tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-195555182012-02-16T01:37:25.478-08:00Thoughts on Strength, Health and Fitness for seniors.Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.comBlogger2091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-1322026312707175142008-08-17T17:31:00.000-07:002008-08-17T17:54:02.940-07:00

The Gray Iron Fitness blog has moved. Blogger has been great, and I appreciate the many friends who have written kind words and added me to their lists.The move is a practical one because I have opened a new enlarged fitness web site (http://www.senior-exercise-central.com). My blog and the Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter are a part of the new web site.Please take a look at the new blog site here.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-40059349977698407922008-08-12T11:56:00.000-07:002008-08-12T13:06:52.226-07:00

To: Gray IronThanks for your latest newsletter - I always look forward to it. Perhaps in a future issue you could consider recovery. I train Monday Wednesday Friday - why? Tradition. Occasionally I train Monday and Thursday having read about the importance of recovery, and some even recommend seven to ten days between training.Any observations you may have would be interesting. I see that

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-67200866451922869782008-08-07T10:26:00.000-07:002008-08-08T16:54:28.223-07:00

Since my web site and newsletters are designed as services to people over age 50, the following “Dear Abby” item from today’s newspaper caught my eye.A reader writes Abby: “Could you please tell me at what age can a person claim to be a senior citizen?”(I’ve often wondered that, too. -LF)Abby answers: “I have known some people in their 20s who were ‘older’ than many vibrant people in their 80s.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-57895268755548561422008-07-30T09:35:00.000-07:002008-07-30T09:59:18.752-07:00

The argument against stretching before training or a competition is that it may "dampen" muscle strength, and in some sports "loose joints" increase the risk of injuries.A report in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, August 2008, says that a little easy stretching before training does not dampen muscle strength.The Gray Iron interpretation is that you should save the more

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-13859046728698241482008-07-25T10:06:00.000-07:002008-07-26T19:34:45.189-07:00

When I see fat people – and there are so many these days it’s hard not to see them – I often wonder what it would take to motivate them to lose weight. Does that sound condescending? Well, I’m a fitness advocate. It’s my job to wonder about these things.I know that fat people really don’t want to be fat. I don’t think anybody does. But if personal pride in their appearance doesn’t motivate them,

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-82722382830178733122008-07-22T21:08:00.000-07:002008-07-30T10:02:46.272-07:00

If you look only at the first part of this recent Washington Post article, you may want to write the editor and give him or her a piece of your mind, or cancel your subscription, if you are a subscriber. Just kidding. But what is it that I’m talking about? Well, they get pretty graphic about the ravages of aging in an article titled, “How Our Bodies Age (And What You Can Do About It).” Take a

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-91544020511954539732008-07-19T10:31:00.000-07:002008-07-21T12:21:27.405-07:00

Maybe the most effective weight loss program is to move out of the Southern United States. But the thing is the southern states are the nation’s fastest growing region. I don't mean to pick on Southerners. Still, the fact is there’s a serious obesity problem down South, where more than 30 percent of adults in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee are considered obese. This amounts to more than just

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-91363520310651025382008-07-08T12:55:00.000-07:002008-07-08T13:24:02.045-07:00

The people at AARP know when you turn 50 and they send you an invitation to join up. To them, you’ve just crossed that line — you are a senior.It’s been more than 20 years since I found my invitation in the mail box. At first, it was a punch in the stomach. Then I would joke about it with friends. But the clock stops for no one. Acceptance sets in. People who don’t think much about retirement

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-81427499241001644152008-06-22T19:04:00.000-07:002008-06-22T19:20:42.256-07:00

Well, maybe not so much as we thought, according to a report in Scientific American. So read on and learn some pretty encouraging news . . .Dean Ornish, MD, is founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and a clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco (U.C.S.F.). He said the following:"We found that simple changes have a powerful impact on gene

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-64713616441010899642008-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:002008-06-12T21:21:22.857-07:00

This may step on some sensitive toes, but for a long time I have believed that the law of diminishing returns comes into play at some point, probably sooner rather than later, in all talk therapy. No, I'm not an expert, just a guy with an opinion formed by observation and life experience. However, I do happen to live in a place many people consider therapy central. That is, I live in the San

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-10834096265863868662008-06-10T09:28:00.000-07:002008-06-10T09:34:27.160-07:00

Is it really important to get that perfect carb-to-protein ratio within an hour after a workout? I must admit that I try to come close to it. Now it seems that sports doctors are thinking the whole timing business is an exaggeration and maybe even a myth. Two Canadian doctors, athletes themselves, have studied the matter and concluded that its importance is negligible, when applied to most people

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-89596211053738461312008-06-05T11:06:00.000-07:002008-06-06T08:46:18.177-07:00

I am not a golfer. It’s a wonderful game that never appealed to me. In my view, Mark Twain had it right: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”But let’s give credit where credit is due. According to a study in Sweden, the death rate for golfers is 40% lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status. That adds up to a five year increase in life expectancy. And golfers with a low

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-81116198995831347262008-06-03T10:31:00.000-07:002008-06-03T10:50:21.987-07:00

