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Health
Care Tips:-
Some
simple daily health care tips you should know.
For building iron in your body eat plenty of spinach juice.
If you exercise with music, you will exercise longer and enjoy
it more. Choose something upbeat and energizing.
On a busy day, take 20 minutes to go for a brisk walk to help
reduce stress.
Eat most of your fat and calories for the day, in the morning.
Doing this will put your metabolism into high gear. Then eat
lean the rest of the day.
While running, if you have stomach cramps, stop and bend forward
from the waist.
Breath in and out, slowly and deeply while contracting your
abdominal muscles.
While doing housework, increase the pace to get some extra exercise
and calorie burning.
If you are having problems with migrain headaches, drink some
hot tea with honey and this should help ease the pain.
Always take the steps instead of the elevator if you plan on
cutting down those extra calories.
-
Eat a bowl of oatmeal each day to lower your cholesterol.
Drink plenty of water since it helps liver function well and
your body will benefit and that will show from your glowing
skin. So also drink plenty of water before, during and after
exercising.
To lower blood pressure, improve your mood and relieve depression,
exercise regularly.
If you experience pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, irregular
heartbeat or increased fatigue while exercising, call a doctor
immediately.
Begin your workout with warm-up exercises and end with cool-down
exercises.
if you suffer from eczema, avoid heat and sweating.
Wear loose, lightweight clothing while exercising. Choose natural
fabrics that will breathe.
When it is hot outside, drink more water and avoid caffeine
and alcoholic beverages.
Ear ache - place a piece of potato (raw) in the ear-remove later.
Breathe naturally while doing stretching exercises. Never hold
your breath.
Make soups the day before and refrigerate. Skim the fat off
the top before reheating.
To feel as though you are eating more, slow down and chew thoroughly.
Take at least 20 minutes to eat a meal. Taking longer to eat
will make you feel fuller and also helps in digesting food properly.
When going to see a doctor, write down the questions you want
to ask. Also, write down the answers. If you don't understand
the answer, ask again! Take along any medication bottles you
are taking.
Keep your attitude positive and smile.
urning down the lights an hour or two before bedtime will help
you get a better night's sleep.
Avoid smoke-filled rooms and breathing or exercising near busy
roads. Exercise in clean environment.
Tips
for Healthy Heart
1.
Switch to mono-unsaturated oils like olive oil,mustard,til or
groundnut oil.Olive oil is known to be the most heart-friendly
oil.Consume no more than 3-4 teaspoons of edible oil per day per
person.
2.
Avoid maida(white flour)based foods.Switch to whole wheat bread.
3.
Restrict sugar intake as far as possible.
4.
Increase intake of fruits and vegetables.
5.
Switch to low fat milk instead of 'bhaiya' or 'dabba' milk.Anything
less than or around Rs.13 per liter is presumbaly low fat.
6.
Avoid
fried snacks,and switch to high-fibre low-fat snack foods made
from whole wheat or millet or bran or soya nuts.
7.
Drink a glass of vegetable juice everyday made from carrot and
beet root,or tomato and coriander,or mint or dudhi juice,or ginger-lime-coriander.
8.
Eat whole fruit instead of drinking its juice.You get the added
benefit of its soluble fibre (which is heart-friendly) which includes
pectins and gums.
9.
Take a brisk walk for 30-40 minutes at least 4-5 days in a week.
10.
Consume 2 tbsp of 'Alsi' seeds daily as they are rich in Omega-3
fats which are fabulous for the heart.
Beauty
Sleep
Getting
a good night's sleep is as important as eating a proper healthy
diet and exercising to keep a beautiful figure. Because a good
nights sleep not only makes your skin look beautiful and fresh
but it also helps you concentrate in your work and keeps your
brain more alert. Though in a busy lifestyle we always try to
sacrifice sleep for work but it is very important that you set
aside enough hours for some good old-fashioned beauty sleep. The
average adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep, while infants
need 16 hours of sleep, and teenagers need about nine hours.
