Mass building - Increase Your Arm Size with this Simple Technique

Way back when I was in high school, one of my peers in the
campus weight room had a peculiar reply to a claim from a
buddy of mine. My friend was saying that a person could
derive benefit from splitting rep motions in half on
barbell curls. This essentially entails making sets out of
moving the barbell from the hips to the halfway point –
then doing a block of sets from the midway point to the
fully curled position. The guy's reply: "I've heard you
shouldn't perform split reps like that because it can make
you too bulky." My friend and I looked at each other and
agreed that we were both hoping to have such a burdensome
"problem".

I've often wondered why this technique isn't practiced and
talked about more often. Performing sets in this manner
makes sense from a kinesiology standpoint. When we perform
a barbell curl, for example, the tension on the biceps hits
its peak when the forearms are horizontal as the curl
reaches its midpoint. If we split the barbell curl into two
half rep exercises (top and bottom half respectively), we
double up on the time the biceps spend under this peak
stress condition. Moreover, we bring the bar 'up toward'
the peak stress position using the lower half curls and we
bring the bar 'down to' the stress position with the upper
half curls. This gives us the power a contraction from a
positive repetition on the first exercise, followed with a
dose of contractions from a predominantly negative movement
on the latter one.

Actually, when curling the weight from the top of the
exercise where the bar is at the shoulders – down to the
mid-position where the forearms are parallel – we get a
nice contraction of the biceps with a negative/isometric as
we have to put on the breaks and briefly stop the weight
before moving it up again. This is where the biceps really
endure the extra intensity that can give them the size that
full reps just don't provide.

If you also practice splitting your reps with some triceps
exercises, the results on arm development can be
impressive. I personally do this on one of those Cybex
triceps extension machines. With my upper arms resting on
the padded platform, I do sets from the starting position
to the mid-point of a full extension. After that, my
triceps get really worked and feel like they're breaking
the seams of my shirt as I perform sets from the mid-point
to the fully extended position.

Here's a suggestion that can really get your biceps growing
by adding just two specific exercises to your routine. Lie
down on a pulley-rowing machine while holding a straight
bar of shoulder width with both hands. Move your body far
enough down the rowing platform that you can curl the
weight to your waist level without having the weight stack
hit the top of the machine. You can usually secure your
lower legs under the platform or bar that's normally used
for a person's feet when doing rowing exercises. While
lying horizontally, perform sets of biceps curls like this,
curling the bar from your thighs up to the level of your
waist. The pulley, with its weight fighting gravity through
the entire motion, will give your biceps a nice contraction
through the whole motion.

After five or six sets of that, find a bench and set it
under a triceps press-down pulley. You won't use it for
triceps in this case, but rather to put maximum contraction
on the second half of your biceps curls. Lie on this bench
with a straight bar in your hands and the weight stack a
few inches behind your head. This time, you'll curl the
weight from the point of your forearms being parallel to
the floor to having the bar right on your chin. You can
even touch the bar to your neck for really peak contraction.

Five or six sets of this peaking movement after burning up
your biceps with the previous exercise will have them
appearing like they're bulging even when someone's handing
you a piece of paper.

If you've had problems with arm growth, I highly recommend
you start splitting some of your exercises into two
movements of half-range motion. It can really help you get
a respectable set of "guns".

----------------------------------------------------
Scott Abbett is the author of HardBody Success: 28
Principles to Create Your Ultimate Body and Shape Your Mind
for Incredible Success. He is a certified fitness trainer
and a Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP. To see his
personal transformation, visit http://
http://www.hardbodysuccess.com

What Are Carotenoids And Why Do You Need Them?

Plants, like animals, require anti-oxidants to protect
themselves from free radical damage to their cells, and the
protective substances they have evolved are known as
phytochemicals.

So one of the major reasons for the common advice for
everyone to eat a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables
is that such diets will also of course be rich in these
phytochemicals, the plant anti-oxidants that appear to have
a tremendously positive effect on health. Numerous studies
have reported the benefits of such a diet in fighting
cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive degeneration and
diabetes – the characteristic diseases, in fact, of Western
affluence. But the science remains in its infancy, so
although thousands of phytochemicals are already known
about, this is probably just the beginning.

For example, the class of phytochemicals known as
carotenoids alone numbers more than 600. These are the
highly coloured molecules formed naturally by plants, which
lend them their characteristic yellow, orange or red
pigments.

Only a few of these carotenoids have so far been the
subject of serious research, but it's known that in plants
the carotenoids function as anti-oxidants in neutralising
the so-called "singlet oxygen" molecule, which forms during
photosynthesis. It's less clear, however, whether this
particular kind of reaction is significant for animal or
human health.

What is clear, however, is that certain of the carotenoids
– notably alpha and beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin
are significant as anti-oxidants because they are readily
synthesised by the body into vitamin A. The most important
of these "pro-vitamin A" carotenoids are beta and
alpha-carotene.