It’s a common annoyance in plenty of gyms and health clubs, obnoxious characters who make really loud grunts and groans with practically every exercise repetition. You know the type. Fortunately, those who crave that kind of attention tend to gravitate to certain gyms and are therefore avoidable. I’m grateful that I don’t hear much of it where I workout. But it does happen. And if you've been

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-1919717994728617942008-05-23T20:32:00.000-07:002008-05-23T20:51:07.620-07:00

As you will see, Pat Cunneen understands the progressive resistance exercise concept. His plan follows: Easy Exercise for People Over 70 (You do not need expensive equipment)Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5 pound potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-27198493134915738432008-05-20T10:49:00.000-07:002008-06-12T09:20:44.772-07:00

According to Shelley H. Carson, a psychology researcher at Harvard, in a very important way our brains may be improving with age. Excluding diseases such as Alzheimer's, Carson suggests that forgetting where you left your car keys or people's names at a party may be good not bad. Can it be so? You're probably a skeptic. I don't blame you if you are. But it's worth checking out the story, don't

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-41690442380812874652008-05-15T10:56:00.000-07:002008-05-22T16:53:54.229-07:00

I dodged colds and the flu the past winter season. Of course summer colds happen too. But there are fewer of them going around. So how did I get so lucky?Though not 100 percent perfect, pneumonia and flu shots offer pretty good protection. I recommend them. Colds are a different matter, and there are all kinds of myths about them. Even today, many people think you get a cold by being cold. You

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-19478875235514867462008-05-07T09:28:00.000-07:002008-05-12T08:54:21.211-07:00

The people at Wellsphere have come up with a great new service, one of those neat items that makes you wonder: “Why didn’t someone think of this before?"Here’s the deal: Restaurant chains, for the most part, are fighting legislation that would require them to show the nutritional information of their dishes. Eventually, they may lose the battle, but you don’t have to wait for that to

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-21454886788148857582008-04-30T19:38:00.000-07:002008-05-12T08:57:12.191-07:00

There have been recent news accounts of people being overweight (read fat) but still being fit. By fit, let's assume it means the overweight subjects had healthy cardiovascular systems and adequate muscle -- in spite of their excess. And that they were no more likely to contract heart disease, diabetes, etc., than leaner people.You have to wonder: Just how fat were the test subjects? And exactly

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-10751650831374879392008-04-26T10:09:00.000-07:002008-05-03T11:11:21.525-07:00

While waiting in line at a store checkout a few days ago, I entertained myself by snooping at what the shoppers if front of me were buying. One young woman had five or six kinds of candy bars and several cans of Red Bull on the conveyor belt. I cringed at the thought of all that candy bar sugar but had no idea what was in Red Bull.Then yesterday I read a report about Red Bull having something to

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-42629930480987207612008-04-25T12:40:00.000-07:002008-04-27T10:17:17.618-07:00

I subscribe to several health, fitness, and bodybuilding newsletters and read as much as possible about trends in those fields. I sort through the information looking for things that might be applicable to senior fitness. Some of the material is useful but, generally speaking, much of it not suited for people over 50.Why is that?Generally, around age 50 (the year we all become eligible to join

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-39077369797973684092008-04-15T19:02:00.000-07:002008-04-15T20:52:52.425-07:00

Gray Iron read this twice just to be certain it is real. The French parliament, it is reported, adopted a bill that would make it illegal for anyone to publicly incite extreme thinness. The bill soon goes to the senate. Overweight French people must be laughing. Of course body weight extremes at either end of the scale are serious matters — but a government passing laws making it illegal to “

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-31841314701030758382008-04-07T12:15:00.000-07:002008-04-07T21:07:12.213-07:00

The evidence keeps piling up and growing stronger: Women who carry excess fat around their waists are at greater risk of dying early from cancer or heart disease than are women with smaller waistlines -- even if they are of normal weight. That's the conclusion of researchers from Harvard and the National Institutes of Health. Previous studies have shown

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-15511671230225325102008-04-03T11:07:00.000-07:002008-04-10T09:45:23.327-07:00

A popular term of worship in recent years has been “multi-tasking.” It is worn by many as a badge of honor. But I believe that only jugglers are truly good at keeping several balls in the air at the same time. Most of us function more efficiently if we keep a shorter list, trying not to do too many things at once. Personal experience and observation have led me to think this way. I also believe a

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-46152253356586300862008-03-29T21:16:00.000-07:002008-03-30T16:55:11.171-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo BooksAgain from high in the Austrian Alps, daughter Jennifer demonstrates the exercise of the month, Squat Thrusts.Squat Thrusts are a total body exercise that can really get your heart pounding and lungs gasping. Sound like torture? Nah, just a heck of a good workout. Still, if you're unfamiliar with this one, enter with some measure of

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-46292232467417709962008-03-26T21:49:00.000-07:002008-03-26T22:15:36.028-07:00

In part 1 of this post, I wrote about the young woman who was assaulted and then killed while hiking on a mountain trail in Georgia. I gave my thoughts about hiking alone and mentioned having personal knowledge of tragedies that occurred to people simply on a hike or walk. I will briefly mention three. 1. My great aunt, a widow in her mid-eighties, was out for walk near her apartment in a