The
benefits of sleep
Scientists believe that sleep gives our bodies the chance to maintain
and repair our bodies and minds. Each night we cycle through three
stages of sleep ranging from light sleep to deep sleep, and finally,
to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. A complete sleep cycle takes
90 to 110 minutes on average. While we sleep our brains are using
important neuronal connections that might otherwise deteriorate
from lack of activity. During deep sleep, brain activity that
control emotions, decision-making processes, and social interaction
shuts down, allowing us to maintain optimal emotional and social
functioning when we are awake. Cell growth and cell repair takes
place to combat the affects of stress and UV rays in this stage
as well. Hence, deep sleep can truly be called beauty sleep. Sleep
also helps our bodies fight infection. This is because our immune
system releases a sleep-inducing chemical while fighting a cold
or an infection. Sleep helps the body conserve energy and other
resources that the immune system needs to mount an effective attack.
Dangers
of Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep affects our nervous systems by leaving us drowsy
and unable to concentrate. Not getting enough sleep also leads
to poor memory and physical performance. If sleep deprivation
continues, hallucinations and mood swings may develop. In the
same vein, sleeping problems are common in both mental and physical
disorders including depression and schizophrenia, Alzheimer's
disease, stroke, cancer, and head injuries.
For
getting a proper sleep at night do the following:
Sleep only when sleepy. This reduces the time you are awake
in bed.
-
If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get up and do something
boring until you feel sleepy. Sit quietly in the dark listen
to some nice soothing music. Don't expose yourself to bright
light while you are up.
Don't take naps. This will ensure you are tired at bedtime.
If you just can't make it through the day without a nap, sleep
less than one hour, before 3 pm.
Get up and go to bed the same time every day. When your sleep
cycle has a regular rhythm, you will feel better.
Refrain from exercise at least 4 hours before bedtime. Regular
exercise is recommended to help you sleep well, but the timing
of the workout is important.
Exercising in the morning or early afternoon will not interfere
with sleep.
Develop sleep rituals. Listen to relaxing music, read something
soothing for 15 minutes, have a cup of warm milk, and do relaxation
exercises.
Stay away from caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at least 4-6 hours
before bed.
Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that interfere with your
ability to fall asleep.
Alcohol may seem to help you sleep in the beginning as it slows
brain activity, but you will end up having fragmented sleep.
Have a light snack before bed. If your stomach is too empty,
that can interfere with sleep. However, if you eat a heavy meal
before bedtime, that can interfere as well.
Take a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime. This will relax your
body and will make you feel sleepy.
Make sure your bed and bedroom are quiet and comfortable.

Diet to Lose weight:
Many
young people go on a crash diet to lose weight without knowing the
adverse effects that it can cause on your body. The notion that
the solution to weight loss is a crash diet or the ability to stay
off food is totally wrong and erroneous and should be avoided as
it leads to serious health problems. To lose weight you need not
deprive yourself of food or starve yourself. The solution is moderation
and it involves making five simple changes in your daily food habits.
1.
Don't torture your body.
You might think that the less you eat the more you will lose weight.
You might go on an extremely low calorie diet and completely avoid
anything that carries high calories. Well you will lose weight but
then your body will be weak. If you make a habit of consuming fewer
calories than your body requires, your body will automatically go
into the 'starvation mode', which will definitely result into weight
loss but you will be losing not fat but important components of
your body like water and muscle. Thus although your size and your
weight goes down, the fat still remains. With the result that you
will experience lethargy, weakness, Fatigue, hunger pangs, headaches
and loss of concentration. Thus try to avoid extremely low or extremely
high calorie food intake. Just stop torturing yourself.
2.
Balance your diet. Eat more of low calorie high
fiber foods such as salads and fresh fruits with each meal. Avoid
salad dressings. Eat more of whole grain food and also try out vegetable
soups, which are great if you are on a diet. Avoid red meat (beef,
pork, ham, sausage), organ meat (liver, brain, kidney) and egg yolks
since they are bad for your health as they fall into the saturated
fat category. These foods contain high level of calories. Saturated
fats, oily stuff, sweets, ice cream and chocolates should be avoided
as far as possible. Include sprouts in your food intake, as they
are rich in protein.