Certain types of food such as pumpkins, raw, cooked or
canned carrots and winter squash are rich in both alpha and
beta-carotene (as well as the other carotenoids), so eat
these and you will be getting both.

The principal differences are that beta-carotene is present
in greater quantities and that the body converts about
twice as much of the beta-carotene it absorbs into vitamin
A when compared with alpha-carotene, the relevant figures
being 40% and 20% respectively. A given quantity of any of
these foods will typically contain only between a quarter
and two-thirds as much alpha as beta-carotene. For these
reasons only the figures for beta-carotene are given here.

So an 8 fl oz can of carrots will typically contain around
21,955 mcg of beta-carotene, canned pumpkin 17,000, a cup
of cooked carrots around 13,000. Beta-carotene is also
present in a wider variety of foods such as turnip green
10,593 mcg and kale 11, 470 mcg per cup respectively.

In both cases the anti-oxidant effects of the vitamin A
produced are enhanced by the unconverted alpha and
beta-carotene which continue to act as anti-oxidants in
their own right, and being highly fat soluble are
particularly valuable in protecting the delicate fatty
structures of the body's cells such as the membranes.

Along with other fat soluble anti-oxidants, alpha and
beta-carotene also appear to assist in preventing the
oxidation of the low density blood lipids (LDL), the
so-called "bad" cholesterol which is widely believed to be
a major precursor of cardiovascular disease.

Perhaps surprisingly, the effective absorption of
beta-carotene particularly depends on the presence of this
"bad" cholesterol. But with the obvious exception of
artificially introduced toxins, if a substance is found in
the body it's there for a good reason. So in fact this is
a very good example of the body's holistic and balanced
functioning, because although you need LDL to absorb and
carry beta-carotene around the body, that beta-carotene
will itself help to raise levels of High Density Lipids
(HDL), or so-called "good" cholesterol.

In addition to this role in combatting cardiovascular
problems, many research studies, have highlighted the
potential of beta-carotene as a weapon against cancer,
probably because of its general anti-oxidant function, but
also because of the part it plays in the biochemical
communication between cells. This is vital if the immune
system is to be able to kill off cancer cells in the early
stages of their development and before the disease takes a
hold.

Conventional medicine recognises the benefits of a diet
rich in carotenoids, but tends to be sceptical that the
very high supplementary doses advocated by many alternative
practitioners will provide any significant advantage. As
so often, it is a question of balancing the risks.

But where a substance appears to be almost entirely benign
in any realistically conceivable quantity of intake, and
may offer very substantial health benefits at little
expense, the question must be: why wouldn't you take it? .

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products. Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm

Symptoms and Treatments for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is one of the few cancers that don't exhibit
symptoms until the cancer reaches the late stage of
development and it is at this point that many cases become
incurable. It also has non-specific symptoms and thousands
of cases each year are misdiagnosed as other, less severe
respiratory conditions. Simply put, mesothelioma is a rare
form of cancer that affects the thin layer of protective
tissue around the major organs, most noticeably the lungs,
heart and stomach and recently it has been positively
linked to the mineral asbestos. This thin layer of tissue,
the mesothelium, allows inhaled asbestos fibres to embed
themselves, and it is here that they can lay dormant for up
to 50 years before becoming cancerous.

The symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma depend
on which of the body's organs are affected.

Pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the lungs
and causes a number of symptoms including:

· Persistent cough that doesn't improve with medication
· Breathing difficulties
· Shortness of breath
· Fever
· Difficulty swallowing
· Chest pain
· Weight loss

Pericardial mesothelioma. This second type of mesothelioma
affects the heart tissue and includes the following
symptoms:

· Breathing difficulties
· Chesty cough
· Palpitations

Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third type of mesothelioma
affects the stomach and causes the following symptoms:

· Nausea and vomiting
· Abdominal pain
· Weight loss
· Bloating of the stomach
· Bowel obstruction
· Fever

Obviously all of these symptoms can also be due to a number
of other conditions however anyone who experiences them
should consult a doctor, especially those who have been
exposed to asbestos in the past.

Unfortunately for mesothelioma victims, the symptoms only
present themselves late in the cancer's development and so
in many cases treatment is palliative rather than curative.
There are a number of possible types of treatment that can
be used against mesothelioma and the course of treatment
that is prescribed will depend to a large extent on how
developed the cancer is and how far it has spread around
the body. This information can be determined using x-rays,
CT scans and MRI scans because these imaging techniques can
provide a detailed view of the cancer's progression and how
many areas of the body are affected. The possible forms of
treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and
palliative care and either a single form or a combination
will be used.

Surgery. Surgery can be used in cases where there is an
obvious large tumour however it will only become an option
if the tumour is causing chronic pain or if it is causing
an obstruction e.g. in one or both of the lungs. Because
mesothelioma can take between 30 and 50 years to develop
many sufferers are elderly when they are diagnosed and so
the option of surgery will also depend on age and general
state of health. Occasionally it is considered safer to
live with the tumour than to risk the rigors of surgery.

Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is most effective when the
mesothelioma is confined to a single site, such as the
lungs. It can and often is used in conjunction with
chemotherapy as an extra defence against any small pockets
of cancerous cells that might survive drug therapy.
Radiotherapy can produce some side effects however they are
easily treated and rarely cause problems.

Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma will more often
than not involve a stay in hospital while a specific drug
concoction is introduced to the body intravenously.
Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread to other
areas and so the treatment needs to attack multiple sites.

Palliative care. Palliative care can include any of the
above treatments however they will be aimed at improving
and extending the quality of life rather than providing a
cure. Palliative care will also include pain relief as in
many cases the mesothelioma is well advanced and causing
chronic chest and abdominal discomfort.

Mesothelioma is considered a rare form of cancer however in
the last decade the number of cases diagnosed each year has
steadily risen. Since becoming associated with asbestos
many victims have successfully sued their former employers
and many more are starting proceedings each and every year.
Today workers have to wear protective clothing and
breathing apparatus while working with asbestos and so it
may be that the presence of mesothelioma dies along with
the current generation.

----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many
successful websites including CancerAbout at
http://www.cancerabout.net , a Cancer Resource site and
http://mesothelioma-attorney-search.com , a Mesothelioma
Lawyer Resource site.

Acne Scars and Treatment - Which Type of Treatment is Most Suitable for You

So you have got rid of the acne, but what do you do about
the scars?

With acne affecting about 25 percent of adults – and
roughly 80 percent of people in their teens and 20's – the
desire for an effective acne scar treatment is widespread.
Many people recover from acne without any permanent
effects, but others are left with disfiguring acne scars.
There are a variety of acne products and medicines that can
improve mild scarring, but sever acne scars must be treated
by a dermatologist, using a combination of surgical
procedures and skin abrasion therapy.

Acne occurs when pores in the skin become plugged with oil,
bacteria and dead skin cells. Bacteria grows inside the
plugged follicle, creating red, pus-filled red bumps.
Hormonal changes during the teen years (exacerbated by
stress in both teens and adults) cause increased oil
production that contributes to the problem. Most serious
scarring is caused by the more severe forms of acne, with
large pustules that are more likely to leave permanent
scars, even with regular acne treatment. The best way to
deal with adult acne is to begin using acne products as
soon as the acne appears, this preventing more acne and
more scarring.

After an acne lesion has healed, it may leave a red mark on
the skin. This, however, isn't a scar – it's a
post-inflammatory change in the skin's pigment as it goes
through its healing process, and will slowly fade over
approximately 6 to 12 months. If a good acne treatment
program is followed and no more acne develops in that area,
the skin can heal normally. Only if a change remains after
a year is it considered a scar.

The best way to prevent scarring and pigmentary changes
from adult acne is to is to prevent acne from occurring in
the first place. If you have serious scarring from adult
acne, however, you have a acne scar treatment options. The
most state-of-the-art method for treating acne scars is
laser resurfacing, which can be done by your dermatologist.
The laser removes the damaged top layer of skin, leaving
skin smoother. Treatments can take anywhere from a few
minutes to an hour, and the patient is given a local
anesthetic to lessen pain. It usually takes between three
and 10 days after a treatment for the skin to heal
completely.

The more traditional acne scar treatment treating acne
scarring is dermabrasion, which uses an abrasive disc to
wear down the surface of the skin, much like when you sand
down a piece of wood. As the skin heals, a new, smoother
layer replaces the abraded skin. It takes between 10 days
and three weeks for skin to heal between treatments. Both
of these types of treatments will take multiple trips to
the dermatologist, and will cause the skin to turn red
several months. Acne cannot be active – meaning you can't
have any pustules or blackheads – when these treatments are
done. Depending on the severity of your scars, your
dermatologist may also suggest a mild chemical peel or
microdermabrasion as an acne scar treatment, both of which
are done in the doctor's office.

In some cases, a doctor may recommend surgery for deep acne
scars, or collagen injections that displace the damaged
tissue. It works well on the scars that are not too deep,
but the treatment has to be repeated periodically. In the
most severe cases of acne scars, your doctor may recommend
plastic surgery. Plastic surgery as an acne scar treatment
is an expensive option, and it has the added problem that,
should you have problems with acne in the future, you have
less layers of skin and new scars could be even worse.

Whether you choose dermabrasion or a chemical peel, they
all work by removing the top layer of skin. So right after
treatment, the skin is sensitive and unprotected. This can
be an issue if you need to go outside a lot. Dust and
strong winds can damage newly abraded skin as well. After
acne scar treatment, you should only use acne products
specially formulated for sensitive skin. There are many
effective acne scar treatments and there is no reason to
leave your scars untreated. Do your research, make an
appointment with your dermatologist and be sure, that there
is a treatment that can remove your acne scars or make them
much less noticeable.

----------------------------------------------------
Find out more about the Best Acne Treatments or even about
Adult Acne for those of you who, like Michael Jennings,
have been unfortunate to suffer from it ==>
http://www.effective-acne-treatment.net