Ace Abs Without Crunches, Cradles, Or Sit-ups! Written by Tim Webb
I know what many of you are thinking reading title of this article. I also thought same once. It cannot be done! Attaining a stronger, visible, set of abdominal muscles has always been a common goal in people’s fitness training programmes and yet, paradoxically, many (most) of these people never actually achieve this goal. Being involved in fitness industry I see same problem over and over again. The problem can be spelled out like this. M-A-C-H-I-N-E-S! Now, while there is nothing innately wrong with abdominal equipment, it does bring with it a whole host of potential problems. One of most prominent is that people simply do not use equipment correctly. Another is that they erroneously believe that somehow machine will do half job for them! A third problem is that to some extent abdominal cradles, and assortment of similar cradle designs, are essentially lifting your head for you thus eliminating need for that much effort. There is a way to work abdominal region however that requires little movement, but that is highly effective, as emphasis is purely on you to put in effort without a machine in sight! This method involves use of deep focused breathing whilst squeezing (with varying degrees of intensity) your abdominal muscle. To some it seems too simple and yet, performed daily and with gusto, it is a wonderfully natural and invigorating exercise that promotes tighter abdominals and, as an added bonus, aids in strengthening internal organs.
| | How to survive seasonal allergies and ensure continued asthma reliefWritten by David Kane
Copyright 2005 David KaneSpring is in air and so are allergens. Over next few months grasses, trees and weeds will release huge quantities of pollen into air as part of their reproductive cycle. For those suffering from allergic asthma or seasonal allergies it is a time when symptoms worsen, eyes water and noses run. The most common advice given to those allergic to pollen is to remain indoors when pollen release occurs. However this happens at different times for different plants. On warm and sunny days most grasses release pollen from early morning onwards. On damp mornings release will be delayed until ground moisture evaporates. Some species of grass release their pollen in afternoon, so if you are allergic to several types you may not get a window of avoidance at any time of day. Even with an allergy to only one type of pollen, it can affect you despite your efforts to avoid time and area where pollen release occurs. As day draws to a close cooling pollen-carrying air falls towards ground. This can lead to sufferers experiencing problems during night. Wind-blown pollen can travel great distances. Ragweed can spread so far that it has even been detected 400 miles out to sea. If you can identify pollen that triggers your symptoms you can try to plan your day accordingly. You can get a clue from time of year that you experience problems. Tree pollen is usually released in spring, grass pollen in late spring and early summer, and weed pollens in late summer into autumn. A doctor can organise tests to further narrow down culprit. Having identified offending pollen try to remain indoors when it is being released. Try to keep track of pollen count in your area. Remember pollen count is usually taken day before it is broadcast. Rain or cool weather can reduce count. Hot weather or short thunderstorms can increase it. Plants tend to retain their pollen on cloudy days, so expect a higher than average release on next sunny day.
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