3.
Don't skip meals.
Don't commit the mistake of skipping meals. If you are thinking
that if you skip one meal you might work towards losing some weight
but it is quite the opposite. Because when you eat you tend to eat
more and this might work against all your efforts of losing weight.
Breakfast is one meal that's very important because as the first
meal of the day it helps you to raise your energy levels and provides
you energy for the rest of the day. Dinner should always be light.
Your body burns few calories while you sleep and if you consume
excess calories at dinner, it can easily get stored up in the body
as fat.
4.
Learn a few tricks.
Instead of eating three large meals in a day eat six small meals.
-
Drink two glasses of water prior to each meal.
Focus on eating. Relish the food you are eating and don't divert
your attention to anything else while you are having your meal.
-
Never eat while watching television since you don't keep track
of how much you are eating and you tend to eat more.
Chew each morsel thoroughly to liquid consistency. This will
help digest the food properly.
Pause for a moment before taking an extra serving.
Don't overeat and don't get swayed away by seeing your favourite
food served on the table, which might contain high calories.
-
When dining out avoid high calorie food.
5. Don't lose heart.
Everyone's weight control efforts get sidetracked from time to time.
You might get fed up of going on a diet over and over again without
getting any result. Don't worry. It is important to remember that
temporary setbacks should, after the initial disappointment, serve
as stepping-stones to future success. Use your past failures as
learning experiences on the way to successful weight control. So
pick yourself up and go ahead do it this time.
Dealing
Fat Things:
The
main reason
why women have fat thighs, fat hips or a fat butt is because of
what they eat. Normally women store fat on the lower part of their
body in order to protect their reproductive organs. Thus, after
menopause, when they are no longer able to reproduce, the weight
distribution changes and fat is then accumulated above the waist
- just like men. Secondly this phenomenon is also hereditary and
depends largely upon the genes.
A
Few Facts About Fat Thighs
There are NO special 'hip and thigh' diets, which can reduce,
fat from your hips and thighs. The ONLY way to get back in shape
is to follow a proper balanced diet.
There is NO exercise, which can reduce, fat from a specific area
of your body like your hips, thighs or butt. All that exercises
can do is try to maintain your figure once you have reduced the
fat deposit by eating sensible weight loss diet.
Exercise can improve the shape of a particular part of your body,
by tightening muscles, but it can't reduce the fat in these areas.
The only way to lose fat off your thighs, hips & butt is by
changing your eating habits
Although each of us has a unique bone structure and basic body
shape, which we can't change, we can change our weight and fat.
All you have to do is be patient and follow a sensible diet, which
is a balanced low-fat eating-plan, which is high in vegetables,
fruit, and other complex carbohydrates, and LOW in fat.
Exercise
for Fat Thighs
To
exercise thighs & butt
1.
Stand with feet apart, toes pointed outwards, and hands
on the outside of your thighs. Keeping your back straight, at right
angles to the floor, bend knees and allow your hands to slide down
your thighs until they reach your knees. (Keep back straight!) Hold
your knees for a count of 5, and then slowly return to start position.
Repeat 10-20 times.
2.
Stand with feet slightly apart. Stretch your arms straight
out ahead of you. Slowly bend your knees, until your thighs are
roughly parallel with the floor. Slowly raise yourself back to the
starting position. The slower you do this, the better. Start with
10 real slow ones. But please don't strain yourself. Go at your
own pace.
To exercise the inside of your thighs
Sit down on the floor in front of an ordinary straight back chair.
Stretch your legs straight out in front of you, with your feet on
either side of the chair. Keeping your back straight, place your
palms on the floor on either side of you. Clasp the legs of the
chair with the soles of your feet as though trying to push both
chair legs together. Press hard and hold for a count of 50.
To exercise the back of your thighs
Stand with feet apart. Bend forward from the waist. Reach to your
right with both hands and clasp your ankle with both hands. Push
your upper body downwards towards the floor. Count to 20. Return
to start position and repeat exercise on the left-hand side.