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-4482073555567884182008-03-24T21:17:00.000-07:002008-03-24T21:58:29.271-07:00

A terrible headline in the paper caught my eye: “Killer Tells How Victim Fought Him.” The victim, a young woman out hiking, used her wits and martial arts training when she was attacked in the Georgia mountains. “She did everything she could to stay alive,” according to the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But eventually her attacker killed and decapitated her. What does this

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-49048402068009640492008-03-19T08:43:00.000-07:002008-03-20T08:27:39.670-07:00

It’s a myth that doesn’t die easily: "You gotta isolate those abs and go for the burn!" You’ve heard it. We all have. The thing is, "spot reducing" does not exist — except in the fantasy world of some infomercials. Don't fall for it. Here are some facts: Fact: Fat is distributed throughout your body, with some areas storing more of it than others. Where is determined mostly by genetics.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-36814246993058513502008-03-16T11:00:00.000-07:002008-03-18T13:26:35.403-07:00

If you are reading this now you are 1) already physically fit, or 2) in the process of getting fit, or 3) you are not fit but know that you should be. Probably you are at mid-life or a senior. Most likely you are not a subscriber to Men’s Health, a magazine geared mostly to younger men. Yet much of its information and articles have relevance at any age. The April edition of MH has a page

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-91644265616908024902008-03-13T09:39:00.000-07:002008-03-15T08:32:15.273-07:00

Gray Iron read an article from an NBC connected web site in which the writer covers several neat things about sex, things that people aren’t necessarily mulling over when they get the urge. As compelling as they are, Gray Iron doubts that the writer is talking about indiscriminate risky sex, which can be dangerous health-wise (or career-wise, as one big-state governor learned recently). But don’t

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-35741370497821267022008-03-07T20:11:00.000-08:002008-03-25T13:47:44.922-07:00

I did my annual photo-shoot in Patty’s classroom. Her 6th graders study ancient Egypt and make life size mummies to culminate the Egyptian history section. My job is to photograph each student and mummy. The pictures go to their parents. When the photo-shoot is finished, Patty assigns the class to interview me. I sit on a stool in front of them and they raise a hand to ask a question. After

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-31087705724886809442008-03-04T17:50:00.000-08:002008-03-16T11:40:36.946-07:00

On the other side of the couch potato coin is the person who regularly exercises to the point of mental or physical exhaustion, and sometimes to overuse injury. A column in the New York Times addressed this recently and how top athletes must walk a narrow line that divides not enough training to reach peak performance from the risk of "overtraining syndrome." The article is worth reading.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-33011083633074171492008-02-26T12:49:00.000-08:002008-02-26T20:46:59.039-08:00

Make of this what you will, but according to a "prominent US professor of health law" (I didn't know there was such a thing), global terrorism is far less risk than obesity, diabetes and smoke related illnesses.That's a clever angle, I guess, to call attention to the problem of unhealthy lifestyles. Yes, obesity is an awful thing.But let's not forget something important:Gluttony, like smoking,

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-75883162116180151282008-02-25T09:52:00.000-08:002008-02-26T08:38:23.367-08:00

I like stories about people with gumption. People who despite adversity get up and do something about it. Dennis Ewert of Florida is that kind of guy. He is 67, was overweight, and with several physical obstacles to overcome. Among them were worn out knees and two herniated discs in his back. Knee repair surgeries were successful but left his leg muscles atrophied. Back surgery helped, but one

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-52731781570771411972008-02-21T16:27:00.000-08:002008-03-07T08:55:58.871-08:00

Spending long hours in front of computer screens has resulted in more chronic shoulder and neck pain, according to the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. Ah, but there seems to be a solution -- short of tossing out the computer -- and it turns out to be weight training. And an old-time bodybuilding movement called the “Shoulder Shrug” is often a major ingredient in the magic potion.It’s an easy one

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-92147317276310199712008-02-19T10:23:00.001-08:002008-02-26T08:37:32.790-08:00

Many of the great pleasures in my life have had to do with coaching others. I began more than twenty-five years ago by coaching middle-school soccer teams. At the start, I knew almost nothing about the game, but I learned. Later on, I coached successfully at a high school.The things that I am good at are mostly fitness or art related. For a while, as a volunteer, I coached a troubled but

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-64311968495152266482008-02-12T10:13:00.000-08:002008-02-16T09:53:48.729-08:00

It's been reported (Associated Press story) that new research concludes “Living to 100 is easier than you might think.” Well, okay. That's good news, I guess. Still, the question Gray Iron asks is this: Would you really want to?My own answer is, yes, sure . . . if (1) I still had interests in life, and (2) I were physically capable of caring for myself. If not, what is the purpose of hanging on?

