The Washboard Abs Scam

The Washboard Abs Scam
Do you wish you had more time to exercise? You're not
alone. People cite a lack of time as the number one reason
they don't exercise, and it's not surprising. With long
commutes, 40-hour or more workweeks, family commitments and
thousands of other obligations demanding our time, we often
put ourselves last.

But can you really see fitness results in "five minutes a
day," the way home exercise equipment infomercials promise?
Remember this: if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
These products give hopeful consumers promises for "fast
weight loss" and "million dollar abs." When the products
turn out hard to use and results fall short of
expectations, consumers become disheartened and abandon
their fitness efforts altogether.

Ab Exercisers Worst of the Bunch The biggest culprits in
the "slimmer-in-only-five-minutes-a-day" scam are the
so-called "ab exercisers." The problem? Spot reduction does
not work. The exercises may help you tone and build your
muscles, but if your beautifully strong abs are hidden
beneath layers of fat, no one will see the results!

We're not saying ab exercises themselves are bad. We're
saying you won't get a six-pack with these exercises alone.
Not even crunches will give you those results—but at
least crunches are free and don't take up room in your
closet!

In a study conducted by the Biomechanics Lab at San Diego
State University and funded by ACE (the American Council on
Exercise), many ab exercisers advertised on infomercials
were found to be no more effective or only slightly more
effective than traditional crunches. Other ab equipment
doesn't require a study to support the fact that it won't
live up to its claims. All you need for that is common
sense. A NASA scientist doesn't need to sit on a tin can to
know it won't fly his butt to the moon.

Here are just a few of the ab exercisers that don't live up
to their hype and false promises.

Ab Lounge XL - The Ab Lounge XL claims to "tighten and tone
upper abs, lower abs and obliques faster than you ever
thought possible." The product looks like a fold-up lounge
chair, and the infomercials show people effortlessly
rocking back and forth in the chair. Momentum is doing most
of the work. Manufacturers claim the AB Lounge XL works
because it provides a wider range of motion, keeping ab
muscles working longer. But longer than what? And does it
matter? Research shows that crunches are most effective
when completed over a range of no more than 30 degrees. If
you stick this in your living room, you'll probably use it
as a lounge chair rather than an exerciser. Save your
money, do crunches on a mat, and buy a La-Z-Boy if you want
an extra chair. Torso Track - Once again, this product
promises results in five minutes a day; be very skeptical
of these claims. The user kneels on the attached kneepad
and glides back and forth, exercising the abs, arms,
shoulders, and back all in one motion. According to the ACE
study, the Torso Track seemed to be marginally more
effective than traditional crunches. However, the study
reports, "This training benefit is likely offset by the
lower-back discomfort reported by a significant number of
subjects while using the Torso Track." If it hurts, you're
doing it wrong! (I don't mean the burn that comes from
working muscles hard... I'm talking about aches and pains
caused by straining and pulling in awkward positions.) The
Web site claims this exerciser stores easily under the
bed... and that's where it should stay.

Ab Rocker - In two separate ACE studies, the Ab Rocker,
perhaps the worst in the bunch, was shown to be 80 percent
less effective than crunches. Why would someone want to
spend money on an exerciser that is only one-fifth as
effective of something you can do for free? Most users
reported that it was difficult to use, and some reported
tipping over backwards on it the first few times they
tried! Ineffective and dangerous... a losing combination.

Red Exerciser - This is another example of how
manufacturers try to create a new mousetrap to snare
consumers but use the same old lies. The product claims you
can reduce inches from your waistline by sitting on a red
seat that spins like any office chair. By twisting your
upper body from left to right while holding hand grips, you
are supposedly exercising your midsection "where you need
it, to sculpt a slimmer, new, you." The biggest problem
with this piece of equipment is that it is a rotary torso
movement, which can place stress on the spine if not
performed properly. The dangers are increased when
additional resistance is added, placing more pressure on
your spine as you twist your body back and forth. Those
with back problems should avoid this movement altogether.
There is a simple tension knob to adjust the resistance on
the Red Exerciser called the "Torsion Max Resistance
System," which makes it sounds like there is some sort of
advanced technology involved. This piece of equipment is
anything but advanced. It's just another marketing scheme
and a waste of money.

