The Basics of HCG

By Amelia Handley

Losing weight isn't really a mystery. Exercise and a lower calorie count result in a loss of weight for most people. And that's the end of the story.

But then...why is it so hard for so many people to lose weight? The factor that defeats most people is time. Changing your routine to add exercise sounds easy, but it takes up your time. Eating healthy sounds simple, but it means going to the store far more often and spending a lot more time in your own kitchen instead of the nearest drive thru.

So what happens when you already have a life filled with demands and expectations and not a lot left over to dedicate to dieting? No weight loss; that's what happens. It's a frustrating cycle that many find themselves stuck in over and over throughout their lives; trying unsuccessfully to lose 10, 20, 30 or more pounds.

So what about all those famous people who seem able to drop pounds instantaneously? Having babies, gaining 30 pounds for a role, going off the deep end for a year or so...it doesn't really matter why they gain the weight, but it seems that as soon as they decide enough is enough they snap their fingers and they're back looking hot and fabulous on the red carpet. What do they have that makes that possible? They have HCG.

The HCG diet was created by Dr. Simeon. It's based on the combination of HCG, B12 and a low calorie diet. There aren't any expensive frozen menus to purchase. There are no yucky side effects. It's all based on the natural chemistry and physiology of the human body. And it's the most effective thing out there offering results as pronounced as 1-2 pounds of weight loss per day.

You still have to give some of your time to the cause, but this particular diet makes it a worthy cause. Immediate results make putting your time and energy into the HCG diet well worth it. The program offers full results within 15-40 days depending upon the regime you choose, but either way, you'll see the results you've been looking for and you'll see them before you fall off the wagon. - 17268

About the Author:

Amelia Handley studied exercise science at university with a minor in Nutrition. Yet she still found herself jumping from diet to diet trying to control her size. With HCG Diet Direct she's found a program that allows her to combine her desire to control her own body weight with her education and not feel off balance.

Cancer Questions

By Dr. Jason Fowler

Cancer is a health issue for many families. It's important to understand that there are many different kinds of cancers. Not all cancers are life-threatening. Some types may be very serious and some may be dealt with relatively easily.

First, it is important to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors. The words "tumor" and "cancer" are usually interchangeable.

Tumors (or cancers) affect how cells reproduce. Normal cellular reproduction is tightly regulated. Normally, cells reproduce at regular intervals. In a tumor, cell reproduction is chaotic - cells reproduce on their own schedule, rather than based on the needs of the body. The result is a mass of cells that is growing unchecked. The tumor mass "doesn't belong" - it's like it exists within its own world. But the tumor uses the body's precious resources to maintain its own existence.

Benign tumors are usually slowly growing. The benign tumor mass is surrounded by a membrane and is "well-encapsulated". A benign tumor may cause health problems when it reaches a size big enough to create pressure effects on the surrounding tissues. Such a tumor mass may create pressure on an important blood vessel, or it may kill nearby cells and tissues by the pressure it is exerting on them. Basically, the tumor isn't supposed to be there. There's no room for anything "extra" in the body.

Malignant tumors have more dangerous characteristics. Malignant tumors are more rapidly growing than benign tumors. Malignant tumor cells have the ability to make their way into the capillaries, traveling through the bloodstream until reaching suitable locations for new growth.1,2 A metastasis is a new malignant mass developing in a new location from that of the original tumor.

Also, malignant tumors have the unique ability to cause the body to build an individualized, extensive blood supply for the tumor. This process is called angiogenesis. This complex network of blood vessels supplies the malignant tumor with extra oxygen and nutrients to fuel its rapid growth. Essentially, malignant tumors highjack the body's resources for the tumor's own benefit. Malignant cells are highly adaptive and deadly.

Medical treatment for malignant types of cancers includes:

Where does chiropractic treatment come in? Chiropractic care is an important component of supportive care in cancer treatment. Your body needs to use all its available resources and energy to help fight cancer and assist in recovery. Gentle chiropractic treatment helps your body work more efficiently, improving overall mechanical function and easing stress on muscles and joints.3 These chiropractic benefits help make more energy available to assist your body in returning to a healthier state.

Chiropractic treatment helps support the process of recovery and the transition back to optimum health.

Foods for Cancer Prevention

Healthy eating is a very important factor in cancer recovery. And, healthy eating can go a long way toward cancer prevention. There are lots of nutritious, delicious foods that provide dynamic resources for your body to achieve peak physical conditioning.

Fruits and vegetables are packed with phytochemicals, chemical compounds that have powerful disease-fighting capabilities. Many recent studies have demonstrated that phytochemicals provide significant reductions in the risk of developing cancer as well as heart disease.

These wonder nutrients are found in broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, kale, and tomatoes. Tomatoes contain the important phytochemical, lycopene. In clinical trials, lycopene has demonstrated effective anti-prostate cancer activity and also improved cardiovascular blood flow.

Blueberries, cranberries, and apples are all rich in phytonutrients. Phytonutrients found in blueberries help prevent cancer and also reduce inflammation.