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-37449932196699443182008-02-09T22:13:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:51:38.284-08:00

Obesity gets all the attention. But believe or not, there are people at the opposite end of the fatness problem, those who are too lean. That is, their body fat percentage is too low to be healthy. It may come as a surprise that many in that category are athletes – people we generally consider physically superior. In fact, a study involving Olympic athletes indicates some may be putting their

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-2999136303779696682008-02-08T12:35:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:52:22.348-08:00

Sometimes life just isn’t fair – at least not for the physically inactive. In yet another study, this one from Great Britain, the evidence suggests that people who are physically active may be biologically younger than couch potatoes. "A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to aging-related diseases and premature death. Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-2742104277010673182008-02-06T10:09:00.001-08:002008-02-11T19:52:38.266-08:00

Gray Iron Newsletter subscriber Denis Ledoux writes the following: “One young man at my gym wanted to know why I wanted to add lean body mass. It was not going to be good for my heart to be too bulky at my age. “To which I answered, ‘I come three times a week. I am a 60 (at the time) year old ectomorph. I will of course add lean body mass but my goal is to be the most fit man of my age.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-34976953564713066462008-02-04T09:42:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:53:08.902-08:00

Was skimming Men’s Health magazine and I landed on a page called “Gut Bombs to Go.” (Great title, I thought.) Listed were the worst of food items that are typically bought on the run. Here are two examples that say a lot about obesity and the rising rates of diabetes in the U.S. and other developed nations. Worst Donut: Krispy Kreme Caramel Kreme Crunch. This baby — just one donut by itself —

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-15947117860674661582008-02-02T16:26:00.000-08:002008-02-11T19:54:52.968-08:00

A visitor sent information that Morjorie Newlin passed away. Maybe you remember the August post about this amazing great-grandmother (86 years old!) still competing in bodybuilding."I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Philadelphia's first lady of fitness, Morjorie A. Newlin. I first read about the remarkable, then-70-year-old in the early '90s and was inspired by her pursuit of

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-29480688248728740962008-02-01T18:55:00.000-08:002008-02-03T10:08:16.100-08:00

One of the things in the news business you learn quickly is no matter what you write or say, somebody is going to get annoyed. Twenty years at a newspaper taught me that.Coverage of a labor dispute long ago comes to mind. The local teachers went on strike, which of course was news, front page news. The teachers had squared off against the school board. The parents picked sides and each side was

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-60269711204084944742008-01-28T09:24:00.000-08:002008-01-29T11:16:50.964-08:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo BooksOne arm rowing is one of the finest mid- to upper-back exercises. Secondarily, it works your biceps and forearms and, to some degree, your abs and lower back because you must stay tight to row properly.Watch the video a couple of times (daughter Jennifer demonstrates). Then take a solid stance, resting one hand on a sturdy bench. With

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-22460878488052300862008-01-23T20:27:00.000-08:002008-01-23T20:43:46.583-08:00

The recent release of names of steroid using major league baseball players was but one more look into the dark side of sports. Yet if we are honest with ourselves, it only confirmed what we already believed was going on. Was too much made of it? Perhaps. I agree that lying and cheating are pale in comparison to sports star incidents of violence or committing unimaginable cruelty to man’s best

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-90694087731910167002008-01-21T09:02:00.000-08:002008-01-21T11:53:13.001-08:00

I have never understood our current obsession with pectorals. I think it all got started when we began measuring a man's self-worth by how much he can "bench" (i.e. the bench or chest press exercise). I just don't get it. Of course, I don't get covering yourself in tattoos, either. I'm from a different era.So an article in the Sunday paper this week told about men actually having chest implants

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-56496461952455072032008-01-18T07:29:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:53:46.469-08:00

Remember Bill Phillips' hugely popular Body for Life book and program of just a few years ago? Thousands of people made dramatic physical improvements following Phillips' advice.Maybe you also remember that one of the reasons he said people fall off the wagon and overeat is because they do not eat the right balance of protein in their meals. And this sets them up for food cravings shortly

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-78011058382855718822008-01-15T08:12:00.001-08:002008-02-11T08:54:32.865-08:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has little authority to regulate many supplements -- and the fact is that not all supplements are safe. Here is a report about two men developing advanced prostate cancer after taking "herbal" supplements.Gray Iron advice is this: Do not take supplements of any kind without first knowing that they are safe. And a product labeled "natural" does not

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-85145076491442057242008-01-11T12:03:00.000-08:002008-01-20T09:56:04.600-08:00

Gray Iron has no medical degree. I'm just a fitness guy whose been at it a long time and reads a lot. That said, I am skeptical about hormone therapies I hear about. Is there some miracle pill to stop aging just around the corner? Is it already here? Like I said, I'm skeptical. My advice: Until legitimate studies are concluded and scientists say this stuff is safe and that it works, forget it.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-50720997454256697652008-01-08T09:16:00.001-08:002008-01-08T09:29:55.594-08:00

Neither basking on the beach for that deep tan, nor hiding in the shade, slathered in sunblock lotion, seems to make sense when it comes to sunlight.According to a researcher at the Institute for Cancer Research in Oslo, Norway, modest sun exposure gives enormous vitamin D benefits. The skin cancer risk is there but the health benefits from some sun exposure are far greater than the risk. "The

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-43383873236273090202008-01-01T19:39:00.000-08:002008-01-01T20:10:39.387-08:00

It turns out that seniors who walk faster on a treadmill test live longer, on average, than slower walkers. Geriatricians at the University of Pittsburgh tracked a group of seniors for 10 years and found those who covered the equivalent of 2-1/2 miles per hour on a treadmill outlived walkers able to walk less than 1-1/2 miles per hour.The researchers adjusted for sex, race, age, chronic illness