To exercise the front of your thighs
Kneel upright on the floor, with knees together. Lean backwards
and clasp your right ankle with your left hand. Do not sit on your
ankles. Hold this position for a count of 20. Return to start position
and repeat exercise on the left-hand side.
Dieting
Tips:
Eat Yourself Slim
Dieting does not mean eating less or keeping yourself starved. Most
women on diet have this idea of dieting and the result is that they
are hungry since they eat less and hence they give it up as quickly
as they started. Dieting simply means eating differently and eating
sensible food and less junk food. Sensible eating means choosing
low fat, low sugar foods, lots of fruit, vegetables, beans, cereal,
potatoes, wholegrain bread, rice & pasta, low fat dairy foods
and modest amounts of lean meat & fish.
Following
are the important diet mistakes that are committed which results
into a disastrous attempt.
Most dieters don't eat enough. Result -- They get so hungry that
ultimately they give up.
Most dieters want to lose weight too fast. Result -- They get
so impatient, they give up
- .
Most dieters don't understand fat. Result -- They eat all the
wrong food available.
Hence one has to eat sensibly. Follow the
following guidelines.
Don't
Go Hungry and Avoid Food
Hunger is definitely your biggest enemy. Because if you stay hungry
then it makes you feel miserable. And the end result is that you
give up dieting and go back to the biscuits/cookies and all kinds
of junk food you can lay your hands on. Unfortunately, most dieters
still think that dieting means eating in small quantity - that's
why most of them give up dieting and stay fat.
Avoid
Fat
Avoid fat because it is no good for your health. Fat contains more
than twice the calories of other nutrients. Fat in small quantity
is ok i.e., you need no more than about 30 grams of fat per day.
To do this, you must switch to low-fat options whenever possible.
Switch to low-fat dairy products. Avoid high-fat foods like, fried
breakfasts, fries, pastries, butter, mayonnaise, chocolate/candy
and biscuits/cookies. Eat less red meat (beef, lamb, pork). Twice
a week is enough. Switch to fish, chicken, pork steak, lean beefsteak.
Eat
Less Sugar
Sugar provides us with virtually no nutrients, so if we stopped
eating it tomorrow we wouldn't be any less nourished. It is not
your friend and so have as less sugar as possible in your diet.
To do this you will have to reduce the amount of sugar you add to
your tea or coffee or juice. Have cereals without sugar. Avoid non-diet
soft drinks. Instead, enjoy diet drinks/minerals or 100% fruit juice.
Avoid so-called treats like biscuits/cookies, chocolates/candy and
cakes.
Eat
More Fibre
Fibre is very important and you must include more fibre in your
diet. Fibre contains far fewer calories than fat or sugar so it's
an ideal slimming food. It also fills us up, so we feel nice and
satisfied. It also helps to protect against a number of digestive
complaints like constipation, diabetes, gallstones etc. High fibre,
starchy foods include: whole meal bread, potatoes, pasta, brown
rice, beans, peas, leafy green vegetables, sweet-corn, pulses, bran-based
cereals, oat bran.
Eat
More Fruits and Vegetables
Adding lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet is not only
good for reducing those extra weight but it makes your skin glow,
hair shine and is very good for your health. Ideally, eat 4-5 helpings
of fruit and 3-4 helpings of vegetables every day. Eat more salads;
drink vegetable soups and green leafy vegetables in your daily diet.
Add fruits in your cereals, drink fresh fruit juice without sugar
or simply cut fruits into big pieces and munch on it.
Use
Of Water for Good Health
Water
forms a major component of the tissues and cells of the body. Without
water the human body will survive only a few days. Water is also
a key part of any weight loss program. Water is very necessary for
helping the body remove fat, and for general overall health.
The
average person should consume 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water
each day. Although water is the best "thirst-quencher,"
other liquids (such as juices, milk, sodas, and teas) can help meet
fluid needs. High sugar and high caffeine beverages are not the
best choices because they can lead to increased urination.
The
following are some of the benefits of water:
Water suppresses appetite and reduces fat deposits in the body.
