Mirror Athlete Blog Articles

August 20, 2010

Remove Cellulite Naturally

Filed under: Exercise,Nutrition,Treatment,Weight Management,how to,obesity — Tags: , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 16:19

Just the other day my wife and I were discussing potential topics of interest to write on for the next monthly article while on a walk.  She said, I should write an article on ‘how to remove cellulite naturally.”  Fortunately for me, the Internet is loaded with many natural cure solutions and treatment options.  Approximately 90% of women in United States suffer from cellulite in varying degree where the damaged skin can mostly be reversed through natural treatment solutions.  You must also understand, for some, it may not be possible to remove all the cellulite damage regardless of treatment combinations.  However, significant reversal of the fatty toxic buildup pushing up against the connective tissues can be “greatly” minimized.  These natural & quasi-natural man-made treatment solutions can be broken down into 4 categories:  Exercise, Cellulite treatment creams, diet and other alternative treatments.

 Note:  For this article I’ve left out the surgical solution(s) because it is not a natural cellulite removal process and also carries potential health risk complications.  Creams on the other hand, although man-made can be found comprising mostly natural ingredients under many brand names.  One in particular has been tested and carries a FDA stamp of approval which I listed the key ingredient near the bottom of the article.

     Let’s begin by talking about the exercise solution to remove cellulite.  I know many of you don’t like to exercise, but one needs to understand the benefits of exercise.  Exercise is not only a cardiovascular-fat burning enhancer, but also a natural and reversing Cellulite solution.  Exercise does not need to be intense and a painful experience in order to remove fatty tissue deposits.  I do agree with the consensus of other exercise experts that a minimum of 20 min of aerobic activity per day for 3-4 days per week will have a huge impact on cellulite problem areas and total body fat weight.  One simply needs to begin aerobic activities 1-2 days a week for 10-15 minutes a day.  Within 2-3 weeks the body acclimates to the aerobic conditioning.  From this point forward you can begin to increase frequencies and time dedicated to aerobic conditioning until you reach a 25-30 minute aerobic exercise routine.  “First consult with your physician first to see if exercise is right for you.”

     Many fitness experts will tell you to focus on spot reduction through specific types of exercise, e.g., if fatty deposits are on buttocks and thighs; jogging, walking and biking will work to your advantage.  If your Cellulite is in your stomach and back, exercises that will help, e.g., kayaking, rowing, boxing, sit ups etc.  Although these are all good for weight reduction and cellulite removal goals, you must understand that spot reduction exercises mostly improve upon muscle toning if aerobic activity does not last a minimum of 15-20 minutes and within a fat burning Target Heart Rate (THR), See other articles at MAE (Mirror Athlete Enterprises) related articles, research under aerobic, walking.

     I believe one should work towards achieving at least a 30min aerobic “cardiovascular” session for the best fat burning and cellulite loss results.  Total body weight and cellulite reduction can be achieved best by the following aerobics exercises:  Walking, jogging, swimming, hiking and other low impact aerobic dance, and aerobic equipment use sessions.  Note: Walking and swimming is the least non-destructive muscular-skeletal aerobic exercises, best fat burning and cellulite removing activity for hips, buttocks, thighs and stomach (see MAE articles and search under walking, swimming, weight management and fitness tags for more Mirror Athlete fitness information).

     Maximum cellulite burning/toning benefits can be achieved by working your way up to 30-60 minutes of walking 3-4 times a week after acclimating to a 15-20 minute aerobics treadmill exercise, or road walking at “no cost!”  Follow me on twitter as “Mirror Athlete,” or by visiting the home site and click on “health media” to view my daily exercise tweet log.  Walk when I walk relative to where you are in your program and get fit while you lose weight and reduce cellulite.

     There are also many cellulite removal treatment creams that one can rub onto the skin to achieve results.  Creams work by repairing the connective tissues that have been stretched by the fat cells.  The creams incorporated with proper diet and exercise can assist in repairing your skins elasticity, cell structure and re-growth of the skins connective tissues.  This will help eliminate much of the white and soft pouching-puckered skin appearance.   Also, most cellulite removal creams can be purchased over the counter without a prescription.  Some of the most common ingredients of these creams are: L-Carnitine, green-tea, Caffeine and vitamin A.  One of the best creams on the market appears to be the ones that have the FDA approved active ingredient “Aminophyline,” (an asthma drug) which cause the fat cells to deflate.  Do your Due Diligence to understand adverse symptom risks when using any man-made pharmaceutical product.   Research the active ingredient “Aminophyline” and “brand name” cellulite removal with Aminophyline.  Or see your dermatologist for brand recommendations and understand the possible adverse risk symptoms of anything you rub into your skin.

     Now let’s cover a diet that can mitigate cellulite damage and appearance.  If the right nutrients are not incorporated into the daily diet, the connective underlying tissues will be more resistant to repair and cellulite reduction.  Although exercise and cellulite creams will help immensely with the results you desire, ensure your diet discipline maximizes your end result expectations:  1) quit eating junk foods that are processed high in carbohydrates, simple sugars and fats.  For example, fast foods, baked goods such as chips and pastries, fried foods, etc.  2)   Reduce/eliminate the following liquids within your diet: Sodas, coffee and alcohol.  Replace these drinks with water.  Water is a detoxifier-energizer that assists in removing the toxicities that are nourishing the cellulite.  Also drink fruit and vegetable juice to replace essential vitamins and minerals in repairing damaged connective tissues and skin while also keeping your immune system healthy.   3)  Eat more fresh fruits, including any assortment of berries and vegetables daily up to 3-5 portions each.  4)  Other diet tips:  Eat fish and/or take fish oil supplements.  Ensure you lean out your meats by cutting away excess fat.  Bake your fish as opposed to frying.  Cook meats and fish simmered in a skillet, use virgin olive oil (click link and “Wisdom of Consuming Oleic acid benefits).   5)  Natural supplements  (Click on natural supplement link and find the Purity products link banner within our health store).  These supplements include fish oil, super berry drinks, vitamin & minerals, etc., of the highest quality.

