Friday, 20 August 2010

Discount Fitness Equipment - A Little Known Way To Pick Up Bargains

Finding discount fitness equipment and picking up real bargains is not that easy. While so many stores advertise "sales" it usually take $20 or $30 off the price tag and since exercise equipment is so expensive that is hardly a real discount. When I look for discount exercise equipment I look for stuff that has 30-50% off the price tag. Now that's a bargain!

The real question is where do you find that? Most people spend hours searching online for the best deal. Although its true that there are a lot of online warehouses that offer great deals, the reality is that most of them are only slightly cheaper than your local superstore or even your local supermarket.

You can always look on eBay, but this comes with its own problems. The biggest problem with buying fitness equipment on eBay is the fact that you cannot see it. You cannot inspect it and you cannot try it. Although you can save big - especially when you buy used fitness equipment, you cannot see how it works.

The best place by far to go shopping is where you can get 30-50% discounts. Not only can you get these huge discounts but its usually some of the best equipment you can buy. What am I talking about? Its refurbished equipment! See, every year gyms and health clubs all over America throw out millions of treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, weights - you name it! There are several companies that take this equipment and refurbish it. The end result is a good-as-new piece of equipment at half price. Check it out. you won't be disappointed.

Are you looking for discount fitness equipment? See my blog to learn more about buying used exercise equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deon_Du_Plessis

Wednesday, 18 August 2010

The Secret to Building Big Muscles

Most men want to build big muscles and be ripped at the same time. But, most men always seem to hit a plateau where they just can't seem to get any bigger. And usually, they think it is there training that is the problem. But the real culprit is not their training, but their diet. Today, I will give you the basic plan for any man to build bigger and bigger muscles.

First, lets start with the training. To build big muscles, you need to lift heavy weights. You want to focus on compound exercises that focus on multiple muscle groups. The basic exercises you should be focusing on are:

1. Bench Presses
2. Back Rows, (Dumbbell or Barbell Rows)
3. Shoulder Barbell Presses
4. Lat Pulldowns
5. Squats
6. Leg Presses
7. Deadlifts

These are 7 of the most basic, yet muscle building exercises, that will stimulate growth in your muscles. You also need to lift these heavy weights in a certain rep ranges that stimulate fast-twitch muscle fibers. These are the fibers that are responsible for the majority of muscle size. The ideal rep range to build large muscles is between 6 and 12 reps.

Next, is the diet. This is the area that most men fail at. Not eating the right foods, or the right amounts, or the right combinations. To make this simple, here is a great starting point. You should be eating about 1 gram of protein for every pound of lean body mass that you have. Next, start out with at least 2 grams of complex carbohydrates for every pound you weigh. Then with fat, you should be consuming around 20% of your calories from fat.

Now, if your muscles are not growing, you should up your complex carbs and protein a little bit. If you are gaining some fat, drop the carbs back a little. Just experiment what will work for you. And remember, the more muscle you gain the more high quality calories you will have to consume.

Ron Khawar
Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutritionist
http://www.getfitorangecounty.com

Ron Khawar has been a certified personal trainer and nutritionist for 17 years, helping thousands of people lose weight, tone muscle, and become much healthier.

Ron Khawar is the owner of Getting Fit Personal Training, located in Orange County, California. His team of qualified expert trainers help transform the residents of Orange County through their innovative and advanced training techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Khawar

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

Depression and Health Influence

Depression is a serious illness. Running the risk of taking high blood pressure's "glory", depression could be considered the silent killer. Clinical depression is not simply being "down" or "n the dumps". Clinical depression is a severe condition that affects a person mind and can ultimately cause a plethora of issues. A popular misconception is that a person should be able to simply "snap out of it". In fact, clinical depression must be fought by appropriate medical treatment or it can have effects that last for months or even years.

Here are a few complications or issues that are common to those who suffer from clinical depression:

1) Alcohol abuse - It's no secret that alcohol abuse leads to a multitude of issues including liver problems, brain damage, neglecting responsibilities and general impaired judgment.

2) Substance abuse - Substance abuse due to any reason is dangerous. However, it is a common path to take for depressed individuals.

3) Anxiety - Anxiety can lead to many issues including difficulty swallowing, breathlessness and chest pains.

4) Heart disease

5) Problems in work environments or school environments.

6) Relationship issues

7) Familial issues.

8) Isolation

9) Suicide

How do you know if you are depressed vs. sad?

First, it is not a simple process for an individual to diagnose himself as being sad vs. depressed. Always consult a physician in regard to ANY medical issue that seems abnormal. You should not base normality on your own life experience as many individuals suffer from depression for years. Assessing your current mental state and comparing that to your mental state 2 years ago may not be enough. You should simply look around you and determine if your coping process seems different than most. Also ask your friends and family. That being said, sadness is reactive. You may be sad because you lost a friend or family member. You may be sad because you lost your job or you may be sad because you received some troubling information. You can actually understand WHY you are sad based on the situation. Depression on the other hand is not necessarily tied to a specific event. You may experience depression out of the blue with no specific issue to tie it to. There could be times that stressful circumstances can trigger the depression and other times that the depression is seemingly there for no apparent reason.

Keep a log:

Keeping a journal may be beneficial to individuals who may be experiencing depression. Start by logging the way you feel when you wake up. Rate it from 1-10. 1 =feeling great and 10 = extremely depressed. Throughout the day, as your mood changes...be sure to log the mood swing and if there are factors that caused that mood swing vs. a mood swing with no apparent cause. Be sure to consult a physician as soon as you determine that there are mood swings without any apparent cause.

The Mayo clinic recommends exercise as an excellent way to ease depression. There are a few reasons cited:

1) Exercising releases feel-good brain chemicals and endorphins that ease depression.
2) Gaining confidence due to goals that have been met.
3) Exercise takes your mind off of issues that you may have.
4) Last but not least it enables you to cope with your issues in a healthy way as opposed to drinking or substance abuse.

Finally, depression is a sickness! You should not consider yourself week or less of a person if you suffer from depression. Alternatively, you should consult a physician and closely follow his or her direction. Many times consulting a psychologist can help significantly and in some extreme cases medications may be prescribed that may also help. If you suffer from depression, know that you are not alone. Know that there is help available. Most importantly, know that turning to alcohol or ignoring the condition will only exacerbate the problem.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simeon_Knight