The Bean - One of the newer ab exercisers, the Bean
promises a "full-body workout in only five minutes a day!"
If you read more closely, you'll see you can use the Bean
instead of a stability ball (exercise ball) for Pilates or
Yoga. But why not just buy a much less expensive, more
reliable, stability ball? Unfortunately there have been
many reports of a deflating Bean and, since I purchased one
myself to test and it did, in fact, deflate after only a
few months, I can vouch for that theory. I have owned a
stability ball for about ten years now and it's still as
good as new. The other problem with doing ab exercises on
the Bean is that it allows you to rock back and forth,
creating momentum. It's a great ride if you have a
four-year-old daughter like I do, but if you actually want
to exercise your abdominal muscles, there are much better
solutions for less money.

----------------------------------------------------
Craig Pepin-Donat has helped millions of people get on the
path to living a healthier and more active lifestyle. He
has dedicated his life to helping people through health and
fitness education and now brings that knowledge and
expertise to you in his ground breaking book, The Big Fat
Health and Fitness Lie. He founded
http://www.FitAdvocate.com

The Ten Fat Loss Mistakes You Are Making at the Gym - Part 1

The Ten Fat Loss Mistakes You Are Making at the Gym - Part 1
1. Stop Using Weight Machines! Weight machines are sexy,
sleek, shiny, and smooth. Perhaps that is why gym owners
and lazy personal trainers have fallen head over heels in
love with them.

Gym owners pack their gyms with these eye catching devices
so that they could get more people into their gyms without
having a large amount of trainers on staff. Those gym goers
who do utilize personal training services often get a
highly paid escort who walks them from machine to machine
and adjusts the setting for them. Do you know how to spot a
good trainer? One who never takes their clients to the
weight machines!

Without getting too biological on you, your muscles do not
work in isolation - they work in a chain of movement. The
most evil of machines, the leg extension machine, is a
prime example - it is just not a natural movement. It has
absolutely nothing to do with how our legs are used in
everyday life - for walking, climbing, and descending.

Don't get me wrong - machines do have their place in the
fitness world. However, they are most beneficial to two
populations - bodybuilders who are looking to correct a
deficiency or weak point, and physical therapy patients who
are trying to rebuild strength and regain range of motion.
They are not meant for people looking to lose fat!

People looking to lose fat need to utilize free weights,
body weight exercises, and various other equipment like
medicine balls, resistance bands, and balance trainers -
essentially training movements not specific muscles.

2. Stop Using the Handles on Cardio Machines! It cracks me
up every time I see someone who is using a treadmill and is
holding on to the bar in front of them for dear life with a
white-knuckled grip. Maybe you've seen the people who are
draped all over the stairmaster or stepmill with their
arms, and their heads facing down while their back is
unnaturally curved. There are even those who hold on to the
siderails on the stepmills or elliptical machines and push
up with their arms (or my all time favorites are the people
who contort their arms so that their wrists are facing
forward!)

What do these people all have in common? They are wasting
their time! Bars are meant for balance only - not as a
crutch to use when the going gets tough during exercise.
When you walk or run outside, do you have anything to hold
on to? Unless you run while pushing a shopping cart (very
odd!) or stroller (if you must), let go of the handles.
You'll expend more energy and use more muscle, thus getting
a more efficient and effective workout.

I know what you're thinking - "What about the elliptical
machines with the handles that pump back and forth? Don't I
get more of a calorie burn from them?" In short, no.
Pumping your arms back and forth without touching the
handles will of be far more benefit to burning fat.

And don't use the handgrips on any cardio machine to get
your heart rate - they will not be accurate. Instead, read
on and follow my advice below.

3. Stop Doing Hours and Hours of Cardio! Read this next
statement carefully, then re-read it:

You should never spend more than 20 minutes doing cardio

Want proof? Simply put a picture of a marathon runner next
to a picture of an Olympic sprinter (preferably one who is
not using steroids!). Now, which person's build would you
rather have?

If you're doing long bouts of cardio (more than 30 minutes
at a slow and steady pace) you are burning muscle - muscle
that is extremely vital to your fat burning efforts. Your
"cardio", rather than slow and steady, should be short
bursts of hard effort followed by recovery. I will go into
this much more in depth in future newsletter articles, and
may even have an expert or two explain in detail why
training this way is much more efficient for fat loss. For
now, take my word for it that SLOW AND STEADY DOES NOT WIN
THE FAT LOSS RACE!