     Other Combinations of Treatment for cellulite removal include 1) Mesotherapy -which uses combinations of vitamins, injected with lecithin a natural enzyme under the skin. 2) Body Wrapping – This is a process where wraps and lotions are used for a couple of months to melt off the fat.  It is uncertain whether this application has long-term cellulite removal benefits. 3) Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) – Depending on severity of cellulite this process may/may not work. Typically EMS is used by physical therapists on people that have back pain, muscle spasm, etc.  This process is fairly new for cellulite removal and may also benefit the wrinkle reduction.  However, the data on these benefits is rather sketchy.

     Instead of providing “natural” supplemental brand name cellulite pills, I recommend you research for cellulite removal products that have the following ingredients:   Primrose oil, fish oil, grape seed, soya oil, soya lecithin, glycerol, and bioflavonoid.  If you want to maximize your Cellulite loss results, I highly recommend you incorporate a combination of exercise, creams and nutrition solutions to reverse and remove unsightly cellulite.  Otherwise for some, the results may not meet expectations and old habits may overtake will power.  Old habits that produced the cellulite appearing skin is telling your body that it is becoming toxic and may present other health risks if you don’t start treating your body better through balanced exercise and diet.

 References,

 1)       http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/566493/how_to_remove_cellulite_5_tips_for.html?cat=51

 2)      http://ezinearticles.com/?Exercises-to-Get-Rid-of-Cellulite—Naturally-Remove-Cellulite&id=1529958

 3)      http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-remove-cellulite-natural-remedies-you-can-use-to-reduce-cellulite.html

 4)      http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/51244/removing_cellulite_five_different_surgical.html?cat=70

 Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2010 Copyright, All rights reserved.  Mirror Athlete Enterprises Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com, Sign up for your free eNewsletter.

Your swimming pool needs and wants can be purchased at Online Sports!

June 23, 2010

Epidemiology Provides Ill-Health Prevention & Centurion Wisdom

Filed under: Anti-Aging,Consumer Safety,Diet,Environmental Toxins,Nutrition,Prevention,Product Toxins,Weight Management,Wellness,bacteria,disease,how to,infection,manage depression,pain,tips — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 15:58

    In a nut shell, epidemiology is the study of illness and disease affecting a population’s health.  It is also an applied science specific to the incidence of disease in populations as opposed to the individual.  I believe basic knowledge of this highly specialized job can provide individuals with a better understanding in prevention of disease and relative-timely medical referrals for ill-health conditions.  My point is if we could learn how to use specific data to our advantage in seeking to identify and treat our ill-health, we would be much more successful at alleviating pain-illness and maintaining better overall health and happiness.  This does not mean you need a degree in epidemiology to apply a common sense approach to find resolve to a specific ill-health problem.  What it does mean, by understanding how science identifies and treats epidemics in populations; the basic principles of this knowledge can provide the individual a better ill-health troubleshooting skill set that many centurions use to improve upon quality living experiences as they age!

     The work of epidemiologists includes researching risk factors in environment that cause illness and disease, clinical identification/study of illness agent, data collection, etc., of infected people and treatment of environmental out breaks on population.  What most don’t understand, epidemiologists rely on a vast array of disciplines in order to “best” identify an ill-health outbreak.  In order to understand how ill-health is disseminated on a population requires an understanding and mastery by these experts; and those specialized in the fields of biology, sociology, mathematics, statistics, anthropology, psychology and policy (research policy and bureaucracy impact data results and interpretation).  So the “one cause-one effect” to illness and death rarely is a single contributor of ill-health on a population.   Instead, multiple factors, circumstances and opportunity within environment typically lead to an epidemic that would create the lethal agent outbreak impacting an entire population.  If pain alleviation and ill-health prevention wisdom is the result of knowing how to apply some of this basic knowledge; than living to be a healthy centurion is a “more likely than not” goal scenario, is it not?

     With a broad range of potential bio-agents and psychosocial cause factors, ill-health agents can attack the physical mind-body from many internal and external cause fronts.  Understand that each one of us is a 3-part being that requires a healthy environment which caters to the mind, body and spirit.  Also recall, the internal biological neural highways, mind-body (psychosomatic) connection can depress the body’s physical biology and spirit.  The same is true of body-spirit pain which can depress the bio-mind making any part of being sick through the psychosomatic connection.  We are a 360 degree feedback “being” mechanism.  In other words, to make it simple, we all have the ability to think ourselves into ill-health conditions when our internal and external environments depress us through infection worsening a condition for example.  We do not become ill due to only biological external environmental agents!  And when our “being” is depressed, we are more susceptible to illness and disease agents from multiple environmental cause agents!

     Now let’s look at one example where epidemiologists have used their specialized data collection techniques to determine agent cause, treat and save lives in populations, than use this as a model to apply to self. 

