I found out about the DVD Rockin'Body Cardio by reading USA Today. I found it to be
fun and easy to follow. I also liked the music and beat. The instructor is great
(in my opion) and does a good job of keeping you going and interested. Its a good way to get your energy up and improve your mood during these dreary winter days when its pouring rain outside and messy.


The moves and steps aren't difficult and the whole routine seems straight-forward and uncomplicated (I like it simple).

KettleBells

WOW!!! Are these Navy Seals in training???
This is one of the certification programs with Russian, Paval Tsatsouline
Master of Sports and former Soviet Special Forces instructor, currently a Subject Matter Expert to elite units of the US military and law enforcement. Pavel makes his 'low tech/high concept' strength programs available to civilians.
Can you just imagine the testosterone?

Well you don't have to be a macho man to exercise with kettlebells these days.
KettleBells seem to be taking off in popularity. Different styles of KettleBells are now made in different colors. I've also noticed them in the catalogs for chiropractors and physical therapists. KettleBells are no longer for "macho" guys like the ones in the video who grunt and sweat while swinging balls of iron around. Now we see dainty young women working out with pink or yellow plastic covered kettlebells while they perform cardio or core exercises. These exercises co not require alot of room to do the basic swings. In the following video, a woman is performing a basic move in her backyard. I do suggest, however, I do not recommend this exercise if you have spinal problems. Please check with your physician before undertaking this exercise.




Loading your muscles over time builds stamina, balance and endurance. The body will then be able to tolerate activities of daily living with ease. Instead of laboring up the stairs and getting out of breath, you become able climb stairs with ease and energy. The ballistic nature of kettlebells produces the power, strength, and stamina to easily get through the day. Raising the kettlebell over your head repeatedly uses all your muscles and cardiovascular endurance. There are no separate exercises because the butt, abs, legs, and arms will get worked at the same time. 15-20 minutes a day is all that is needed to give your body a great workout. Just with five minutes of swings a day you will start to see and feel changes in your body.
This is one exercise routine that is worth trying since it produces fast results and takes just a few minutes. There are also certification classes for both men and women if you start really getting into conquering the KettleBell. At the very least, it would be a great option to add to your selection of exercise routines.
Cecelia
www.myfitness24-7.com

Back Exercises On The Ball

I felt like doing some back extensions today for spinal strengthening and for a quick review on form, I found this great video I like how he gives specific instructions

If I practice this move at least three times a week, I know I will see and feel results in two weeks. I had been performing back extensions at home on the floor as part of a Pilates mat excercise routine. I was being lazy about rolling out the ball.
I feel certain that including the ball for these exercises, I will get better and faster results.

If you have knee problems and have trouble getting on the floor but need to tone your abs and get some cardio exercise at home, here is a short video on how this can be accomplished.

I like the idea of interval training, warm up work hard, slow down the work hard again. Recent studies show this is more effective and results occur faster.
Cecelia
www.myfitness24-7.com

Self-Perception

While I was driving today and listening to the radio, I heard an interesting news release about a study regarding people and wine-drinking. Apparently, several people were given various wines to drink. When they were told the wine was expensive (even though it wasn't) the subjects reported that the wine tasted better and that they felt good (a buzz). When they were told the wine was cheap (even though it was the same wine as before) they reported the wine did not taste good and made them feel bad. What was most interesting about this study is that brain MRIs were performed on these people while they were drinking these wines and different areas of the brain were stimulated depending on whether the subjects thought it was an expensive wine or a cheap wine. Therefore, if they thought the cheap wine they were given was expensive, their perception and physiology fell in line accordingly.

Well, many of us have known about the power of thought and belief and many of us have watched the movie The Secret which talks about this. However, now there is actual hard evidence. The scientist performing the wine studies went on to say that they will next do a study on pain. This should be fascinating. I do know for a fact from over twenty years of working with patients that stress and anxiety increases our perception of pain. (I incorporated relaxation methods in my treatments.)

What would be even more fascinating (to me)is a study to find out if we were to perceive ourselves slim and toned, how long (on average) would it take to see results and what an MRI of the brain would show. The applications of this seem unlimited.
Cecelia
www.myfitness24-7.com

This Year I Would Like to Focus on Cancer Prevention

Its seems that more people than ever are suffering with cancer. I continue to see more and more younger people walking around with no hair and/or the chemo ports.
Whenever I go to Stanford with my father, the waits to see the oncologists are very long sometimes 2-4 hours. The Infusion Center seems extremely busy too with people of all ages. It really makes me think about what is going on in our society. Its not just global warming but the goverment trying to take away the quality of our food by approving viruses to be sprayed on meats, approving cloned or radiated meats, outlawing raw milk and butter instead of just focusing on improving quality. Radiation, cloning and viruses are not the answer for a healthier population but there is probably the prospect of big business and corporations making more money.

For my part, I plan to do at least 30 minutes of endurance exercise five times a week. This would make the fat cells smaller thereby making less estrone hormone which are known to overstimulate breast cells. This would help in lowering the risk of breast cancer. Exercise also improves blood cirulation throughout the body. This allows the liver to neutralize and remove excess estrogen.

Getting and staying slim helps in that also decreases the production of estrone hormone which overstimulated the breast cells.

My father's MD has recommended daily 1000 IU of vitamin D. He said that vitamin D is now regarded as a very important anti-cancer vitamin (as well as preventing osteoporosis).
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By-the-way, I am still wearing my MBTs. Somebody said the other day that my butt sticks out. Was that a complement? I don't know but I guess its better than having a flat butt. Besides wanting to wear only MBTs all the time cause they are so comfortable, I've noticed an improvement in posture. My thighs and butt muscles do seem firmer. I have not noticed an improvement in my abs yet.
Cecelia
myfitness24-7.com