Archive for April, 2010

What type of a fitness program should I start if I wanted to start firefighting?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Our community is short on volunteer firefighters so I’m applying. I’m already in pretty good shape but I can always do better. Any advice or recommendations on what a good fitness program would be? How would P90X be?

p90x gets great reviews, check them out:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%255Fb%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dp90x%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

You’ll also want some adjustable dumbbells to go along with the program (don’t forget the chin-up bar):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26search-alias%3Daps%26ref%255F%3Da9%255Fsc%255F1%26qid%3D1249842001%26field-keywords%3Ddumbbells%2520adjustable&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Alternatively you can buy individual dumbbells, which is my personal preference. I like rubber coated HEX dumbbells the best:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Drubber%2520coated%2520hex%2520dumbbells%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

You’ll want this p90x chin/pull up bar (that’s door mounted, you might want to search for wall mounted):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ARNRRK?ie=UTF8&tag=zv11ex-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001ARNRRK

or a ‘tower’:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref_%3Dnb%5Fsb%5Fnoss%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dpull%2520up%2520tower%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

You might also want to get pushup bars, I personally use this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ECZMSI?ie=UTF8&tag=zv11ex-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001ECZMSI

although it’s pricey compared to others, so any of these will work fine:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%255Fgw%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dpushup%2520bar%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

I also suggest resistance bands, I suggest ripcords brand as they don’t break on you (I had to go to the emergency room once because I was using bad ones from a gym, and it snapped and nearly broke my hand by slinging itself):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%255Fgw%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dripcords%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Get the 5 set or 6 set (don’t get it with the DVD).

And lastly, you should have a good recovery drink. I prefer this one myself over the p90x specific one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001FSX08?ie=UTF8&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001FSX08

ps, if you don’t want to put on too much muscle, use light weights (I suggest getting all 5 sets):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dnb%255Fss%255Fgw%26y%3D0%26field-keywords%3Dvaleo%2520weights%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps&tag=clogui-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

How does the French health insurance system work ?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Ok so im still writing this essay on how the health systems in france. However I do not understand how their health insurance works. So could someone explain it simply please. I understand that most of their Health expenses is covered by the state- but that is all i get.

I’ve lived here in France for 9 years and am not an expert…. but….

Salaried employees pay tax as does their employer on their income, which is called ‘Social Charges’ this covers health and retirement among other things. However it doesn’t usually cover 100% of health/medical costs!!!!

Normally the standard contributions cover about 75% of the medical costs. People who are in the French health system have a ‘Carte Vitale’ (Health Card) which has a chip with their ID on. This allows them to get discount when they go to the Chemist for a prescription and allows the Doctor to access their records.

Many people take out a private health insurance or ‘Top Up health insurance’ to take care of the final 25% medical fees.

Normally if it’s a serious illness then the standard state covers 100%, things like Broken legs, cancer etc.

Good luck with the essay!

What is the best supplement to build muscle and tone ?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

I am looking for the best training supplement , have seen cheap stuff all over the place but want to know as far as quality . which is the best to use .

Gold standard Whey, get the strawberry flavor I think chocolate tastes like crap. This stuff will bulk you up, being tone is the rest of your diet, dont eat mcdonalds and you wont have fat covering your muscles. oh yea, and work out of course

Is there an easy way to figure out nutrition in homemade recipes?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

I am type one diabetic and pregnant. It is vital that I know exactly how many carbs I consume. I have been trying a lot of homemade recipes but have a hard time figuring out nutrition info because some are in ounces others in cups and then I combine them all. Is there a website to enter all the info in that will calculate it up for me?

First of all, I wish you and your baby the very best. Your concern for your diet is commendable, especially since you are now eating for two.

Monitoring carbohydrate consumption is so important for a diabetic, but it is sometimes hard to find the nutritional composition of certain foods. I found a carbohydrate calculator for you, which also includes the entire gamut of nutrients to be found in over 7000 foods. This is important, since there are many other important nutrients to monitor when you are pregnant.

The best thing is that the software is free, and you can download it from the website below.

God bless you and your child, young lady. Hope this helps.

what would happen if HGH is injected into a midget?

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

I was reading AP Bio and it dawned on me, what would happen if someone were to inject HGH (human growth hormone) into a midget? Would he or she regain height or remain the same?

Human growth hormone or somatostatin only causes height increase if the growth plates in juvenile bones are still open and able to grow. If someone reaches skeletal maturity and their growth plates are fused, you can administer HGH but all you will do is give them symptoms of acromegaly, a condition caused by over secretion of HGH from the pituitary. If the bones can’t grow, they won’t get any taller.

What are those fitness walk trails with exercise stations called?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Back in Girl Scouts we would go on a hike at a park that would have a fitness trail. Along the fitness trail there would be stations set up where you do jumping jacks, pull-ups, walking a beam, etc. I have seen them by office buildings and apartment complexes too. What I want to do is find out what they are officially called so I can do a search online. Thanks! (PS: I am from the Schaumburg, IL area if that helps.)

Usually it is called a fitness trail.

What affordable health insurance is the best?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

I will be divorced in 2 months and will have to find my own health insurance. I have been with Anthem for 14 years and have no health problems and no medications except 1 blood pressure pill a day. I am waiting for a quote from Anthem for a single policy but I am afraid it will not be affordable. Thanks for all the help I can get!