     Before water and food sanitation practices evolved many people got extremely sick from the cholera bacteria.  This bacterium dispersed within a population from feces, or other effluents (vomit, diarrhea, etc.) that contaminated their living space; water and food sources, etc.    Cholera would not only be in the water source but would then spread to coastal water ways for example and attach itself to shellfish contaminating those whose diet in part was dependent on them.  Through consumption of shellfish the bacteria would continue its assault on distant coastal populations.   This chain of events could then infect local and distant water/food supplies, dwellings, etc., which infected the body, mind and spirit of individuals, also families in multiple communities.

     By “collecting data points” from various near and distant infected social-cultural environments, people, animals, soil samples, water, food, etc., scientist where able to find the common contributing denominator(s) to an epidemic that wiped out huge populations in the past before the Cholera bacteria agent was identified.  Once this agent was identified, preventative sanitation and treatment practices were put into effect and outbreaks in civilized populations became nonexistent.  Today these specialists collect data and provide consumers and other interest groups risk data and advisement on poor diet, smoking (second hand smoke), sewage-sanitation systems/practices, food preparation/storage, various environmental impact studies, toxic product identification, pandemic containment advisement etc., and the list goes on.

     So what can you as an individual take away from this wisdom to apply to self?  After all most of us aren’t statistical analysts that have participated in illness and disease epidemic studies.  Regardless, there are lessons to be learned and tools that can be used on self, much like the epidemiologist approach in discovery to rid a population of ill-health environmental conditions.  So the basic skill set you can improve upon when seeking relative and timely treatment to ill-health signs and symptoms will require you to provide historical and daily data to a treating physician, or specialist.    Regardless of whether an illness is acute (infrequent occurrence), or chronic (frequent-consistent occurrence), you must learn to track specific data much like the epidemiologist seeks the cause and effect in finding an ill-health agent afflicting a population.  By learning how to target the cause agent a likely solution can be applied to the internal/external threat before it causes further damage to being.  What kind of data you ask?

     You must begin collecting data on your daily habits, time/day of pain, and frequency of event, duration, signs-symptoms, products/food you consume; identify risky behaviors-habits and things that cause stress in your life.  Now you are collecting data that can be shared with those of specific medical knowledge disciplines.  Remember a “one cause-one effect” that creates illness in a population is seldom the case.  That is, the Cholera a bacterium was born and spread from multiple cause agent carriers; starting through poor sanitation practices.  This infected people, food, rodents and water; impacted social activities, wellbeing (quarantined/death) which impacted social/family dynamics in local and distant communities for years thereafter.   So where did science start looking first for this culprit?  Good question, a process of elimination through data collection and other scientific means of the times.  The same is basically true when any patient has complex illness and pain symptoms.  By collecting data on your daily habits, signs and symptoms you are providing biological, psychological, diet, physical, statistical and social environmental information that will provide a more likely inference on the cause agent(s) origin to your discomfort and ill-health.

     Below are 12 data points of interest you can track for self to share with a physician before consultations; much like an epidemiologist would collect to increase probability of targeting harmful agents by sharing collected data with other specialists to rid a population of a likely cause agent.  You too must also do some homework by providing suspected cause agent data to your physician for the best treatment outcome. 

     Information and Data Cause Agent Source Example/Ideals for the individual:  1) Use the Internet to research your symptoms/treatment solutions and visit chat rooms-forums to learn more about suspected illness and disease.  2)  If diagnosed with substantiated illness-disease buy self-help books from experts, or visit your local library for successful treatment solutions/ideals.  3) Talk to parents, siblings and blood relatives to see if there is a genetic ill-health connection, cause and what was the treatment… Did the illness worsen, or improve with treatment?  4) Are your symptoms caused from poor diet?  5) Do you engage in unhealthy habits, i.e., smoking, drinking, poor diet?  6) Are you active, or do you live a sedentary lifestyle?  7)  Do you socialize, practice spiritualism, or are you a recluse?  8)  Do you encounter daily environmental/product toxins at work/home hobbies, living area etc.?  9)  Are you involved in a stressful relationship, job and/or family?   10)  Do you take prescription medications, if so what kind & how long?  11) Are you generally depressed?  If so, do you understand why?  12) Have you had a past injury, allergy, infection that remains problematic, untreated, causes pain and/or depression?

     A process of environmental cause agent elimination can benefit your ill-health quest by collecting these daily data points and plotting them on a graph for example.  Simply list your data point suspicions horizontally.  Next list each column by the day with a 3 category code in bold: Worse, No Change, or Better.  This way you begin to plot data where status change of condition can easily be noted and shared with your treating physician(s).

     By becoming knowledgeable of symptoms caused per unique environment, one can begin the process of removing potential cause agent sources out of the equation that may be impacting, or depressing the mind, body and spirit.  For example, if you suspect something in your diet is the source of your problem; remove the potential suspect source agent for a couple of weeks to see if this improves your condition(s) plot and code the data points daily.  This can easily be done in between consultations which can be shared with treating physician(s).  Note: Do not put off seeing a physician before you start this process.  Instead, seek medical attention as soon as possible if you feel you have a serious medical condition and chart your medical condition suspicion study simultaneously.

     There are many other ways an ill-health cause agent can catch you off guard.  But this data collection insight will provide a starting point of suspected agent(s) data when consulting with physicians and specialists.  Then again, this is important why?  Because all too often we seek medical attention without providing valuable historical, recent signs/symptoms data during the physician consult.  This my friend’s leads all too often to untimely and non relative treatment!