4. Stop Reading / Watching TV / Using Your Mobile Phone
While In the Gym! The gym is the one place where
multi-tasking is an absolute no-no! Shut your mobile phone
off (or better yet, leave it in the car - many facilities
are starting to ban mobile phones because people tie up
equipment while using them, or worse, take pictures). Leave
the magazines and newspapers at home. You only have a
limited time at the gym - you should be focused on
achieving your daily goals. To keep myself honest, I'll use
a stopwatch to time my between-sets breaks. Eliminate all
distractions and your fat loss efforts will improve
dramatically!

5. Never Workout Without Recording Your Results as You Go!
Whether you use a good old fashioned paper and pencil, or a
tricked-out PDA, keep track of your workouts EVERY TIME you
go to the gym.

A well-respected fitness expert (who we will hopefully be
able to speak to during one of the upcoming teleseminars)
speaks of setting personal records (or PRs as he calls
them). Every time in the gym, you should be focused on
doing a little bit more than you did the last time - a
Kaizen approach to fitness. Let's say you did 3 sets of 5
chin-ups in your last workout - you should strive for 3
sets of 6 chin-ups next time out. If you fail, that's ok -
the quality of your workouts will be affected by many
variables like nutrition, amount of sleep, outside stress,
etc. Even if you did one set of 6 chin-ups followed by two
more sets of 5, you've bested your personal record. And how
would you know that? Because you were keeping track!

I have detailed workout journals that span years. Not only
do I note the sets, reps, time, etc. but also any other
notes that would have come into play (e.g., "gym crowded -
forced me to substitute Exercise X for Exercise Y; poor
sleep the night before; feeling nauseous). This helps you
to put some context around your performance. Your solution
does not need to be fancy - a notebook is fine, though
there are software packages you can use. No matter what you
choose, make sure you utilize it every time you work out!

----------------------------------------------------
Matt Lisk is a fat loss expert who has used his knowledge
to lose over 70 pounds of body fat, reduce his body fat
percentage to under 10% and to resolve a variety of health
issues he was experiencing. He is the author of Lean State
University's Fat Loss 101 Newsletter at http://leanstate.com

Ultimate Fat Burners and the role of thyroid hormones.

Ultimate Fat Burners and the role of thyroid hormones.
Consuming less calories doesn't seem to be a good solution
for fat loss. The reason: When you consume less calories,
the body slows down metabolism making fat loss that much
more difficult. You see, the levels of thyroid hormone,
which help support metabolism, drop off when calories
decline. But there are some good substances which can
support thyroid levels so that burning the calories while
dieting is not a headache.

Phosphates, 7-Keto and Guggulsterone are what we are
talking about. Phosphates salts of sodium, calcium,
potassium keep thyroid levels up while dieting. A study
showed that women eating as few as 1,000 calories per day
increased their metabolism by 12%-19% when taking a
supplement that consisted of sodium phosphate 25mg.,
potassium phosphate 107 mg., and calcium phosphate 537 mg.
7-Keto which is a precursor to DHEA that supports thyroid
levels. A study showed that overweight women taking 200 mg.
daily lost more weight than those not taking the
supplement. Guggulsterone is a plant derivate common to
India that supports thyroid hormones which has been used
for hundreds of years in Asia as a weight-loss remedy. It
helps burn fat and can help lower cholesterol.

Some people lose more weight on high protein diet than a
high carb or high fat diet. It takes energy to digest food.
Consuming one gram of protein (5.65 calories) yields only
4.0 calories of energy. One gram of fats (9.4 calories)
yields 8.9 calories of energy. One gram of carbohydrates
(4.1 calories) yields 4.0 calories of energy. You lose
nearly 30% of the energy when consuming protein, but only
7% from fat, and 2% from carbohydrates. This accounts for
about half the weight loss difference from people on a high
carb vs. low carb diet. The other half is due to water loss
in people on a low carb diet.