Fruits and vegetables have hidden powers that enable us to live longer and live healthier.

1Gavert N, Ben-Ze'ev A: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the invasive potential of tumors. Trends Mol Med 2008 (in press) 2Guarino M, et al: The role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer pathology. Pathology 39(3):305-318, 2007 3Demark-Wahnefried W, Jones LW Promoting a healthy lifestyle among cancer survivors. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 22(2):319-342, 2008 - 17268

About the Author:

For More information on health and wellness get ahold of Dr. JasonFowler at Lake Saint Louis Chiropractic.

Fat Loss With The Truth About Abs - My Review, And Why I Think It Will Work

By Eva Waters

There is a ton of information written in the field of health and fitness, and a lot of it is simply hyped up empty promises promising you can 'lose fat fast', or 'get ripped abs in 14 days'. Well, I hate to tell you, but no matter how much reading and purchasing you do, you are never going to find a miracle shortcut to a fit lean body. BUT, I am HAPPY to tell you that among all the hype, there is some actual sound fitness and diet advice out there, and if you are willing to put the effort in, then following the proper plan WILL bring results.

While the book by Mike Geary, "The Truth About Abs", is branded as a manual to creating 6 pack abs, it's really much more of a lifestyle manual. The Truth About Abs is an easy to follow guide to changing how you eat and how you exercise in order to achieve the results you have always dreamed of. Mike's 161 page book is broken down into 3 broad sections which are as follows:

1. Introduction, important information on what it means to be lean, factors affecting your metabolism, a review of body fat percentage, training your abs, and lean vs fat body mass.

2. Effective workout plans, information about more efficient ways to exercise, what multi-joint vs single joint exercises mean, as well as a collection of total body work outs. An explanation of why your current cardio program IS NOT helping you lose weight the way you expected; and

3. Diet and Nutrition, including information on blood sugar and insulin, the Glycemic Index, and the thermic (calorie burning) effects of food.

The workout schedules are easy to follow and don't take up much of your time. The Truth About Abs training program is broken down into two sections that include Interval training and Resistance and Weight training. Mike suggests that anything longer then 45-60 minutes per session is not a good use of your time. He breaks down his training program into 45-60 minute session, 3-4 times per week.

This amount of excercise should be easy to fit into your schedule if you are serious about drastically changing your body tone and getting in shape. The best thing about this program is that you don't really need a gym or equipment, but the recommended set of equipment can be purchased for $30-40 - a set of dumbells and an exercise ball is all you need to do the programs set out in the Truth About Abs program.

This program advises eating 5-6 smaller meals per day. Mike suggests eating every 3 hours during waking hours. He also suggests that you plan your meals for an entire week, and once per week go shopping only for the items you need for those meals.

Beyond planned, smaller and more frequent meals The Truth About Abs explains how to calculate your daily caloric intake requirements, and use that as a guide line for what we should eat. This section is really enlightening. You can eat regular and tasty meals and still lose weight. I can assure you that this is not a salad diet. In fact, there is an entire section of this book which explains why crash diets actually cause weight gain.

Mike provides meal plans that are easy to shop for, easy to make and very satisfying. These meal plans provide you with more than enough food and you are unlikely to experience any hunger pains. However, you need to be disciplined with yourself and follow the recommended diet plans. One of the first things the book says is: "The nutrition section of this book is vitally important to your success. Let me state this loud and clear... if all you focus on is your training, and your diet is full of junk, you WILL NOT see results! You need to apply BOTH the training strategies as well as the nutrition strategies if you want to make this work."

If you're like me, you've procrastinated on starting a real plan for losing weight for a long time. Mike's program was just the incentive I needed to get started, and he provides so much information and detailed workout and meal plans, it was a lot easier to stick with my goals. - 17268

About the Author:

Read more about how to find the best stomach exercises at my diet plan.

DON'T SIGN UP FOR ANY BOOT CAMP UNTIL YOU READ THIS FIRST

By Curtis Ludlow

How frequently, how long and how hard you workout, and what kinds of exercises you do should be determined by what you are attempting to achieve. Your goals, and current fitness level, age, health, skills, interest and convenience are among the factors you should consider.

Many assume that an athlete training for high-level competition should follow a different exercise program than a person whose goals are general fitness.

Interestingly, it is possible for a high level athlete and a novice to workout together. How is this possible? Simple, boot camp fitness programs.

Boot camp includes something from each of the four basic fitness components. And boot camp workouts usually begin warm up moves and end with a good cool down.

Furthermore, since the workouts are time based, not performance based, high level athletes and beginners both can enjoy benefits from the program.

Included below are the minimum time requirements to maintain a minimum level of fitness. Also included are some of the most popular exercises for each category.

1. A DYNAMIC WARMUP - 5-10 min. of moves such as walking, jogging, bridges or "inch-worms". Low intensity exercises that simulate the exercises to be performed in the activity can also be included.