     You don’t have to have the expertise of an epidemiologist, but only understand the importance of data collection to share with your physicians to better analyze your ill-health conditions.  Because in too many cases, we the patient depend too heavily on our doctors to fix, or treat us with a prescription and follow up based on if our signs and symptoms have not improved.  This all-too-often quick results treatment removes signs and symptoms temporarily.  But it does not address the underlying environmental and habitual cause agents of our ill-health.  As you’ve seen, we are much more complicated beings that require a multidiscipline approach to treat and keep us healthy.  And in order to determine ill health causal relationships, requires us to also be honest with ourselves by identifying our bad habits, risky behaviors and environmental stressors while taking preventative action to keep our 3-part being healthy.  To do otherwise not only risk your good health but also can impact a whole lot of other people.

     And through preventative knowledge and timely self advocacy action much pain and suffering in one’s life and family can be mitigated.  Many centurion benefits are possible through understanding the epidemiologist’s wisdom of data collection in sharing with various disciplines to rule out the “one cause, one effect” causing illness.  If a one cause, one effect is substantiated through medical exam than one knows what one must do to get well.  But for a good majority of patients, medical exams “do not” substantiate symptom(s), nor do they correlate well with conventional medical treatment.  Often non-substantiated cases of illness, pain, or just feeling bad are treated subjectively as opposed to objectively for lack of medical findings and then prescribed pharmaceuticals.  Here lies the problem for many that accept the conventional outpatient consultation protocol.  Without self advocacy for relative and timely treatment, data collection-sharing skill sets during physician consultation; insidious illness and disease agents can go unchecked for years.

     If you want to experience healthy life benefits, such as quality living conditions, personal comfort, happiness and other quality life experiences with family as you age, there is much to be learned and applied from an epidemiologist wisdom.  For the individual and centurion this skill set wisdom is invaluable as a prevention and problem solving tool that you can put to use immediately.  This wisdom teaches us to take accountability in keeping our 3-part being healthy by collecting, sharing data, while identifying-advocating for timely and relative treatment when working with our physicians for the “best possible health outcome!”

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2010 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

February 24, 2010

How to Exercise Safely and Increase Fitness Levels

Filed under: Dare to Walk,Exercise,Fitness,Men's Health,Weight Management,Women's Health,body activity,how to — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 18:34

Bicep Exercise tones and strengthens grip, wrists, forearms, bicepts

MAE Video Safely Build Fitness Exercise Activity.  There are so many exercise programs one could engage in to increase fitness levels.  How does one know which is right for them?  This is pretty much a two part question because you also want to know, “even though you may not have completely thought it out, which exercise activity will increase your fitness levels significantly?  This is important why?  Increased fitness levels contribute to healthy heart, lungs, metabolism, lean body, body strength, reduced body fat, weight control, weight loss, better physical endurance, excellent circulatory properties, pain alleviation and ill-health prevention, etc.  So what you really want to know, how you can get the best bang for the buck with busy lives?

I highly recommended if you are getting back into an exercise fitness program or activity, you participate by working your way back to a 5 day/wk program.  This may take you 2-6 weeks or longer to get back into gear.  For example, after one of my surgeries, it took me one and half years to work my way back to walking significant miles in a day.  Persistence paid off big health and fitness dividends for me.  Having an Exercise Science undergraduate degree provided a knowledge base in my rehabilitation fitness process.   I understood without applying fitness, alternative health and pain management methods I would experience a disabling life outcome of limited activity, mobility, more pain and increased secondary health risks.  I know many of you reading this won’t have to rehabilitate yourself from injury, depression, disease or surgery.  However, it is important to understand, if you find yourself in a disabled and rehabilitative state you can enjoy fitness conditioning activities that provide quality living experiences while you nurse yourself back to good health.  The point is, depending on your fitness and health condition(s), there is a way to slowly work back into a 3-5 day exercise-activity program.  Those that work too fast to achieve an exercise-activity program will likely drop out of fitness conditioning; while possibly looking for high risk shortcuts to achieve physical results.  This is a bad plan!

One would be wise to follow a physical fitness conditioning program for the first 6-8 weeks while easing back into a fitness routine if you’ve been out of it for a while.  Your goal is to achieve a 3-5day consistent exercise activity program after significant fitness conditioning occurs.  Fitness conditioning prior to the 3-5 day exercise activity program may require rehabilitative services to reach the 3-5 day exercise activity goal.  And if you need to, consult with your medical providers before you exercise to ensure applicable health risk considerations are taken into account before you begin a 3-5 day exercise program.

Five day exercise program – Consider making two of your exercise days on Saturday and Sunday to include family fun activities as substitutes for exercise activity.  Work in the other 3 exercise activity days convenient with your work schedule, etc.  This will provide more flexibility at first to develop healthy fitness activity around your busy schedule, reduce stress, and more time to focus on exercise-activity technique, etc.  After the fitness habit is maintained for 2-6 week period, begin to modify the plan much like you’d schedule anything else “balance!”  I’ve always found it important to take two days off in the week for needed rest (Mon & Fri).  I don’t recommend a 6-7day workout routine unless you are training at an elite level for competitive sport.