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-44992713102721959292007-12-31T09:07:00.001-08:002007-12-31T10:27:34.540-08:00

During an annual physical exam, a doctor once asked if I smoked. When I said no, he said, "Good. Smoking is the single worst health habit anyone can have."Maybe it was an exaggeration, but not much of one.Today, I read a report on smoking and erectile dysfunction, or ED, as they call in the TV ads about Viagra and similar pills.Whenever I see those ads I notice that the actors are usually

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-51890493266284160582007-12-28T19:06:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:55:10.762-08:00

As far as omega-3 fatty acids are concerned, you get as much benefit from fish oil capsules as you get from the fish itself. This according to a researcher at the University of South Dakota, Dr. William S. Harris.Nevertheless, Harris said he would encourage people to eat fish rather than relying on fish oil capsules. "Fish of course brings with it proteins and minerals and other factors that are

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-23651754952649449832007-12-24T09:35:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:55:39.700-08:00

Remember not long ago folks were told to dump coffee and drink tea instead? Tea, especially green tea, provides all those wonderful antioxidants. Well, tea's antioxidants are still there. But guess what? Coffee it turns out has beneficial antioxidants, too. So pick your favorite. As usual, moderation is the key. Too much of a good thing can lead to the caffeine jitters.Read this report on how

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-21759826181393414322007-12-22T10:48:00.001-08:002007-12-22T11:04:49.955-08:00

Does shaved hair will grow back faster, coarser and darker. That it does seems to get passed along from generation to generation. The fact is, controlled studies done as long ago as 1928 showed no difference in the growth and texture of shaved and non-shaved hair. So go ahead and shave and pluck with total abandon and be guilt free.Still, don't believe it? That and six other big medical myths are

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-37878008288926603512007-12-21T08:37:00.000-08:002008-02-11T08:56:28.071-08:00

Just a quick note about soft drinks and sodas: They are bad for you, really BAD. And it doesn't take much to put your health at risk. Think I'm over-reacting, being an alarmist? Read what the doctors say. So moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, get that junk out of the house. It's bad for you and it's bad for the kids.Read the full story here.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-81377943387426747222007-12-17T21:49:00.000-08:002007-12-18T08:51:34.243-08:00

Here's a study from Duke University Medical Center that says 30-minute walks six days a week are more likely to make you trim and fit than more intense workouts practiced a few times a week. Now this, of course, goes against what many fitness gurus are preaching these days. So what does Gray Iron think? Thirty minute walks plus shorter more intense sessions in the weight room may combine the best

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-15271819157396841112007-12-10T09:52:00.000-08:002007-12-24T10:18:55.323-08:00

Gray Iron Newsletter reader, John C., says an annual physical examination revealed a steep rise in his PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. As you know, an elevated PSA can lead to more expensive and invasive tests. Before having those, he decided to examine his dietary habits and realized his only recent change was adding a daily protein shake. (I do not know how many total grams of protein he

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-36018688806932999652007-12-08T11:09:00.000-08:002008-02-11T13:31:32.596-08:00

Yes, we’ve heard it before. But more evidence is in that fruits and vegetables are preventative of many types of cancers. If you aren’t getting your daily portions of fruits and vegetables, maybe this will nudge you in the right direction.Full story from Reuters here.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-32278363080675911782007-11-28T19:15:00.000-08:002008-04-10T20:39:40.131-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo BooksForget those little bitty crunches and "going for the burn." Real core exercises like old fashioned bent-legs sit-ups, wood choppers with weighted cables, and windshield wipers (no equipment needed) are the real way to a stronger, firmer gut.If you're a beginner, enter slowly. Use the bent-knees side to side motion first. Then graduate

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-36162884738544089302007-11-24T08:36:00.001-08:002007-11-24T09:00:31.289-08:00

Once again, Jack LaLanne had it right. He said, "Your waistline is your lifeline." And it's true. But decades ago when LaLanne was coming up with snappy bumper-sticker type slogans about health, many in the medical field labeled him a nut.Now, we know that he had it right all along. In this report from Rueters we see that United Kingdom researchers recognize the limitations of the BMI as a health

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-55946840649187194632007-11-19T08:08:00.001-08:002007-11-19T13:02:01.266-08:00

It's probably a little late for most male Gray Iron readers to do anything about it, but recent studies indicate that having four or more children increases the likelihood of living to 100. Wow! When I read that headline I thought it sounded a little goofy, and if you read my blog regularly you know that I am generally suspicious of many claims that are supposedly backed up by "scientific studies

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-15796485901121574882007-11-16T12:29:00.000-08:002007-11-17T10:40:02.888-08:00

The benefits of progressive strength training workouts continue for older men, even after they switch to a less intense workout schedule, according to the results of a new study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine.So what is the ideal number of workouts per week for people over 50? Gray Iron thinks that nobody knows for sure, and it probably varies somewhat from one person

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-24018762028809972622007-11-10T12:12:00.001-08:002007-11-16T12:40:07.055-08:00

