Increase the Effectiveness of Your Workouts

Increase the Effectiveness of Your Workouts

There are various fitness tips that can help you to get the most from your workouts. By taking advantage of the knowledge of others, you can dramatically increase the effectiveness of your workouts.

Ironically, many fitness tips are actually common sense, but it's one of the sad facts of exercise field that many people work out in ignorance, following advice that is either outdated or simply wrong.

A classic example of that is hydration - for many years athletes worked out in hot weather without drinking water, in the mistaken belief that this would make them together - as a result many athletes died from heat stroke.

Here are some top fitness tips that can help you get more from your workouts:

• Work your core muscles first: Many people ignore their core muscles, maybe doing a few sit-ups at the end of their workout, but these muscles are crucial - make sure to work them regularly.
• Use a Swiss ball or gym ball for your core exercises: Research shows that doing an exercise such as crunches on a ball is up to 60% more effective than doing the same exercise on the floor.
• Drink water: We all know need we need to drink when working out, but many people now use sports drinks instead of water. However, unless your workouts last more than an hour, stick to water - sports drinks are just extra calories.
• Intervals are the quickest way to improve your fitness: Interval sessions are more effective than steady paced cardio sessions for burning calories, increasing your metabolism, and burning fat

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What are Stem Cells?

What are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are regarded as the 'building blocks' or master cells of the blood and immune system.

Stem Cells are very "clever" and can develop into many different types of cell within the body. They can be seen as a sort of repair system for the body, where a stem cell (or progenitor cell) has the potential to become a new type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a heart muscle cell to repair damaged heart muscle.
Over the past 20 years and in over 20.000 transplantations stem cells have helped treat many life-threatening illnesses by 'repairing' the damaged parts of the body . In addition to the standard medical treatments where cord blood stem cells are routinely used, ongoing research is continuously focused in finding new uses for stem cells. For example, Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the Institute of Child Health (ICH) have found encouraging evidence that blood-borne stem cells can be used to make lung cells in the body.

Cord blood stem cells ARE NOT the same as embryonic stem cells: they are similar to bone marrow stem cells.

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Are You A Chic Geek? The Latest Gadgets To Lust After

Are You A Chic Geek? The Latest Gadgets To Lust After

I may be a blogger by trade, but what I know about technology could fit inside my patent leather Miu Miu evening bag (just ask um, anyone on the Glamour staff who was forced to endure my hard drive breakdown last week). But a new line of gadgets from Swarovski and Phillips have me rethinking the phrase "geek chic."

I've seen plenty of sequin-spangled iPod headphones recently, but the latest collaboration between Swarovski and Phillips, called the Active Crystals collection, takes things to a whole new level. This little necklace may look like your average piece of bling, but it's actually a memory stick that can hold up to 2,000 photos or 500 songs.




It also comes in the form of a little bracelet/charm that I'm sure is all the rage in Harajuku.






And finally, who says a Bluetooth headset (talk time, five hours) is only for the Dockers-wearing-40-something-dude-on-the-golf-course? This Swarovski-embellished version is kinda cute, no?





They're all available at swarovski.com and at Saks Fifth Avenue stores. I'm feeling an early holiday gift for your co-worker...

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What is Carlisle Medical Journal?

What is Carlisle Medical Journal?

Carlisle Medical Journal is a very unique, compact, and user friendly medical journal that can be used to assist anyone in organizing and recording their own medical history. The journal is divided into 7 customized sections. Each multi-colored tab contains the title for each section. The contents of the book fits into a three ring customized binder approximately 7" x 6". Simply fill in the blanks to record important information about your family medical tree; doctors and specialist information; medicines used; allergic reactions; appointments; medical test/ results; surgeries and hospital stays; and journaling your thoughts and experiences. Having access to all this information in one centrally located place can be very helpful to take with you each time you visit any doctor. It would also be helpful to a friend or relative during an emergency situation to have all of your medical history contained in one place.