 Recommendations, Tips, How to safely increase fitness levels and activity,

 First of all you must develop a plan around busy lives.  And before you develop the plan, you must have an ideal of what are your fitness goals.  Is your goal to lose weight, rehabilitation, build muscle, better health, sustain weight, increase endurance, competitive sport, improve task specific activity (ski, golf, walk, biking, running, etc.).  So now you know before you spend money on an exclusive fitness membership, be sure to have a plan to achieve the fitness goal in mind. 

 Second, you must be realistic about your daily schedule.  If you’re a working adult with children, there are considerations that must be thought through, like working around schedules, appointments, etc.  However, it is not impossible to squeeze in exercise activity even with a busy schedule.  It’s a matter of behavioral habit change.  For example, if you want something bad enough like taking a family vacation, new car, boat, weekend outing, social networking during time off, watch evening football, baseball, basketball game, spending more time with your significant other; you manage to find the time and resources don’t you?  Yet you have a tough time committing to a healthy activity because you simply don’t have the time or see the point.  Your fitness requirements must simply become as valuable to you as personal time, or personal possessions that you protect through health, home or car insurance.  You pay for these things for prevention against catastrophe.  Your fitness health requirements are no different.  You simply must value your health as much as you value your personal time and possessions.  Also keep in mind, just because you pay for health insurance there is no guarantee after years of physical and mental abuse medical services will provide a cure-all solution.  You must also do your preventative health part.  Only through daily preventative activity exercise can one add an additional layer of protection from all that will assault the mind-body as we age.  Activity exercise is the best pain and ill-health alleviation strategy.  Physical activity for life is a key centurion attribute.

 Many employers have fitness centers at the job and/or promote life fitness schedules that allow time for workouts.  Be sure to check with your employer, if you haven’t’ already done so to see if they have corporate fitness center discounts in the local area.  If you have time before work or after the children are in bed a daily exercise program can become a daily habit that you will become addicted too.  You simple must want increased fitness benefits as bad as working more overtime for more discretionary income.  Or value fitness goals as much as indulgences.  For me, working out after work and before dinner had a great stress relief benefit.  And for many years I’d get up at 5:30am go to the gym, or jog where the adrenalin and metabolism was at full throttle as I hit the job at 7:00am.  This habit served me and my professional careers well as I was always at the top of my game, I didn’t need energy drinks to start my day.  Now in my 50’s one of my age appropriate exercise activities is walking which I’m as competitive as when I played football as a youth.  I attribute much of my life and career success to my age appropriate fitness habits.

Like anything else it takes dedication to be successful at anything you do.  It’s more a matter of finding an activity that you really enjoy, get excited about and can become addicted to.  I tended to become addictive to my exercise program if I could get through the first 5 days.  If I didn’t make 5 days at the planned fitness level goal, I would reduce intensity until ready for more intense training.  I didn’t quit the training; I took it down a notch until ready for the stress load on mind-body.  Activity exercise must vary daily dependent on how the mind-body feels.  To push when not ready is defeating and causes many to give up when they don’t have flexibility built into the exercise activity.

Third, you must plan and program around age appropriate exercise if you want to find a workout plan, or activity that you’ll stick with.  All too often I hear people give up their fitness goals and activity dreams because they “self proclaim” their too old at forty to exercise.  And simultaneously they begin to look for fountain of youth quick results gimmicks (weight loss, muscle max goals, chemical stimulus, etc.).  This is absolute nonsense; when did 40 become the new 80 plus crowd?  On the flip side, there is absolutely no reason, 50 can’t be the new 30 plus crowd.  Also, you are not 20 if your biological age is 40.  Age appropriate exercise does not mean training to become a marathon runner at 40 years of age!  My point is, if you want to look and feel better regardless of age, you must find age appropriate activity and exercise programs, or you’ll not experience true quality living experiences.

I’m not saying this isn’t possible, as a matter of fact there are some very conditioned athlete’s well into their 50’s.  But for most of us, you can’t go from lethargic couch potato and train the way you did before you became a potato.  One thing you’ll find out about elite athlete’s (50+) they have not lost step with their competitive physical-mental edge, they’ve sustained a competitive habit without fail throughout the years.  Is there a health risk for this competitive demographic?  Certainly there is, they are pushing the biological-physical plane envelop.   This activity training intensity is not meant for most entering their 40’s.  Unnecessary stress on mind-body relative to age is something that needs to be considered if you want to increase fitness health goals safely.

Forth, if you are infrequent about your exercise, or activity routine, it is very important you learn to pace yourself each time you exercise until your body is ready for a 3-5 day exercise activity routine.  Ease into your workouts, forget about competing with what you see others doing.  Set your mind to see yourself as the healthiest 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 year old possible in your neck of the woods.  If you think exercise-activity appropriate per decade, you’ll stick with a healthy exercise program for your age while physically appearing and feeling 20-30 years younger for your age.  Why don’t I go beyond 80 years of age?  Actually, 80 years and above should walk-swim, light weight, flexibility training, eat right for good health and socialize, travel as much as possible.  At this age, I thoroughly believe, each day is a blessing and one should enjoy life to the fullest while reducing life stresses.

All too often those 40 and above seek the Hollywood conventional wisdom to find their fountain of youth quick result gimmick(s) after they fail to change behavioral fitness activity habits.  They become mesmerized by the tabloids and their favorite star’s physical appearances.  They focus in on young, vibrant and wrinkle/fat free models and starlets.  They are not focused on age appropriate activity.  Instead desperately want to turn back the hands of time and will stop at nothing to achieve this goal.  This is not God’s law. You have a purpose for every decade of life.  It is your job now to be wise and healthy for your children’s sake and grandchildren.