The "It's A Small World" ride at Disneyland opened in 1964 when people were a lot trimmer. The famous California theme park will shut down the ride in January for ten months to make the water canals deeper and build stronger boats. They need to do this because people are fatter and causing the boats to completely stop in the middle of the ride. When the boats get stuck, a crew member has to ask

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-26985471109564478942007-11-09T08:32:00.000-08:002007-11-09T08:38:03.705-08:00

Regardless of overwhelming evidence that smoking is the nation's number one preventable cause of death, 1 in 5 Americans still smoke. The idea that there is an irreducible number of people who will smoke, no matter what, is probably true; but it is much less than one in five people. Utah, for example, has a (smoking) prevalence rate of only 9 percent.In another state, Oregon, the tobacco industry

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-12675886709532171722007-11-07T07:43:00.000-08:002007-11-07T07:50:32.398-08:00

“I think the Atkins diet is potentially detrimental for cardiovascular health, if maintained for a long duration and without attempts to lose weight,” said Dr. Michael Miller, director of preventative cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. “A stabilized Atkins diet is not the way to go."Read the full report here. But also let me summarize the findings in plain talk: Eventually,

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-76974418144206076302007-11-05T08:15:00.000-08:002007-11-06T08:34:26.810-08:00

Medical terms such as “metabolic syndrome” enter the common vocabulary and many times people really don’t know what they mean. The first few times I heard the term, I didn’t have a clue. Simply put, metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It is a very common and dangerous medical problem.Metabolic syndrome means the

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-61450795252801972192007-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:002007-10-31T12:29:36.773-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingBulgarians are real "thigh busters." Play the video and little explanation will be needed. Daughter Jennifer demonstrates and prefers a 3-count on the descent and a 1-count coming up. Try varying the tempo and reps. And if your body weight alone isn't challenging enough, hold a pair of dumbbells. A few sets of these and your

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-88253017331940590762007-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:002007-10-25T08:56:54.620-07:00

Deep breathing is essential in a good workout. But when does deep breathing become grunting? And does grunting actually help? Or is it merely a form of exhibitionism? To grunt or not grunt, and what constitutes a grunt, these are the questions discussed here. So before making that next giant exhalation in public, understand about grunting's value and protocol. Go to Grunting.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-47543991793669887372007-10-23T08:31:00.000-07:002007-10-23T08:48:09.354-07:00

"The defeat of famine is the goal of all successful societies. Unfortunately, triumph often evolves into the other extreme -- gluttony." --Living the Fitness LifestyleBeverley Balkau, director of research at the French National health research institute INSERM in Villejuif, led a study published in the journal Circulation that concluded obesity is becoming a global problem.It puts the rest of the

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-92226675859618518152007-10-15T09:15:00.000-07:002007-11-06T11:50:51.108-08:00

I can remember long car trips with my mother and stepfather smoking, and often with all the windows rolled up. My mother deluded herself by saying smoking was harmless to her because “I don’t inhale.” And since I didn’t smoke I was only inhaling "harmless" secondhand smoke.Effective January 1, 2008, such behavior by adults in California will result in a $100 fine. Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-86954192603909006842007-10-08T20:26:00.000-07:002007-10-15T20:33:55.670-07:00

The prototype Wellness mobile phone from Japan’s NTT DoCoMo Inc. has a way of keeping track of a user’s health, according to company spokesman Noriaki Tobita. It can take your pulse, check your body fat, time your jogs, and tell you if you have bad breath.Spokesman Tobita calls the device a “hassle-free way of keeping track of a busy person’s health.” Call me an old coot — go ahead, it’s ok — but

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-68339032106619232152007-10-04T09:04:00.000-07:002007-10-04T09:41:34.875-07:00

Many of us take supplements of one kind or another. Personally, I am very careful about taking them and skeptical about many of the claims made by supplement manufacturers. I do not rely on their advertising claims. I hope you don't either. Some supplements, high quality fish oil (Omega 3) immediately comes to mind, have unquestionable value. While some others are suspect. A few have even been

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-60701514772685715972007-09-27T18:47:00.000-07:002007-09-29T12:13:57.730-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingThe Marines love this little gem of an exercise called Mountain Climbers. I was a jarhead so I speak from experience. But my guess is that the other branches appreciate its conditioning merits, too.If you are in fairly good shape, MCs are good ones to add to your cache, especially when they are used as part of a circuit or interval

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-4934246938812189902007-09-22T09:37:00.001-07:002007-09-24T11:55:33.639-07:00

Is anyone out there an ultra-marathoner (not something I'd recommend, by the way), or maybe a super triathlete, or veteran English Channel swimmer? Think you're tough? Can you run or swim till you drop? Well, this little lady named Godwit would laugh at your wimpy efforts. Don't believe me? Check it out here. It is an amazing world we live in. Have fun.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-28793448223646109742007-09-17T13:57:00.000-07:002007-09-17T14:29:26.105-07:00

It probably won't surprise readers of my blog to learn that people who take supplements are generally better nourished than those who don't take them. In fact, a substantial proportion of seniors (people 51 and older) don't get enough vitamins and minerals from diet alone, and fewer than half of them take supplements every day.The widespread inadequacies should be considered when developing