Whether you are on a diet or not, hgh or antiaging human
growth hormone products like dhea or genf20 are something
you should definitely have a look at.The Medical Profession
have gone into a lot of research over the last 50 years
into exactly what Human Growth Hormones are and exactly how
they affect your overall health and well-being. The facts
and figures speak for themselves.Other hgh human growth
hormone research clinical studies performed over the past
30 years have demonstrated that hgh can allow users to lose
fat, build muscle mass, improve sexual performance, remove
wrinkles, eliminate cellulite, and increase immune function
when taken through intra-muscular injections. Hgh is the
master hormone which is secreted by the pituitary gland and
is responsible for directly and indirectly balancing the
body's critical hormones.

----------------------------------------------------
Read comprehensive Reviews on Hgh and Antiaging Products.A
thorough research is definitely required before you go on
to buy an hgh product.Find out which hgh products work and
which don't at http://www.hhhwcenter.com/

Competition Kettlebell Training: Improving the Snatch

Competition Kettlebell Training: Improving the Snatch
With Kettlebell Snatching, blisters appear as a side effect
from such a regular activity, this is both necessary and
vital for your development. But none the less, the palms
can become extremely sore and in some cases tears can
appear on the palms of the victims. Such painful
afflictions were seen on many a RKC in Denmark 2007, but
this was due mostly to the inexperience of the individual,
but largely because of the extreme high rep demands from
the Kettlebell Snatch.

The Kettlebell Hard Style way just won't get you the high
numbers that so many competition athletes can achieve. If
you have ever tried to reach the high numbers of Kettlebell
Competition Lifters you'll know that your limbs will give
out way before your cardiovascular system lets you down.
Have a fire extinguisher to hand as your hip flexors and
forearms will need to be put out. An example of the level
that is required for the 32kg Kettlebell Snatch is approx
250-300+ reps in 10min. (weight categories depending)

Two Kettlebell methods that we will discuss are the upward
phase before lockout and the holding position in the
downward phase.

Regular Kettlebell Snatch enthusiasts will usually use the
up and over wrist method, with a slight pull to decelerate
the Bell onto the top of the forearm. This is fine, but
with the high rep demand and 10min duration this, during
heavy training, won't get you the numbers required for
competition level. It's inevitable that constant impact to
the wrist will slow recovery and delay necessary Kettlebell
training time.

What is required is the 'Round the Wrist' method. With a
slight flick of the wrist the Kettlebell travels outward
around the wrist resulting in less or even no impact to the
forearm. It's a sweeter way to perform the Snatch and gets
you much added reps without fatiguing the forearm.

The real pain comes from the pinching of skin between the
handle and palm when the Kettlebell is swung downward for a
second rep. This can be avoided with a technique called the
'Monkey Grip'.

The 'Monkey Grip' is achieved by holding the Kettlebell
handle by the very ends of the fingers. When the Kettlebell
is over head in the 'victory position' it is given a little
push upward and the resulting effect is the Kettlebell
moves outward away from the body. It is then possible with
timing and good judgement to catch the handle with the
'Monkey Grip' method. The Kettlebell lands comfortably and
is turned thumb pointing back ready for a repeated swing.
This method again allows for more reps by not pinching the
skin and aggravating any blisters that may be present.

----------------------------------------------------
Greg is a leading health and fitness professional and
co-founder of the "Kettlebell Union" based in Hampstead,
North London. Get Free fat blasting Kettlebell Workouts and
tips at: http://www.kettlebellunion.com

Clinical Trials PROVE Hoodia Speeds Weight Loss

Clinical Trials PROVE Hoodia Speeds Weight Loss
The Hoodia Gordonii diet pill has rapidly become one of the
most popular methods for losing weight in the world today.
You may be forgiven for being sceptical about the effects
of this new wonder drug, but many users have achieved
incredible results with their weight loss in a short period
of time.

The Hoodia Gordonii plant grows in South Africa. The native
peoples used this plant to heal ailments as well as for its
capabilities as an appetite suppressant - useful during
long hunting trips when food was very scarce.

Hoodia has had significant scientific testing performed on
it to guarantee its safety. 100% pure Hoodia is completely
natural and contains no chemicals. There have been no side
effects recorded in its history of usage, and so it has to
be considered proven perfectly safe for consumption.

During clinical trials on Hoodia pills in the UK, half of
the participants were given Hoodia and half were given a
placebo. The result of these trials found that the
participants who were given the Hoodia did in fact lose
weight. It was found that their appetite was reduced, and
since they didn't feel hungry they ate less and therefore
reduced their calorie intake. So the trials revealed that
the Hoodia pill was found to be very effective with the
assistance of weight loss.