2. STRENGTH - a minimum of 2 20-minute sessions a week that include moves for all the muscle groups. Strength training is the best way to improve strength.

3. ENDURANCE - at least three 45-MIN. exercise training sessions a week that include exercises such as pushups, abs, pull-ups, and strength training for all the major muscle groups.

4. CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE TRAIING - at least 3 30-minute sessiosn of non-stop aerobic (moves requiring oxygen) exercise a week. Popular aerobic conditioning activities include walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing.

5. FLEXIBILITY - 10-12 minutes of daily stretching exercises performed slowly, without a bouncing motion. This can be included after a warmup or during a cooldown.

6. COOL DOWN - a minimum of 5-10 minutes of slow walking, low-level exercise, combined with stretching.

MULTIPLY YOUR RESULTS WITH BOOT CAMP WORKOUTS

Boot camp workouts have been shown to improve strength, endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility.

It's true. With a good boot camp program you will improve all aspects of your fitness level with efficient movements that give you multiple (6-in-1) benefits. As an added benefit, you will also look and feel better too!

Find a boot camp program near you today! - 17268

About the Author:

Are you looking for excellent information on weight loss, fat loss and fitness? Be sure to visit Orange County Personal Trainer and Boot Camps in Diamond Bar for FREE health and fitness reports, videos, and much, much more.

Review of Sanyo HEC-DR7700K Massage Chair

By James Knolan

Our goal is to present a potential massage chair buyer with a comprehensive and unbiased review of a given massage chair. We have developed a 5 category system to evaluate a massage chair. We give equal weight to each category and give 0 to 20 points rating and then add them up to present an overall score. Our categories include Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. This systematic approach forces us to a disciplined method of evaluating a massage chair to help guide anyone looking at massage chairs. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K shiatsu massage chair price is in the luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: It is important that the manufacturer stand behind its product. A good gage of the company's confidence is its warranty coverage and duration. Sanyo gives a 1 year labor, 1 year parts and 1 year in-home service. It does cover the roller mechanism for 3 years. Sanyo is well below other manufacturers in this category with its parts and labor. Sanyo recently instituted in-home service with the 1 year in-home whereas most are 90 days. Customer service is good. Sanyo has a national hot line with 24/7 service. Turnaround time on service is good. Our Rating in this category is 14.

Comfort & Ergonomics: A massage chair needs to be comfortable and fit the body. Otherwise, you will only use the chair for massage. The chair back of the DR7700K is comfortable and the upholstery is well padded. The head pillow is soft and the thickness is appropriate. The seat is ok and the armrests have sufficient padding. The footrest is comfortable, but cannot be adjusted. If you are 5' 10" or more, then your knees must be bent when the footrest is raised. This is a bit restrictive for a large portion of the population. Our rating in this category is 15.

East of Use: Massage Chair manufacturers are building in more technology and features into their chairs. Users need to be able to quickly, easily and intuitively understand how to use of a product. The HEC-DR7700K comes equipped with advanced features. The main remote control has 4 auto programs and a Zero Gravity button to recline the chair back. Overall, this Sanyo remote is fairly intuitive and simple to use. The sub-remote is a tied to the chair with a cable. But the main remote is simple in design and easy to use. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 19 in Ease of Use.

Key Features: The most prominent features of the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K are the GK Rollers and Zero Gravity. Zero Gravity is a leaned back position where the pressure from your body evenly distributed across your back and your knees are above your heart. The GK Rollers are jointed massage heads that push outward from the chair back and can grip your shoulders. The most impressive feature is the GK rollers as they bring a third dimension into the robotic massage world. The sensation of the rollers coming over the top of your shoulders is an important advance in massage chair technology. The massaging capabilities of the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K are solid. Our rating in this category is 18.

Massage Therapy: The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K has both automatic and manual massage settings. Sanyo incorporates 4 full body automatic courses, 4 manual massage courses, and 5 massage speed settings for a total combination of 83 manual massage courses. The manual massage techniques include Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping, and Kneading & Tapping. Sanyo has some stretching capabilities for the lower body and has 24 airbags of coverage. The airbags have projections to perform shiatsu acupressure massage. There is a good variety of massage therapy techniques in this massage lounger. The Sanyo HEC-DR7700K is a 19 in Massage Therapy.

How does the Sanyo HEC-DR7700K rate? Overall, our rating of the Sanyo is an 85/100. The technology of the massages for both the back and the lower body are solid and thorough. The controls are easy to use and intuitive. The main drawbacks with this Sanyo shiatsu massage chair are first it has a weak warranty for the price of the chair. Second, the footrest cannot be adjusted, which limits the size of who can use the chair. Comfort is important because the massage helps one to relax. All in all, this is a solid chair with many interesting and novel features. You will not be disappointed. - 17268

About the Author:

Discover more regarding the Sanyo DR7700K Massage Chair. Check out our reviews, articles and more for your perusal. Learn why Sanyo is one of the best massage chair brands at http://www.massagechairwarehouse.com/ for all your needs.