Those that follow Hollywood conventional wisdom must have blinders on.  Because if they follow the nip-tuck; take 30lbs off in 30 days; blast your abs, thighs and buttocks; fountain of youth gimmicks then they also know the following is true.  What does Hollywood do with its actors and actresses once their physical flaws become too apparent?  They throw them out like old dish rags don’t they?  The paparazzi relentlessly pursue them and exploit their aging, overweight, illness flaws, relationships gone bad through the tabloids for a buck.  Many of these star icons you worshiped can’t keep up with the immortal Hollywood youth expectations and self destruct.  You see this, but deny the reality of the situation and search for a younger icon to follow ageless beauty advice, etc.  Why would you ever follow a celebrity’s advice as a fitness health expert in your 50’s?  Especially if they have no specialized training in age appropriate fitness techniques?  Hollywood and your iconic stars don’t cater “how to achieve” quality living experiences for the 50plus crowd.  Instead, they offer quick result diet and fitness solutions to turn back the hands of time to make a quick buck.  All the while, they use perfect model specimen’s, made up to look as if the results are mostly due to their products secret ingredients. 

There is nothing mentioned about life long health habits and healthy behavioral change in order to achieve and maintain these quick result appearance benefits.  And this always leads me to wonder, really how healthy and how well do these diet and fitness products improve fitness levels?  And what health risk are these customers subjected to in the long run for a quick result promise?  I know this to be true because I have a vice.  I love to read smut magazines about the stars.  And they do slam aging stars without mercy.  I read these for pure entertainment, a habit I can’t seem to break since my childhood.   There is one fitness celebrity that sticks out in my mind as one of the greats, Jack Lalanne.  For years, he has been known as a world renowned fitness expert through the 60’s at his peak celebrity status through our TV’s.  He now is known for his Power Juicer products.  To this day his life-long fitness story is amazing.  Research him on the Internet if you get the chance and learn more about someone’s applied exercise fitness principles that have served his followers well through a lifelong fitness career discipline. 

Fifth, the other factor to staying with an exercise age appropriate fitness program is food intake.  If you over consume, especially after 7:30 pm, or on the weekends it will be hard for you to notice weight loss and body toning (reduced body fat).  Body metabolism slows down tremendously after this evening time storing excess calories as fat.  Weekends will be your worst enemy (over consumption typically occurs during this time).  This is why in the next paragraph I recommend if you are just getting started into a workout, fitness activity routine; plan two of your five days on the weekends during the first 2-6 weeks.  Try consuming mostly a Mediterranean diet and/or 50%protein, 20%fat, 30% carbohydrate diet.  What this means in real general terms.  Stay away from the following main dishes/snacks:  Pizza, pasta, breads (whole grain ok) baked goods, ice cream, deserts, casseroles, pancakes, waffles, restaurant chains (fast foods), too much salt, chocolates, muffins, donuts, lard, candy, gum, chips, fried foods, milkshakes, alcohol, beer, diet sodas, popcorn, artificial sweeteners (aspartame), energy drinks, coffee additives (cream, sugar, artificial flavored, etc.).  These are the main addictive foods and food consumption habits that are causing much obesity in this country. 

After exercise and fitness goals are achieved, balanced eating behaviors become much easier.  You will naturally crave healthier food as the chemical food toxins are removed from the body.  This is not to say you can never have pizza, deserts, etc., or have a few drinks.   “That would be ridiculous.”  Balance my friends; we simply must get to a level of fitness for your age that you desire and will stick.  Thereafter, the fitness habit will become addictive which will lead to lifelong healthy habits including balanced consumption of food choices.

Sixth, find a workout routine you can stick with and enjoy.  Various examples:  Try biking, stationary treadmill, stationary rowing, dance, ball room dancing with spouse, tennis, walking, golf, jogging aerobics sessions, swimming, etc., 3 days a week (mix it up with gym activity).  Make sure you get in 2 days a week exercise gym activity and 3 days aerobics (walking, biking, treadmill, elliptical walker, swim, hike etc.).   On the weekends substitute an aerobics week day activity with a planned family outdoor activity, backpack, dance, healthy cooking recipes (walk and shop for your meals), camping, beach walking, fishing, etc.   I recommend 5 days a week exercise activities to sustain fitness levels and good health.  I use combinations of all these activities throughout the week to sustain my age appropriate activities.

I use combinations of daily walking, swimming, gym exercises (stationary equipment use for muscle building and toning, light weights, 12-15 reps per exercise per body part), to include aerobic cross trainers (elliptical), bikes, etc.  I also like to bike, boat, walk, hike, travel, camp, and fish on the weekends as activity substitutes, etc.  Changing up fitness activities will help with motivation, will power to stick with a program and breakup gym exercise routines nicely.  These are activity mix habits that become very addicting if you can break the 4-8wk exercise habit barrier, because it takes this long for brain chemical stimulation, muscle toning and toxins to be adequately removed from the body.  Natural brain chemicals will stimulate activity motivation and will power if given the chance.  Efficient Brain chemical release (adrenalin, epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin) through exercise is as addicting as nicotine is to a smoker; chocolate is to a chocoholic.

Now that I’ve provided you “How to Exercise and Increase Fitness Levels,” get out there and get it done!  Try various combinations of exercise activity, break up the fitness conditioning patterns and don’t go into any activity program at full intensity until conditioned to do so.  “Good things in life come to those that take the time to do it right!”