The Hoodia plant has the amazing ability to reduce or
suspend your hunger by making you feel full faster and for
longer. The plant also acts as a thirst quencher and
because of this, if you are taking any kind of hoodia
extract, it is very important to make a strong effort to
drink the required amount of water each day and not to rely
on how thirsty you feel as a guide to how much you drink.

As with any other weight loss program, you need to use the
Hoodia Gordonii diet pills in conjunction with a healthy
diet and lifestyle. By suppressing your diet you will eat
less throughout the day so it is important that when you do
eat that you eat healthy and nutritious meals. You still
need to receive your daily nutritional requirements so
always use the diet pills along with a nutritional diet.

Many of us eat out of boredom or because we are stressed,
depressed, or lonely - pure Hoodia Gordonii diet pills will
be of great benefit by reducing the need and the feeling to
eat. By helping to control the amount that you eat you
will easily achieve your weight loss goals.

Dieting and losing weight is never easy and there are new
"wonder" diets appearing on the market all the time, so we
can be very cynical about all weight loss programs or
products, but the Hoodia diet pill has had significant
testing to prove both its safety and its effectiveness as a
weight loss aid. The Hoodia diet pills are a fantastic
way to speed up your weight loss program and to help you
lose those unwanted pounds and start living the happy and
healthy lifestyle that you desire.

----------------------------------------------------
For more revealing details about Hoodia Gordonii and other
weight loss products, visit

http://hoodiagordoniidietpills101.com/
And why not grab the free Weekend WeightLoss Revolution
book - perfect background reading for anyone trying to shed
a few pounds.

How Can Glutathione Help With Immunity, Detoxification Or even Cancer ...

How Can Glutathione Help With Immunity, Detoxification Or even Cancer ...
Glutathione

It's a known fact, everyone wants to live a longer and
happier life. And really, all that is required to achieve
this is to have a healthy mind and a healthy body. A
healthy body is one which is full of energy, good immunity
and a great detoxification system. I'm sure you agree, you
need to have all the three for the best results. However
something that you may not know is one nutrient
specifically plays an important role in providing all three
of these, and it is known as 'Glutathione'. Your body
itself synthesizes this vital nutrient and all you have to
do is to support your body ability to produce glutathione
in adequate amounts.

Glutathione - the anti-oxidant and free radicals

Our body undergoes wear and tear continuously. It is
exposed to so many harmful things. It is exposed to stress,
pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging,
injury, trauma etc. All these pile up a dangerous group of
chemicals called free radicals. These get accumulated in
the cells. These free radicals meddle with the normal
functioning of the cells.

Free radicals need to be removed if your bodies cells are
to function normally. This is where anti-oxidants play a
major role. They neutralize these free radicals and prevent
them from causing further damage to the cells. Glutathione
is the super anti-oxidant that is present inside the cell
itself. It is present in all cells and efficiently
nullifies the effects of free radicals. The incredible
thing is that Glutathione is produced naturally in our
body. However as we age we produce less and less,
eventually allowing free radicals to run freely in our
body. Creating disease and other problems we call, "the
signs of aging"

Glutathione and immunity

A weak immune system is helpless in preventing various
infections. If your immune system is low, for example if
you have an HIV infection, even bacteria that are very mild
without causing any disease can enter your body producing
various symptoms. The vital molecule glutathione is present
in all cells including the cells of the immune system. They
readily ward off any kind of infection. You have to keep
the optimum level of glutathione inside the cells. All you
really have to do is keep a diet rich in glutathione and
help your body to create more of it.

Glutathione and detoxification

There is a wonderful organ in our body - the liver. It
synthesizes protein, stores energy and removes the toxic
substances from the body. Whatever is considered a foreign
substance and deemed toxic, are removed from the body by
the liver. With the help of a few chemical substances and a
few chemical reactions involving them, the liver
neutralizes these toxic substances by a process called
detoxification.

Detoxification occurs in two phases - phase I and phase II
reactions. A number of chemical substances are involved in
this. And the most important one is the glutathione. Though
glutathione is available in many natural food substances
like fresh fruits and vegetables, the liver can synthesize
glutathione on its own when necessity arises.

