Ms. Muscles Fitness Blog

Turn The Tide On Gout ~ Forever

2010-01-19T20:41:00Z

Never be ashamed of your ailments. Instead, take steps to educate yourself and get answers to your questions from experts. Not necessarily from an ~~overweight~~ MD, yet a natural or holistic nutritionist who can give advise with his shirt off.

Simply superb! Thank you Dr. Mercola

Cutting Carbs Is Nothing New - Back in 1967

2010-01-13T19:52:00Z

So, why act as though it's a new diet craze? Something weird and unfound? Because you know the reality is that carbs, starches, sugars, cereals, rice, pasta, and grains all turn to sugar (glucose) in the body upon digestion. And inadvertently turn to FAT as they are transported and stored in our bodies.

Plus, carbs are the very reason for heart disease, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and cancers.

For more information, check my nutrition blog posts.

It's Finally Here!

2010-01-07T00:19:00Z

Tsk, tsk, why bother with troublesome walking? Get this walking assist device and take a load off...

What..? Disuse is abuse and only leads to muscle wasting. OK, there may be therapeutic or rehab uses for this and I don't think it'll replace mobility scooters, but I dread seeing overweight folks ~~abusing~~ using it in the future.

"Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him." Benjamin Franklin

Paleo Style Diet And How It Is Best

2010-01-04T22:55:00Z

Dr. Briffa wrote an excellent post on this new research. The scientific literature points to a paleolithic diet being optimal to the human species and how obesity and chronic disease may be extinguished with such a diet.

According to the authors of the editorial, few would deny that conventional nutritional advice is not working. And they suggest that what would help would be a more rapid shift in thinking towards a diet that gets us closer to “humanity’s biological baseline”. They quote a recent scientific paper [3] which asserts that “It is difficult to refute the assertion that if modern populations returned to a hunter-gatherer state then obesity and diabetes would not be the major public health threats they now are”.

As we enter a new decade, perhaps more than any other time in history do we need a radical rethink of what truly constitutes a healthy diet. For too long now we have been ‘fed’ the idea that the low-fat, high-carb diet is king. The results of this persistent public health message, and our acting on it, appear to have been an unmitigated disaster judging by the soaring rates of obesity and diabetes we’ve seen in westernised cultures.

Eat healthy, get healthy, and create the life you deserve! Call Sheryl (586) 764-5683 today.

Eaton SB, et al. Diet-dependent acid load, paleolithic nutrition, and evolutionary health promotion. Am J Clin Nutr 30 Dec 2009 [epub ahead of print]

What's For Dessert?

2010-01-01T20:37:00Z

Good tip from an old favorite. " To help you be more beautiful and glamorous...?"

Bodyweight Exercises at 325 lbs?

2010-01-01T20:11:00Z

This is the most impressive show of push-ups I've ever seen.

Body weight exercises are a valuable tool in body awareness, coordination, and muscle symmetry. The total body strength you will gain by performing these types of exercises will not only help you loose fat, but they promote functionality, keep you safe from injury, and they are just plain fun!

MYTHBUSTING, Glossy Magazines

2010-01-01T19:56:00Z

Alan Aragon shared these funny videos from one of his readers. Enjoy, they are full of pun, sarcasm, and wit.

Enjoy the series here.

Safe Snow Shoveling

2010-01-01T19:37:00Z

For Your Family's Health; The Truth About Cholesterol

2009-12-30T12:32:00Z

Who wants to be on prescription drugs? Do you see the myriad of problems associated with them?

Here is a vital, very informative video that just might save your life.

Sorry about the Dr. Mercola sales pitch at the end, here's more information to read.

Untamed Hunger, Ambition and Drive In a World of Rejection

2009-12-27T19:49:00Z

Exciting and motivating!

Could This Hormone Improve Outcomes of Stroke and Other Brain Abnormalities?

2009-12-27T19:33:00Z

Here is promising new information for the treatment of brain injuries, stroke, neurological abnormalities. Turns out, progesterone plays a major factor in functionality, repair, and protection of brain tissue.

“The key thing that I want to stress is that progesterone does a lot of things at the [structural] level to help rescue neurons that might otherwise die as a result of the trauma,” Dr. Stein says. “Progesterone is involved in many different processes that help to repair and reorganize damaged brain tissue, and that’s why I think it’s so effective.”
Compared with other experimental treatments for traumatic brain injury, progesterone offers a number of advantages: it is lipid-soluble and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier to allow rapid onset of action; it has a long history of safe use in both men and in women; and it can be given intravenously through an injection site in the arm or leg.8 Its effects on a variety of receptors in different locations allow a host of neuroprotective actions.