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2010 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

February 7, 2010

“Dare To Walk,” TV Reality Game Show

Filed under: Anti-Aging,Dare to Walk,Exercise,Fitness,Health,Natural Chemicals,Prevention,Wellness,body activity,how to,manage depression,obesity,pain,posture,tips,well-being — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 18:54

See MAE Video \”Dare to Walk,\” Stay Fit, Alleviate Pain, Save American Families One Step at a Time!\

“The original Concept “Dare to Walk another Day” came from a 30 chapter Mirror Athlete manuscript (currently seeking publication).  The 30 chapters encompass preventative exercise and pain alleviation modalities known as “Mirror Athlete Science,” fitness and pain management philosophy.

“Dare to Walk” another Day is devoted to 2-3 chapters in the manuscript.  It explains the importance of this game concept in the last chapter and why this fitness and pain management philosophy would be of great interest to all Americans, including the politics centered around preventative health and Medicare issues.  The intended audience (76 million baby boomers) and family interest in this type of Reality TV Game show would be huge, also educational.  This show could put our nation’s health first by using walking as the preventative health outreach initiative through a competitive and exciting walk Reality TV game show. Those that manage pain effectively and walk show you “how they do it!”  The globe would benefit and the audience would expand immensely by the second year of production because of the shows promotional unique appeal and draw to boomers and families of all ages throughout the world.  “Dare to Walk” SITE ,” WGAW Registry #1409703, Feb 2010 (“Dare to Walk,” TV Reality Game Concept).  Copyright Mirror Athlete Enterprises, All rights reserved 2010.

Read the Full Story - ”Dare to Walk,” Reality Heals a Nation’s People in Pain! See how the origin of this concept began.   You’ve read nothing like this, nor have you heard of any TV reality concept that comes near this caliber of entertainment.  Read the full story and ”Dare to Walk, another day!”

Participation Interest – If interested in a TV reality game show based on content from Read the full story link above, simply visit the Mirror Athlete home site .  Once at home site, enter your email address into the “Dare to Walk” subscription box to receive updates on the Reality TV Game concept and production interest.”  If there is enough interest in this concept there is good likelihood this show will be produced and you will have first dibs at qualifying for the first season and selected to participate and “Dare to Walk” to win prizes.  I will use this email list to provide a tally of interest to producers and provide you updates.

Tell your walking clubs and walking partners to visit MirrorAthlete.com and sign up as a free subscriber of interest.  The goal is to get 10,000 interested fellow walkers while officially submitting the full pitch concept to Reality TV producers.  This concept has been registered under intellectual property register WGAW#1409703, 2 Feb 2010. 

Subscribe for updates/Qualify for game:  When you subscribe to this listing for updates, you’ll also receive the “Free” MAE Health monthly eNewsletter.  

 How to Qualify:  Enter email address into Subscription box at mirrorathlete home site, also found through my hubpages profile.   Make sure you subscribe to stay on top of the secret “emphasis found in MAE monthly health articles.”  If you miss a month, or lose the email; not to worry, visit MAE Health Repository .  Articles published from the eNewsletter are posted 30 days here after monthly circulation.  Or subscribe to a RSS reader to get all current articles.  Be sure if your email address changes, update it, or you will not receive the subscription and possibly miss the opportunity of a lifetime to possibly play in the ”Dare to Walk,” Reality TV Game.

Desired Qualifying Physical Attributes:  Desired walker qualifications for all practical purposes are normal walkers with typical aches and pains but know how to exercise and warm up prior to walking, not necessarily know how to pain manage.  They may be out of shape but walk well.  Others may appear to be in great shape, but know how to pain manage and exercise well.  Selectees cannot be competitive walkers (speed walking), or on a competitive walking team.  The perfect age demographics are ages: 35-68 for all that want to apply for this game show.  Each one of these players should have a medical acute or other pain challenge with daily fitness routines to alleviate and manage pain.  Most desired qualifying “pain challenges” are those that experience back, neck, shoulders, feet, hips, knee pain problems, etc.  And these pain challenges are diagnosed as soft tissue and nerve pain issues, successful back surgery, or prosthetics (hip, knee replacement).  Excess weight creates pain on posture bearing musculoskeletal structure which is also a good pain qualifier.   Many Americans are obese.  Borderline obesity is a good qualifier if these selectees are already on a walking program.  A good variety of demographic qualifiers and pain challenges will be added to the mix.

Guarantee Game Participation – There is “no guarantee” you will qualify, or be selected to compete on the show if it is produced.  With that said, there is also no guarantee MAE will be able to find a producer with interest or budget to produce this  type of TV reality show.  But with your support there is a good possibility of production and better potential for selection to compete since you are on this list and able to pre-qualify by reading special emphasis in MAE articles related to ”Dare to Walk.”  We simply must show producers that ”Dare to Walk,” Reality TV game is of interest to many that want this production as home family entertainment and profitable for the production company.

 Personally, the concept is so good I would select viewing a show of this caliber over travel, discovery channels, Big Brother, Survivor, etc., type shows.  Plus a number of other reality TV game shows, simply because there has been nothing produced like it.  My advisement team believes this concept has a strong potential to capture a production studio to produce this show.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime, subscribe now and be part of history gone mad.  To receive all necessary updates and to pre-qualify for ”Dare to Walk,” Reality TV Game show enter your email address in mirror athlete home site subscription box.  Thank you for your support, now let’s make it happen!