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Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle

• Choose healthy food when you go shopping. That will make it so much easier to make healthier choices when you are at home looking for something to eat.
• Eat a variety of nutritious foods every day. That means more fruit and veggies. Reduce the amount of fatty, salty, sugary, and processed foods.
• Drink a lot of water. Avoid sugary drinks. Many times, they are high in calories and low in nutritional value.
• Provide a substantial nutritious snack for your children to tide them over until dinner. This will help them to avoid nibbling or grazing and getting too full for dinner. Soup or a sandwich are great options.
• Fruit is a great healthy snack. Find a local farmer whom you trust and choose apples and other seasonal fruit.
• Get your kids involved in what they eat. Give them a range of healthy choices for their lunch box and after-school snacks..
• Mindless eating can lead to overeating. Sit down, turn off the TV and eat together as a family.
• Learn to use fresh ingredients and cook good basic meals from scratch.
• Portion control - that's the name of the game. Watch your portion sizes and don't give children too much on their plate.
• Make trying new foods fun with your children in order to get them to eat a variety of food.
• Make healthy food choices the norm. But don't stress out over eating healthily. There is nothing wrong with the occasional biscuit or pizza.
• Get exercise for at lease 30 minutes each day. That could mean a variety of activities - walking in the park one day, or cycling or jogging the next. Mix it up to keep it interesting.

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10 Essential Health Tips: The Basics to Practice Every Day

10 Essential Health Tips: The Basics to Practice Every Day

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it!

2. Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!

3. Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.

4. Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.

5. Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution and dirt from the street deterrent. Thought for the day: 'Smoke gets in your eyes'…and your mouth, and your nose and your lungs as do pollutants….hum the tune daily.

6. Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.

7. Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't? Thought for the day: Floss and be your body's boss.

8. Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer. Thought for the day: A jug of wine should last a long time.

9. Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing.

10. Choose Your Parents Well
The link between genetics and health is a powerful one. But just because one or both of your parents died young in ill health doesn't mean you cannot counteract the genetic pool handed you. Thought for the day: Follow these basic tips for healthy living and you can better control your own destiny.

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What Is Health Information Technology? (2)

What Is Health Information Technology? (2)

Potential Drawbacks to Health IT

Clearly, Health IT has great potential to revolutionize health care. But there are some negatives to establishing this type of national database.

The biggest obstacle to making Health IT a reality is the cost. Even though it has been shown that Health IT could save billions in the long run, there are significant up-front costs. Doctor’s offices and hospitals would have to purchase or upgrade their computer systems to allow for storage of electronic medical records. It would take a significant amount of time and manpower to scan in or manually enter currently existing paper records into the database. Also, medical professionals would have to go through an education process and alter some of their current practice methods to accommodate the new system. This would take time, and time is money.

Another potential drawback to Health IT is patient medical record security. Many consumer groups, including the ACLU, are concerned that maintaining these private records electronically would make it easier for unauthorized persons (i.e. hackers) to access it. As a technophile, I personally don’t think that electronic medical records are any less safe than the paper records kept in my doctors’ offices – if someone really, really wants to find my blood pressure, they’ll find it regardless of what format my records are kept in. Nevertheless, I hope that Health IT system developers do take the ACLU’s concerns to heart and use every possible data security measure to protect patient privacy. I believe that electronic medical records can be safe, but only if we do everything we can to protect them.

In conclusion, Health IT looks very promising. If such a system could be adopted, it could improve the efficiency and quality of health care, reduce health care costs, and completely change the way our health care system works. Overall, the potential benefits outweigh the possible drawbacks.