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-30897850544924868712007-09-13T09:13:00.000-07:002007-09-13T10:02:46.457-07:00

It should be small comfort to learn that the U.S. is not the globe's only gluttonous country. In fact, most highly developed nations have the same "Super Size Me" problems.The Aussies have come up with an idea to trim the blubber -- and also reduce their growing cost of health care, which in the end must be paid for by everyone, the obese and svelte alike.The Australian General Practice Network (

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-11514982097873846662007-09-10T12:49:00.000-07:002007-09-12T12:36:53.720-07:00

Here at Gray Iron Fitness we have made it policy to keep politics out of our mission. Opinions? Sure, we've got them. But our job here is encouraging senior fitness and healthy lifestyles. Period. Still, you do have to have some fun now and then. It's healthful. So here's a report from the British journal Nature Neuroscience that says the brain neurons of liberals and conservatives fire

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-14460685706835795042007-09-09T19:33:00.001-07:002007-09-09T20:45:53.910-07:00

If you eat "clean" 90 percent of the time, does it hurt to once in a while indulge in, say, a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake? Normally, Gray Iron would say go ahead and take a break, as long as it is just that: a break. But in no way is Gray Iron defending saturated fat. No question about it, loading up on saturated fat is not good for you.(Note that we are talking about saturated fat, not

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-70071962847493017712007-09-07T11:26:00.001-07:002007-09-07T11:41:12.413-07:00

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests keeping a Health Journal to be shared with your doctor and to help keep track of things that may make you sick. The journal, according to the academy, should include the following:• Any illness or injury you've sustained.• Any hospitalizations or surgeries.• Any symptoms or allergies that you've had.• OTC medications, prescription medications,

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-25284492414717851662007-09-04T09:39:00.000-07:002007-09-07T08:58:14.656-07:00

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette. Puff, puff, puff until you smoke yourself to death. Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate That you hate to make him wait, But you just gotta have another cigarette. —from a song Phil Harris (photo at right) used to sing.Sometimes after an anti-smoking rant, I ask myself: Does any smoker actually decide to stop because of something they've read here?

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-65182188902378290512007-08-28T08:08:00.000-07:002007-08-28T12:31:18.548-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingDaughter Jennifer lives near a small village in the foothills of the Austrian Alps, not very far from where a well-known California governor and former Mr. Universe grew up. There must be something in the water.The one-arm dumbbell press of course develops shoulder and arm strength. Maybe even more than pressing a barbell or two

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-44467447627596158262007-08-26T20:37:00.000-07:002007-08-26T21:01:53.584-07:00

A realistic fear many have about aging and dying has to do with making their final exit in a nursing home. The best nursing homes are humane; but even then they are nothing more than warehouses for mere existence. So it is normal to hope and pray for a health span that is equal to your lifespan, regardless of its length. And though hope and prayer may have value, they are not enough.Ignoring

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-14078604931705209092007-08-22T21:37:00.000-07:002007-08-29T16:17:30.708-07:00

Patty was asking questions at Costco’s customer service counter as I stood waiting nearby, and with a clear view of the crowded warehouse store. I thought how fortunate we are to live in a nation with such an abundance of products, goods that our free market economy provides. I looked at the huge shopping carts filled with a variety that most of the rest of the world envies. I recalled

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-61200574079864753612007-08-19T09:22:00.000-07:002007-08-28T12:52:21.487-07:00

In earlier times, the gym business was different. The owner was also the business manager, bookkeeper, salesman, custodian -- and your personal trainer -- all wrapped into one. If that sounds like too much for any one person to handle, remember that most gyms were independently owned and most had a lot fewer members. There were no Pilates, yoga, step, kickboxing, or spinning classes, either. You

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-77959518741434612552007-08-16T10:55:00.000-07:002008-02-11T13:33:30.897-08:00

I've been half-expecting someone reputable to tell us that fish oil really isn’t all that its cracked up to be, that all its great press may be exaggerated. Instead, it’s just the opposite. Each new report seems to reveal yet another health benefit attributed to taking fish oil. Improved cardiovascular function was only the beginning of the good news.Now here’s a study that suggests fish oil may

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-19542386952588808372007-08-14T08:40:00.001-07:002007-08-18T10:26:50.684-07:00

There's a page in my book, Living The Fitness Lifestyle, titled "Self Delusion and the Scale." I quote Jack LaLanne (early photo at left) who said long ago, "Your waistline is your lifeline." LaLanne was and still is way, way ahead of his time. He's now in his 90s and still working out.Reuters reports the latest validation of LaLanne's comment in an article, (the) "Tape measure, not scale, key to

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-24713787471368105552007-08-12T10:33:00.000-07:002007-08-17T16:58:12.962-07:00

Is anyone still smoking? I'm not trying to be a wise-guy. Of course the answer is yes, plenty of people still smoke. Yet considering all that we know, it is hard to understand how anyone with even a modicum of common sense does it. But common sense and reason have never had anything to do with smoking.The question then becomes: What factor or factors get smokers to quit once they are hooked? The

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-52295259989826658722007-08-07T13:36:00.000-07:002008-02-11T19:56:54.022-08:00