-
Water not only fills you up and lessens your appetite, it prevents
those "hungry horrors" we all encounter when our blood
sugar drops and we reach for cookies, candy, ice cream, fries
or other high-calorie treats. Thus it keeps a check on your
health and diet.
Water assists the body in metabolizing stored fat, because your
liver is overloaded when your kidneys don't get enough water.
Your liver metabolizes fat, and it can't do that 100% if it
is doing the kidneys job.
Water relieves fluid retention problems.
-
It reduces sodium buildup in the body.
It helps to maintain proper muscle tone.
-
Water rids the body of waste and toxins and relieves constipation.
Tips
on water intake:
Drink a minimum of 64 ounces per day (2 quarts).
-
Drink an additional 8 ounces per day for every 25 pounds overweight.
-
It is better to drink the water cold, it is absorbed quicker
and may burn more calories.
Drink clean water, bottled or filtered.

Dealing With Headaches:
Getting
up in the morning with a headache is the last thing anyone wants.
Yet most of the time after a stressful night you have a headache,
which puts you down the whole day. Do you know that over 90% of
all headaches are "tension headaches"? They are caused
by excessive muscle contraction in the neck, face, shoulders, and/or
scalp and are often caused by stress or being in one position for
too long (such as in front of a computer). The hangover that you
get after drinking the previous night cansnot be termed as headache.
But if you have been up the whole night working and didn't get enough
sleep then you are sure to have a terrible headache the next morning.
So all you have to know what causes a headache in order to keep
away from it.
Causes
of Headache:
Considerable
medical evidence suggests that headache is caused by an electrical
and chemical instability of certain key brain centres that regulate
blood vessels around the head and the neck, as well as the flow
of pain messages into the brain. Over activity of muscles of the
scalp, forehead and neck causes tension headache. This instability,
similar to that which causes seizure disorders, seems to be inherited
and appears to involve chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters.
Headache
can also occasionally be caused by bleeding, tumour, or infection
inside the skull, or else by diseases involving teeth, eyes, or
sinuses. Flu or any sickness that causes fever can also cause headache.
Such headache is known as secondary headache because it is due to--or
secondary to--other problems. That is, the headache is only a symptom
of some other disorder.
Following
are the Trigger factors :
- Increased
tension or stress (both mental and physical), for example:
- Excessive
worry
- All
work-no play
- Long
periods of study, typing or other concentration
Perfectionism
- Increased
tension in the neck muscles, for example:
Poor posture · Injuries to the spine
Repressed hostility, anger or frustration
- A
poor, scrappy diet, for example eating on the run (combined
with stress) Swedish massage
If
you suffer from one of these tension headaches, the following exercise
may help alleviate some of your pain:
10-MINUTE MUSCLE RELAXATION EXERCISE
1.
Sit in a comfortable chair or lie down.
2. Tense up all your muscles from head to toe; hold for a few seconds,
then release.
3. Take three slow, deep breaths.
4. Close your eyes and imagine yourself completely at ease - calm
and serene.
This
will help ease the stress and tension you feel in the muscles of
your neck, face, shoulders, and/or scalp. By relaxing your muscles
you are allowing them to rest and avoid being constantly contracted.
Other
tips to avoid headaches in the first place:
+ Don't skip meals.
+ Learn to relax your mind and body.
+ Get plenty of sleep every night.
+ Restrict/avoid alcohol and nicotine.
+ Watch your back, shoulder, and neck posture - avoid staying in
one position for too long a time.
+ Get organized to avoid hurry and worry.
+ During an attack relax by taking a hot shower or bath with a warm
dry cloth or a + cold wet cloth placed over the aching area.
+ Get some brisk exercise to help you relax - remember to stretch
before and after each exercise session.
+ Enjoy a professional massage to help loosen tired muscles and
create an overall relaxed state.
+ You could attend special relaxation courses such as yoga or meditation
classes.
High
Blood Presure :
Hypertension
is the medical term for high blood pressure. It's defined in an
adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic
pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). High
blood pressure directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease
(which leads to heart attack) and stroke, kidney failure especially
along with other risk factors.