“A lot of drugs have failed—the ProTECT II trial was the first successful trial for traumatic brain injury in 40 years,” Dr. Stein says. “And one of the reasons I think progesterone has worked is because it does not target just one specific receptor mechanism...”

...Progesterone is a powerful hormone that has been proven to confer profound neuroprotective effects that improve outcomes and reduce mortality following brain injuries. Donald Stein, PhD, has been at the forefront of testing progesterone and discovered that giving intravenous progesterone to male or female brain-injured rats reduces swelling in the brain and helps motor and functional recovery. In a clinical trial involving 100 human patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, adding progesterone reduced the death rate by almost 60% compared with placebo.

Just good stuff to help us care for grandma, friends, and family.

Everyone has accidents, someday you may remember this post and inquire of this hormone to help a loved one. Remember, education is key - keep reading and learning - it's like exercise for your brain.

Thanks Life Extension

Mind Your Eyes

2009-12-27T15:27:00Z

If you really want to get the most out of your workouts, mind where your eyes are focused. Research (and self experimentation on my behalf) demonstrates that our extensor muscles (which lengthen a joint) follow an "eyes up" approach and flexor muscles (shorten a joint) respond to "eyes down" action.

Here is a great article from Conditioning Research on the matter.

Reflexive Lifting: How To Make Your Neural Reflexes Work With You And Not Against You!

In almost all sports, including lifting heavy weights, the eyes play a vital role. While a heavy deadlift doesn't require much in the way of great vision, it does require great eye position! Let me explain.

The muscles that surround the eyes, called the extraocular muscles, are all innervated by small nerve endings. These small nerve endings provide propioceptive (body awareness) input to various neuromotor sensors in the spinal cord and the brain. The primary reason for this is that the eyes and the inner ear work together to create balance and stability in virtually all of our movements.

How does this apply to your lifts? It's quite simple, really. The small nerve endings in the extraocular muscles actually create full body muscular responses to help guide movement. Practically speaking, what this means is that if your eyes are moved up, the small nerve endings in the extraocular muscles facilitate the extensor muscles of the body, creating a simultaneous inhibition of the flexor muscles. Conversely, the eyes down position will create flexor facilitation and extensor inhibition. Put simply, the eyes lead the body.

So, it makes sense that you can improve your exercise session by looking down as you pull things (weights or resistance) toward you and look up as you push things away from you.

Now, what are you waiting for? Lift your way to a better body today!

World's Longevity Experts Explain Simple Tips To Anti-Aging

2009-12-24T13:01:00Z

Superb! Yet, simple

Throw Out the Scale and Get Real!

2009-12-20T01:13:00Z

Are you trying to lose weight? Looking forward to tightening, toning, and developing an amazing physique? If so, then get off the scale and look at your [naked] self in the mirror and monitor how you clothes fit.

The mirror will give you an unbiased view of fat loss or gain and is a window to your overall health. The skin is very sensitive and if there's anything wrong internally, it will usually show up as a rash or dry, itchy skin. It is also important to check for skin disorders or cancerous lesions, bumps, or discolorations to avoid disease.

Focus on happy, positive fat loss and you shall succeed.

Excited for Paul Chek's Symposium in March

2009-12-19T18:41:25Z

I had the pleasure of attending one of Paul's great workshops and it was one of the most inspiring two hours of my life.

In this video "The Last 4 Doctors You'll Ever Need" he is 46 yrs. old, totally amazing, and extrememly passionate of his work.

The Necessary Truth; Scientist Gary Taubes Explains the Mechanisms of Weight Gain & Loss

2009-12-19T01:56:00Z

FASTINATING! Inquisitive minds must see this talk, it's a thought provoking eye-opener.

"Gary Taubes, an award-winning writer for Science, the New York Times Magazine and other publications, came to Stevens to discuss his controversial new bestseller, Good Calories, Bad Calories which argues that much of what we have been told about the relationship between body weight, diet and exercise is wrong."

I also suggest Gary's book; Good Calories, Bad Calories. The book is a comprehensive look into human physiology in explaining the mechanisms of weight gain.

Rest, Repair, and Grow; Stronger, Fitter, and More Attractive

2009-12-18T21:06:00Z

Work, stress, exercise, and poor food choices all wear down our bodies. On the flip side, it is important to realize we can directly combat there ill effects of sleeplessness, soreness, anxiety, and disease by simply getting enough rest. Rest being not just sleep, yet also pleasurable activities such as a hobby, massage, or a "play date" (time out with your friend).