At first I thought Morjorie was literally unreal. But she is very real. And, get this: She is an 86 year old great-grandmother -- and a competitive bodybuilder!Amazing. I had to look twice and still thought her story might be one of those bogus urban legends traveling around the internet. So I ran it through Snopes and checked out the story as best I could. Morjorie Newlin is a retired nurse who

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-3324269659158983722007-08-05T19:32:00.000-07:002007-08-05T19:56:58.235-07:00

Gray Iron Newsletter subscriber Leo, from Gloucester England, writes to ask two questions: 1. Do you have any observations to make on the question of rep speed or tempo? Your videos suggest that you use a natural cadence. I am experimenting with super slow which is intense in the extreme (and agonising}.2. What do you think we actually achieve physically by continuing weight training at seventy.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-87951914166219478502007-08-01T11:38:00.000-07:002007-08-01T11:48:27.682-07:00

For quite a while now, many experts have urged us to stop drinking coffee and switch to green tea. Green tea has all those wonderful antioxidants. Well, there's still nothing wrong with green tea. It's good for us. But guess what? It seems that the sometimes demonized coffee turns out to have positive properties, too. One example of those good things coffee does is explained in the following

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-893333107127443332007-07-31T13:32:00.001-07:002007-07-31T13:48:47.773-07:00

Here is an interesting study. Japanese and Danish researchers found that in a group of seven exercisers, fat-burning was accelerated when a 60 minute workout was split in half with a 20 minute rest period between halves.Well, they may be right, and their explanation seems solid. However, would you say that a study that involved only seven people should be considered conclusive? I think more

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-9717249381289996592007-07-20T09:56:00.000-07:002007-07-20T10:33:01.354-07:00

This is not commentary on the writing of John Steinbeck but, rather, a notation that scientists recently proved the obvious: If you want to stay young for as long as possible, eating less and exercising more is the key.In short, here's what they did to prove it. With genetic engineering they created mutant mice that mimicked the effects of eating less and exercising. Their report is in the

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-69271314209257459862007-07-17T09:14:00.000-07:002007-07-17T09:41:28.571-07:00

There was a time not that long ago when people with heart disease were told to rest, rest, rest. Then along came evidence that aerobic exercise was usually beneficial -- but stay away from weight training. Now, in a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association we learn that some resistance training can be good for heart patients."Just like we once learned that people with heart

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-477269447639756812007-07-15T09:09:00.001-07:002007-07-15T09:51:57.664-07:00

As we age, we are told that getting regular exercise will increase longevity and quality of life. It's a fact that few people in the know bother to debate anymore. But how much exercise is actually necessary to derive some benefit?Well, not as much as you may think. A recent Journal of the American Medical Association report and suggestions from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) explain that

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-41149763020860882212007-07-13T12:10:00.000-07:002007-07-13T12:39:47.131-07:00

In a report from Health Day, scientists explain that a protein in blood points to rising amounts of a particularly lethal form of body fat around your organs. This reminds me of one of Jack LaLanne's favorites ("LaLanne-isms"?). He likes to say, "Your waistline is your lifeline." And more and more, we realize how right he has been. It's the blubber around one's waist and beneath that's deadly.

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-83338868301949421122007-07-12T08:02:00.001-07:002007-07-13T10:38:02.207-07:00

According to a study at Great Britain's Oxford University, a "fat tax" on certain unhealthy foods could save 3,200 lives per year. Interesting. But how far should the government go into people's private lives is a reasonable question asked by many Brits. In fact, England already levies a purchase tax on a small number of products such as potato crisps, ice cream, confectionery and chocolate

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-41025474781994341602007-07-07T21:48:00.000-07:002008-02-11T13:37:03.512-08:00

Craig Ballantyne writes about fitness and training for Men’s Health magazine. Though MH for the most part aims at younger readers than I do, I find that a lot of their advice is valid across the board, and for both men and women.Recently, Ballantyne wrote about dietary habits and weight loss. He explained something that is important for any overweight person to understand. He said that to take

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-65868848922622197262007-07-05T11:44:00.001-07:002008-02-11T19:58:35.393-08:00

There's a young, disabled man at our gym. He is barely able to walk, even with crutches, and his forward motion is painfully slow. Still, he manages to use the elliptical trainers, always works up a good sweat, and somehow gets around the room to use the weight machines.He lives just a couple of blocks from the gym and it may take him half-an-hour to go the short distance on crutches. If it is

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-85923222218911959502007-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:002007-06-30T11:49:14.754-07:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingThere are many varieties of lunges (all of them good), but I like walking lunges best. They are great for building muscular quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes. Walking lunges look simple to do; nevertheless, there are some things to know to get full benefits.In the beginning, get comfortable doing them by traveling short distances

Grayironhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14513354839738964495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19555518.post-18389685436425220232007-06-29T10:12:00.000-07:002007-06-29T20:43:03.931-07:00

Suppose that you have punished your body for years by eating too much and all of the wrong things. Is it too late at middle age or more to undo the harm you may have done to yourself? Many mature adults think it is and continue harming themselves, figuring, why bother to change habits now? The damage has already been done.But that's not true, according to a study at Medical University of South

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