Tips
For How You Can Manage High Blood Pressure.
Check
your blood pressure regularly: Of the people that
have high blood pressure, 32% don't know they have it and are causing
stress and strain on their heart without even realizing it. Your
blood pressure tends to increase slightly with age, so it's a good
idea to have your doctor check it at least once per year.
Reduce
your sodium intake: Too much sodium (found in table
salt) can aggravate high blood pressure by causing your body to
retain excessive fluids. These fluids can make it harder for your
heart to pump effectively and can irritate blood vessels that are
already sensitive.
Limit
cholesterol and fats: Too much dietary cholesterol
and saturated fats can build up on the inner walls of blood vessels
and cause strain on them. Limit your daily cholesterol to no more
than 100 mg of cholesterol per 1,000 calories of food. Restrict
saturated fats to no more than 10% of your daily calories. Follow
food labels carefully and track your progress.
Exercise
regularly: Regular exercise of any form if done
religiously helps lower blood pressure as well as raises levels
of "protective" HDL cholesterol (the kind that carries
artery-clogging cholesterol out of your blood). Just make sure you
consult with you physician before you start an exercise program
and don't overdo it, especially when you first start out.
Stop
smoking: If you smoke, stop right now! Smoking both
raises your blood pressure and causes higher levels of artery-clogging
cholesterol.
Take
prescribed medications: Finally, if your doctor
prescribes medication, make sure you take it faithfully in addition
to any dietary modifications and exercise programs recommended.
Too often, people take medication irregularly or not at all, causing
them to be right back in the high-risk category. If you experience
side effects, don't stop taking your medication. Instead, notify
your doctor who can recommend an alternate type of medicine.
Lower Back Pain (causes & exercises):
Beautiful
and strong back is a symbol of elegance and style. It not only makes
your appearance look graceful but also makes you stand taller. A
strong back, and a strong overall body to go with it, helps you
exude ease and confidence in everything you do. But to have a strong
back you have to take proper care and follow proper lifestyle. Normally
people suffer from back pain because they do not follow proper lifestyle
and are careless about proper posture.
The
lower back is the site of frequent problems caused by congenital
abnormalities, poor posture, sudden violent twisting or jerking
and poor body mechanics such as incorrect sitting and lifting postures
i.e., lifting heavy objects wrongly using the back instead of the
legs. Incorrect posture or faulty body mechanics put a tremendous
strain on the muscles and ligaments of the lower back causing back
pain problems.
Other
Causes of back pain:
Smoking:
Besides the negative impact that smoking causes on your heart and
lungs, smoking damages the disks of the spine too, through its effect
on blood circulation. Surveys have identified cigarette smoke as
one of the major risk factors for back pain.
Alcohol:
Like smoking, alcohol also restricts the blood vessels and can contribute
to poor circulation around the disks. Moderate drinking contributes
very little to disk degeneration, but alcohol abuse can lead to
severe back consequences.
Good
Posture Is Important:
The way you sit on your chair, the way you sleep, the way you carry
yourself, the way you walk, stand, all these positions collectively
affect the back. It's important to choose and assume the best positions
for these and other daily activities.
Your
posture when you are standing:
Stand straight and don't slouch and keep your stomach and butt tucked
in, and the rest of your body will tend to follow suit and get in
line. By keeping your abdomen tucked-in, your lower back will get
adequate support.
Your
posture when you are sitting:
Sitting position is the most harmful for your back. Though you spend
more time sitting than standing hence it is important that you follow
proper posture. Common sitting habits that could cause you back
pain are slouching in your seat, leaning too far back, and crossing
your legs. Instead, try resting your feet on a foot bar or a footstool,
to help you sit tall and keep the pressure off your back. Your chair
should give you a firm back and bottom support so as to avoid any
strain or discomfort. Make sure your feet rest well on the floor
while sitting and your knees do not bend more than at right angles.
Whenever possible, try and take a break from your chair by standing
up to stretch or walk around.
Your
posture when you are working:
If you use the PC a lot, then try to rearrange your workstation
so that the monitor and papers / files that you might be working
on are at eye level, to avoid straining the back and neck. The screen
should be centered if you use the computer for word processing functions.