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I Wore A Bikini (And SPF 70) Yesterday

I Wore A Bikini (And SPF 70) Yesterday

I haven’t been in a bathing suit all summer, but I got talked into spending the afternoon at the beach with some really cute boys… and an even cuter English bulldog puppy. And it was probably the last gorgeous weekend of the season. How could I pass that up?
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I’m beyond diligent with the sunscreen. I apply it 30 minutes before sun exposure, every hour or so after that and immediately after getting out of the ocean. The boys: Not a single tube of sunscreen among them. (Okay, that’s a stretch, my guy did have one, but he only used it when I nagged him about it.)

Does your man wear SPF? Do you push the issue and try to get him to slather it on when you do? Now that summer’s on it’s way out, do you plan on being less crazy about reapplying? (I don’t.)

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3 Fitness Tips

3 Fitness Tips

Busy schedules, tough jobs, family concerns, lazy lifestyles, unhealthy fast foods have resulted in nothing but lazy, unhealthy, unfit people. Life has become so competitive these days that keeping fit is necessary just to be able to get through the day. We are facing an increasing number of heart diseases, irregular blood glucose levels most of which is due to sedentary lifestyles which obviously lead to obesity.

It is time each one of us realizes the growing need of physical exercise. Keeping fit not only ensures good physical health but also psychological and emotional health. Is it proven that a good looking and healthy body in turn increases ones self-esteem and confidence. Here are a few ways to keep fit:

1. Eat right - healthy food is the foundational stone in the construction of a healthy body. Make sure you eat more often, say every 3 hours and see that your diet includes plenty of fruits, water and foods rich in calcium and iron. Make sure you have adequate amounts of all the other required nutrients in your diet too so that you don’t end up with any deficiencies.

2. Exercise regularly - exercise is very important in your efforts to keep fit. Different people prefer different forms of exercise like, playing a sport such as tennis, swimming, athletics, football, basketball and so on while other may prefer yoga, meditation and long walks. When you play a sport, make sure you play it right. Proper technique plays a very important role in staying safe and avoiding injury. Every player should follow the basic three steps of any sport – warm up drill, game time and cool down drill.

3. Reduce stress - At the present times, according to medical studies, stress reduces physical and mental health of an individual while increasing the chances of various systemic diseases. No doubt, jobs are often stressful with cut-throat competition and deadlines that one can barely meet, but that should not be your excuse. Health is the most precious form of wealth that one could ever posses. There are many ways to reduce stress levels. Physical activity, mediation, breathing exercises, massages, talking to your kids and pets, etc, are some of them. Some would also turn to soothing music, while others would just take a little nap to clear their head.

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Creams & Lotions Tips

Creams & Lotions Tips

If use of cosmetics is any indication of vanity, there's plenty to go around. Stores are full of products to beautify the body, including skin, hair, nails and lips. Creams, toiletries, and makeup designed to change or camouflage are all examples of cosmetics.

Today, cosmetics are not only acceptable, they're standard procedure for most women. How they're used and applied is what separates those who look silly from those who look beautiful and sophisticated. We'll outline some cosmetics tips to help you bring out your best features while concealing your flaws.

Creams & Lotions

Think of your skin as a canvas. The better the canvas, the better the art, no? There's no denying that genes play a crucial role in your overall appearance, but skin care early on in life will definitely give you the edge when it comes to texture, lines and spots when you hit your thirties and beyond.

Body lotions add comfort to dry skin while adding luster. Hands are often exposed to sunlight and may show age much quicker. We don't always pay attention to our hands but others do. Keep your hands soft and silky by using hand lotion multiple times every day, particularly after washing them and before bed.

In pre-teen and teen years it's important to keep skin clean and as clear as possible from blemishes to prevent scarring. Combination skin calls for treating problem areas accordingly. As we age, our skin loses its moisture and elasticity. There are various facial creams on the market today to add much-needed moisture to our faces and reduce fine lines and wrinkles -- thus improving our "canvas."

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What Is Health Information Technology? (1)

What Is Health Information Technology? (1)

Health Information Technology is a term that is often used interchangeably with “electronic medical records”. It is a system where medical professionals store the information usually contained in a patient chart on a computer, rather than on paper.