See other Mirror Athlete Enterprise projects you may be interested in, such as “Viking Carnivores” Reality TV Game Show.”

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2009 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

January 24, 2010

Viking Carnivores TV Reality Game Show

Filed under: Wellness,barbeque,body activity,how to,secrets,tips,viking carnivore — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , — Marc Woodard @ 08:04

See MAE Video – VIKING CARNIVORES Cooking on a Weber

Viking “Big Meat” Carnivores:  Vikings compete amongst the best “big meat” open pit Carnivore Viking tribe.  Customs include Viking attire, tools, weapons and culture befitting of a Viking as they travel to each host site to gather more bone coinage.  Tribal host games are set up by the visiting tribe for a chance to barter; trading needed Viking skill sets by receiving “game losing tribes Vikings.”  Tribes compete to build the best ‘big meat” cooking team to earn bone coinage, eat “big meat” and win end game rewards with coinage cache.  To the victors, so go the spoils!  VIKING CARNIVORES SITE , WGAW Registry #1406636, 23 Jan 2010 (Viking Carnivor’s TV Reality Game Concept).  Copyright Mirror Athlete Enterprises, All rights reserved 2010.

Read the Full Story - Viking Carnivores Open Pit “Big Meat” Barbeque See how the origin of this concept began.  The full story shows you how to cook open pit and Weber barbeque “Big Meat” with excellent Smoky auroma and juicy “big meat” tips.  You’ve read nothing like this, nor have you heard of any TV reality concept that comes near this caliber of entertainment.  Read the full story and become a Viking Carnivore!

Participation Interest – If interested in a TV reality game it is based on content from Read the full story link above.  If interested in submitting your interest to possibly qualify, simply visit the Mirror Athlete home site .  Once at home site, enter your email address into the “Viking Carnivores” subscription box to receive updates on the Reality TV Game concept and production interest.”  If there is enough interest in this concept there is good likelihood this show will be produced and you will have first dibs at qualifying for the first season and selected to participate to eat “Big Meat” open pit barbeque and play like Vikings to win prizes.  I will use this email list to provide a tally of interest to producers and provide you updates.

Tell your Viking brethren to also visit mirror athlete home page, or see Viking Carnivores home site and sign up as a free subscriber of interest.  The goal is to get 10,000 interested fellow Viking Carnivores while officially submitting the full pitch concept to Reality TV producers.  This concept has been registered under intellectual property register WGA#1406636, 23 Jan 2010.  Qualifiers: BQ experience is good, although pit experience is not necessary, Viking like in appearance, good shape (men/women – heavy-big muscular is good), interesting character, fun to watch, Wants to be a Viking Carnivore, team player, not afraid to work, with a good disposition – Not too barbaric, ”balanced barbarian.”  Combinations of skill sets are good, but not necessary, “leadership and follower, athletic, minimum overall competitive skills.  Learn the secret qualifying information found only through MAE eNewsletter monthly articles (read further how to qualify below).

 Subscribe for updates/Qualify for game:  When you subscribe to this listing for updates, you’ll also receive the “Free” MAE Health monthly eNewsletter.  

 How to Qualify:  Enter email address into Subscription box at mirrorathlete home site, also found through my hubpages profile.  Or visit Viking Carnivores  and enter email address in subscription box.  Watch for “emphasis” in any newly written article from MAE eNewsletters published NLT 25th of each month.   Make sure you subscribe to stay on top of the secret “emphasis found in MAE monthly health articles.”  If you miss a month, or lose the email; not to worry, visit MAE Health Repository .  Articles published from the eNewsletter are posted 30 days here after monthly circulation.  Or subscribe to a RSS reader to get all articles.  Be sure if your email address changes, update it, or you will not receive the subscription and possibly miss the opportunity of a lifetime to possibly play in the Viking Carnivore Reality TV Game.

 Guarantee Game Participation – There is “no guarantee” you will qualify, or be selected to compete on the show if it is produced.  With that said, there is also no guarantee MAE will be able to find a producer with interest or budget to produce this  type of TV reality show.  But with your support there is a good possibility of production and better potential for selection to compete since you are on this list and able to pre-qualify by reading special emphasis in MAE articles related to Viking Carnivores.  We simply must show producers that Viking Carnivores Reality TV game is of interest to many that want Viking Carnivores as home family entertainment choice and will be profitable for the production company.

 Personally, the concept is so good I would select viewing a show of this caliber over American Idol, Survivor, Survivor Man, Man vs Food, many Boot Camp type shows, history-discovery channel documentaries, or Big Brother.  Plus a number of other reality TV game shows, simply because there has been nothing produced like it.  My advisement team believes this concept has a strong potential to capture a production studio to produce this show.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime, subscribe now and be part of history gone mad.  To receive all necessary updates and to pre-qualify for Viking Carnivore Reality TV Game show enter your email address in mirror athlete home site subscription box.  Thank you for your support, now let’s make it happen!

See other Mirror Athlete Enterprise projects you may be interested in, such as “Dare to Walk,” Reality TV Game Show.”

Author:  Marc T. Woodard, MBA, BS Exercise Science, USA Medical Services Officer, CPT, RET.  2009 Copyright.  All rights reserved, Mirror Athlete Publishing @: www.mirrorathlete.com,  Sign up for your Free eNewsletter.

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