Try this site, if you want to find the best or the cheapest health insurance just in one minute,

http://cheap-health-insurance-usa.info/

Here you can get free quotes from different companies in your area, its the best way to find an affordable health insurance with a reliable company.

Hope this help,

What is the best supplement / training to do for explosive endurance?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

I just completed my first JIU JITSU tournament. I lost my match. I was winning in the begining of the match but ran out of steam about 3 minutes into my four minute bout. I lost by decision. I have decided to dedicate my training to improving my short term endurance (I only need a full 4 minutes worth of full bore endurance for about 3-5 matches to win) What is the best training I can do to accomplish this? What is the best supplement to take? Will creatine help?

Wow…

First off Creatine helps develop muscle by allowing it to be filled with more water, it is a skeletal muscle tissue component.

You want what is known as Anerobic Cardio, there is a huge difference between a sprinter and a marathon runner.

What you want is Sprinter cardio and fast twitch muscle.

What supplement to take? None it doesn’t matter they are worthless for this, just don’t take any type of caffienate supplement, anything with Mua Huang, Ephedra, etc. These will increase your heart rate and could potentially kill you if you are doing highly anaerobic activities.

Jumping rope as said above is an ok start. I suggest circuit training, with olympic style lifts (designed for explosion) and leg sprints.

Just a quick idea of a program would be.

Go to a track and prepare to run 2 miles (adjust for your own level) jog the curves and sprint the straights.

Eventually get to a point where you can time yourself, (and you can do this on a treadmill) where you sprint for 30 seconds, jog for 30 seconds, sprint for 45 seconds, rest(jog) for 30 seconds. Keep that up and increase the intervals in which you sprint, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, one minute, one and half minutes and so on.Try not to have your jog time exceed the rest time you would have in a match. Another thing is to practice how you would in a match. Do 5 or 6 rounds at 3 mins each with a minute break.

That in addition to getting better, learning to relax when in a competition, and knowing when to explode and when to chill will all help. This was your first tourney, you are going to get better at learning when to relax and conserve energy and when to use it. That will come with experience, I outlast guys in way better shape then me just because I know when to conserve energy and when to use it.

Quick circuit routine for ya as well.

Start with a weight that you can do everything with, shoot for being able to do one circuit in 9 minutes with the following reps.
Eventually be able to do two circuits back to back in 18 minutes.

1. 50 Sit ups (30-50 depending on fitness level)
2. 20 Upright Rows
3. 20 bent rows
4. 20 over head press
5. 21 curls (7 from bottom to half way up, 7 half way up to full way up, and 7 complete range of motion)
6. 50 Sit ups
7. 50 Half Squats (weight on your shoulders)
8. 20 Leg lunges (10 each leg)
9. 20 Step ups (10 each leg, find a step about 2 ft high and step up with each leg)
10. 30 Leg lifts (need a partner, lay on your back, bring your legs straight up, he pushes them back down, try to keep them from touching the ground. Have your partner through them straight back on one, to the left on 2, right on 3, so on)
11. 20 pull downs (start on your back, bridge with your legs put the weight above your head and pull down to your navel then return the weight above your head)
12. 50 Bridged bench press (normal bench, just bridge up with your hips)
13. 20 Dips (use that same step)
14. 20 Clean and press (start with weight at your feet, bend at the knees and bring it all the way up over your head)

You should focus on technique, have someone show you the proper way to do those lifts. And work on speed.

The idea is to go directly from one exercise to the other, the weights should never leave your hands except to do sit ups and leg lifts. You want to have have no rest in between exercises and do them all in 9 minutes. Before you increase weight or anything else work your way up to being able to do two in a row in under 18 minutes, once you are able to do that slowly increase in weight as your time goes down. Then add in another exercise or two.

I promise you that circuit will get you where you need to be. You get where you can do that with 130lbs or so (45lbs on each end of an Olympic bar) you will be an unstoppable beast. These are all Judo/Jiu jitsu specific exercises, I got a routine similar to this that I was taught by the strength and conditioning coach for the U.S. Olympic Judo team, it will work you.

How many nutrition classes do you take when you’re becoming a doctor?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

I was told that in four years of medical school, the average doctor only takes one class on nutrition. Is that about accurate?

Be careful with stuff like that where you hear those things. Medical schools have slightly different ways of presenting the body of information that a physician needs to master, i.e. different ways of teaching. Often matters about nutrition may be introduced in a course that’s not called by that name, but so long as that information is supplied, that’s the key.

Medical curricula are always looking for shortcomings, and most MD schools do a fine job at filling in any holes (real or perceived) in their respective curricula. Nutrition, is, indeed on of the areas thats getting more and more highly integrated into curricula at most schools.

Many medical schools don’t have traditional courses like in undergrad, but use a different model for introducing information, e.g. Harvard and such, so it’s tough to give you a number that’s accurate or that represents the reality of what you want to know.

How did HGH help Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds?

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

HGH simply builds muscle, not strength, how did it increase their success?

It didn’t. It did however increase recovery time for Clemens and Bonds. These drugs do the unnatural which extended these guys careers. They should have been on the decline at their ages but they only got better with age. Bonds would not have broken the record without the drugs because his career would have slowed down the last few years.