How Can Health Information Technology Be Used?

Health Information Technology, or Health IT, can be used to improve the efficiency and quality of health care that patients receive. Many people have health conditions that require them to visit several different doctors. For example, I have a primary care physician, and also regularly visit an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist for my sinus and allergy concerns. With Health IT, both of my doctors would have access to my complete treatment chart, so each could see what the other was doing and would not duplicate their efforts. The chances of one doctor prescribing a drug that would interact unfavorably with a drug that the other prescribed would be virtually nil. And if I were to get in an accident and end up in an emergency room, the hospital would also be able to access my medical records, so they could treat me more rapidly and effectively.

Because Health IT would be a national database system that is interlinked and regularly backed up, patient records would be safe even in the face of natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many crucial medical records were lost in these terrible storms because they were kept on paper that was destroyed in the flooding. Also, people who become ill while traveling would not have to suffer because the hospital in Honolulu cannot reach their primary care physician in Tuscaloosa. Their patient records would be available and instantly transmittable electronically.

Health insurance information could also be linked to Health IT records. Imagine walking into a doctor’s office and not having to fill out 17 gazillion insurance forms. With a swipe of a card, your medical records and health insurance information would be instantly transmitted to the provider. This would make your life easier, and it would help your doctor’s administrative staff – they would immediately know which procedures your insurance policy covers and what your copay would be.

Health IT also has great potential to reduce health care costs. A recent study by the Rand Institute estimates that if 90% of all health care providers adopted Health IT, potential savings could average over $77 billion per year. An effective Health IT system would cut costs by reducing the duration of hospital stays, the amount of time that nurses spend performing administrative tasks, and drug and radiology usage.

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Cosmetics Daily Tips

Cosmetics Daily Tips

If you want to find some great cosmetic tips, then check out our make-up section for just some of th etricks of the trade. If you want to look like you just stepped off the pages of a magazine, then the benefits of some cosmetic tips and tricks will leave you with beautiful subtle make-up.

It's not as difficult to achieve as you might think it is. Forget about the benefits of cosmetic surgery, the right products can work wonders with no pain at all. You are bound to know some of them - but bet there's some you don't!

The cosmetic tips and tricks that can help accentuate your features (without looking overly 'made up') are usually very quick and simple and backed up by professional makeup artists in all the hot fashion centres; from New York to Paris, to Milan to here at home in London. A little education in the tips and tricks of the professional makeup artists from salons to film sets can help you to look glamourous too! Read on for the benefits of cosmetic tips and tricks that can transform you!

• Use a light hand with foundation. The secret to foundation is to use it to even out your skin tone, which means adding it to cover up discolorations or uneven colouring. Your real skin should show through in several places, giving you an authentic glow. If you slather foundation indiscriminately all over your face and neck you'll get a 'flat' look where your face doesn't seem to reflect any light. Also, it will be very apparent that your 'flawless' complexion comes from a bottle.
• Choose your make up shades to flatter your skin tones, not simply because the colour is fashionable. Make up is meant to make you look beautiful. When choosing colours look at your own skin's under tones. Pinky complexions should steer clear of make up shades with yellow undertones. Yellow undertones look brilliant on olive skin, but tend to make pale skin with pink or blue undertones look sickly.
• The best make up application flatters the woman, not the make up. In applying your make up, use a light hand. Follow the natural contours of your face, and apply dark colours to deepen existing shadows and lighter colours to enhance natural highlights. Make it your goal to look like you barely wear any make up. It's a much bigger compliment if someone says "you've got lovely eyelashes" than "I like your mascara".
• After applying lipstick, a touch of gloss on your lower lip will make even thin lips seem full and kissable.
• Blusher should be applied across the cheekbone leading up into the hairline, not all over your cheeks or in a round circle.

Use these pointers to achieve a beautiful, natural look!

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