RawFit wrote a nice essay describing the importance of rest/recovery, what it means, and how to obtain the best quality recovery.

Rest: Time is one of the best ways to recover (or heal) from just about any illness or injury and this also works after a hard workout. Your body has an amazing capacity to take care of itself if you allow it some time. Resting and waiting after a hard workout allows the repair and recovery process to happen at a natural pace. It’s not the only thing you can or should do to promote recovery, but sometimes doing nothing is the easiest thing to do.

Those of us who are exceptionally busy with heavy workloads will need fluid replenishment. I recommend a mixture of 16 oz of a sports drink with 1 - 2 scoops of whey protein after a high intensity exercise or work load session.

Replace Fluids: You lose a lot of fluid during exercise and ideally, you should be replacing it during exercise, but filling up after exercise is an easy way to boost your recovery. Water supports every metabolic function and nutrient transfer in the body and having plenty of water will improve every bodily function. Adequate fluid replacement is even more important for endurance athletes who lose large amounts of water during hours of sweating.

And remember, WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOUR OVERALL HEALTH IS ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR SEX LIFE!

Protein Builds Better Bones

2009-12-18T17:23:00Z

Recent studies show that higher protein diets are not only good for boosting our metabolism, but they are also proven to strengthen our bones.

Dr. Briffa shows us a few results here.

The intervention studies followed suit – protein supplementation was found to be associated with enhanced BMD...

...All in all, what is clear about this study is that it provides no support for the commonly-wielded criticism of high-protein diets regarding bone health. If anything, the totality of evidence shows that proteins richer in protein have benefits for bone.

Take control of your body today. Power up with protein, strengthen your muscles, strengthen those bones, burn fat for fuel, and sculpt the amazing physique you deserve!

Call today for your free consultation (586) 764-5683

"Be Great, Powerful Beyond Measure"

2009-12-17T16:37:05Z

Warning: Look out world, viewing this is powerful sh __!

Thanks Mark A.

Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Diets Promote Alzheimer's

2009-12-16T01:08:00Z

As I have mentioned in the past, fat is not the enemy...

...and cholesterol is not the culprit. Fat is a necessary nutrient that is part of a heart healthy diet and cholesterol is a steroid hormone that makes up part of our cells. High blood cholesterol is an inflammatory response that tells of an underlying problem such as heart disease.

Unfortunately, the uniformed public, physicains, and Big Pharma are busy promoting statins to reduce cholesterol to the point of inducing Alzheimer's and other dementia related disease.
There is a clear reason why statins would promote Alzheimer’s. They cripple the liver’s ability to synthesize cholesterol, and as a consequence the level of LDL in the blood plummets. Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the brain, both in terms of enabling signal transport across the synapse and in terms of encouraging the growth of neurons through healthy development of the myelin sheath. Nonetheless, the statin industry proudly boasts that statins are effective at interfering with cholesterol production in the brain as well as in the liver.

Researchers are only recently discovering that both fat and cholesterol are severely deficient in the Alzheimer’s brain. It turns out that fat and cholesterol are both vital nutrients in the brain. The brain contains only 2% of the body’s mass, but 25% of the total cholesterol. Cholesterol is essential both in transmitting nerve signals and in fighting off infections.

High cholesterol is positively correlated with longevity in people over 85 years old, and has been shown to be associated with better memory function and reduced dementia. The converse is also true: a correlation between falling cholesterol levels and Alzheimer’s.

Sadly, typical American diets are high in complex carbohydrates:

And of course, when you spike your blood sugar, your body spikes its insulin output in response. If you become insulin resistant, your insulin will be high all the time — which in turn inhibits your brain’s ability to clear away plaques. As Gary Taubes wrote:

Insulin (in a test tube) will monopolize the attention of insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), which normally degrades and clears both amyloid proteins and insulin from around the neurons. The more insulin available in the brain, by this scenario, the less IDE is available to clean up the amyloid, which then accumulates excessively and clumps into plaques … Mice that lack the gene to produce IDE develop version of both Alzheimer’s disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Other research has shown that insulin receptors in the brain can become resistant and waste away, just as they can in the muscles and other organs. No wonder some researchers are beginning to refer to Alzheimer’s as Type 3 diabetes.

Bottom line, cut back on carbs and increase your comsumption of whole foods, meats, vegetable, fruits, nuts, and seeds - the way nature intended for optimal function and longevity.

Thanks Fat Head.