Glutathione and cancer

With improved standard of living and better medical
facilities, the diseases caused by infections have
decreased. But there is an increase in the incidence of
many non-infectious diseases including cancer. Research has
shown that people who suffer from cancer have low levels of
glutathione in their body. By keeping the glutathione at
normal levels, cancer can either be prevented or its
progression can be stopped.

----------------------------------------------------
Michael is an independent representative of Max
International. To find out more about our product and how
it can help your body to produce more glutathione 100% of
the time, please visit:
http://themaxgxlteam.com/success/getmoreinfo

The Couch Potato Solution

The Couch Potato Solution
The top reason that people give for not exercising
regularly is not having enough time. For some reason, we
can't find time to exercise for 30 minutes, but the average
home in the U.S. has a TV blaring for over seven hours, and
the average American is glued to it for over four hours per
day. We are drawn to watch TV because it is a quick and
convenient escape. After a stressful day at work, one click
of the remote can immediately change our state of mind.
When the work day is over, the last thing we want is more
work. TV triggers emotional responses and alters the
chemical reaction in the brain. If you have ever shed a
tear while watching a heartfelt program, you know how easy
our emotions can be manipulated. If you've ever felt the
exhilaration of watching an action movie, the excitement of
a game show, anxiety from a suspenseful program, happiness
during a comedy or fear during a horror movie, you know how
easy it is for TV to push your buttons and change your
emotional states. Conversely, when we think about exercise,
we think about work. Even the name we use to describe
exercise is to "work out". So what's the solution?

The idea of joining a fitness center for some people is
problematic, again because of the time requirement and the
relationship with work. Even though an actual work out can
take as little as 30 to 40 minutes, after you factor in
travel time to and from the gym and time to shower and
change, you are likely looking at 90 minutes or more. Over
70 million people each year resolve to lose weight by going
on a diet. Unfortunately, diets alone will never provide
the answer for sustained results. Hundreds of diets profess
to have the solution for weight loss, yet the long term
positive results from dieting falls below the 5 percent
margin. For many, home equipment can be a viable solution,
but the challenge is wading through the lies and deceptions
of companies that advertise products that offer unrealistic
results. Then there is the cost which for many people makes
home equipment prohibitive.

Finally, there is a viable option that is easy to use,
affordable and with proper and consistent use, will provide
significant results. This "Fit Advocate Approved" product
is called MyGym and the beauty of it is that it is small,
portable and can be easily used during your TV time.
Gaining weight is a simple process. Each pound of weight
gained comes from 3,500 excess calories. Every day you burn
a certain number of calories just by living and breathing
(your Basil Metabolic Rate also known as BMR), and the more
you move through activities such as walking, exercise or
any movement the more calories you burn beyond what your
body will deplete just by being alive. No matter how you
look at it, calories are king when it comes to weight gain
and weight loss. The best efficient ways to burn more
calories is to move more.

While there are plenty of things you can do to burn
calories, there is no doubt that a consistent strength
training program will provide the best fundamental
component to effect lasting results. Strength training
creates lean muscle tissue which is your body's fat burning
machinery. The more lean muscle tissue you have, the more
calories you burn at rest. No matter what type of activity
you choose, "moving more" has to be a habit and part of you
daily routine. Since the time we spend watching TV tops all
other activities other than sleeping or working, what
better time to include physical activity to improve our
health and enhance our lives.

MyGym is a simple platform connecting multiple strength
bands used to create resistance for exercise movements to
work every muscle group. The bands make it easy to adjust
resistance for different exercises and to add resistance as
your strength levels increase. Fully equipped with several
easy-to-use attachments along with a complete outline of
every possible exercise and instructional DVDs, MyGym has
it all.

It is a proven fact that small amounts of physical activity
can have a big impact on your weight and your health. If
watching TV for hours each day has become a part of your
routines and habits, MyGym is the solution to improving
your health with a very small investment in both time and
money. All you have to do is to share about 10 to 15
minutes of your TV time each day to impact a positive
change in your life.

----------------------------------------------------
Craig Pepin-Donat has helped millions of people get on the
path to living a healthier and more active lifestyle. He
has dedicated his life to helping people through health and
fitness education and now brings that knowledge and
expertise to you in his ground breaking book, The Big Fat
Health and Fitness Lie. He founded
http://www.FitAdvocate.com