For data entry, the screen may be slightly off to one side provided
the documents you will be working from are centered.
Your
posture when you are chatting on the phone:
The temptation to free your hand by cradling your phone between
your shoulder and your ear, and leaving it there indefinitely, is
irresistible. However this way you can easily talk yourself into
having a pain in the neck and even the upper back! If you must have
your hands free when on the phone, then get onto a speakerphone
or invest in a headset that gives you the mobility that you need.
Your
posture when you are driving:
Many survey participants are most comfortable when their car seats
are aligned so that their backs are at right angles with their thighs.
This provides maximum driving comfort for most people. Also, keep
the driver's seat as close as possible to the steering wheel. This
will enable you to sit with your knees well aligned with your hips,
and helps you do away with the strain that often comes from reaching
out too far for the wheel. Using the armrest on the side of the
door often helps.
Your
posture when you are sleeping:
Sleeping on your stomach, though it's a position many people love,
is the roughest on your back! If you can't break this habit, no
matter how hard you try, then at least try to sleep without a pillow
under your head. Put it under your stomach instead, in order to
minimise arching your back. Sleep on a mattress that is comfortable
and does not sag. The natural curves in your back and neck should
be supported.
How
exercises can help your back
Exercises
strengthen and stretch the four basic sets of muscles that support
the spine.
The abdominal muscles are responsible for contributing towards
good posture, in maintaining proper vertebral alignment, and
thereby protecting the back.
-
The abdominals assist the extensor muscles of the back, which
run the length of the spine to maintain proper alignment of
the vertebrae.
Trunk flexibility must be emphasised to maintain a maximum range
of motion in the back.
-
The hip and butt muscles help support and govern the position
of your back while you sit, stand, walk around and even lie
down.
When exercising don't over stress yourself. Go slow on yourself
and don't make any vigorous or jerky movements. Take advice
of your doctor before starting any exercise programme. Your
exercise choices should match your level of fitness, age, time
schedule and comfort level. Don't exercise if you are in pain-it
will make matters worse.

A
to Z Guide for Womens Fittness:
A-
stands for awareness.Go on a familiarization trip with your body.
See if your body muscles are toned or rusting. Check if your heartbeat
does not shoot up too much and too soon if you have to walk fast
or climb stairs. Go for a thorough check up for the sake of your
body. It also stands for aerobics, an activity that exercises your
heart, lungs and blood vessels.
B-
stands for balance, which you have to constantly strive to strike
in life-be it your fitness regime or the food you eat, or even the
quantum of time you set aside for yourself.
C-
is for comfort levels, meaning the care you have to take to always
cool down your body after workout by adding some stretches. C is
also for consumption patterns. To effect that, you have to first
find out how many calories your body requires for its daily functioning
and stick to your nutritionist's advice. Overeating never solved
any health-related problems.
D-
is for dieting, which should be a complete no-no. Healthy eating
and healthy living should be your motto. Because while dieting,
you also lose muscle tissues besides fat. Regular exercise can do
the trick better and smatter.
E-
stands
for the necessary equipment like cool and comfortable clothing to
permit ventilation and unrestricted movement. Shoes with adequate
cushioning to reduce the impact, and if possible, a friend to keep
you company and motivate alongside.
F-
is
for frequency. Any workout should last at least 20 minutes, minimum
three times a week. If you are into weight training and whole body
workouts, plan them every alternate day to take complete rest the
day after the workout.
G-
is for the good night sleep that is sure to envelop you after you
have had an energetic, active or a positive stress day.
H-
is for high, also called runner's high that actually is the release
of endorphin, secreted by the brain which gives you a natural high.
I-
is for making an informed choice, i.e., choosing whatever suits
you best. It makes little sense to force jogging on yourself if
you are over 50 and have not exercised all your life. Start with
walking and then switch over to brisk walking, gradually increasing
the time span. A word of advice from your doctor before you embark
on such regular activity would go a long way.
J-
is for jerks. Totally avoid them during exercise as they put pressure
on your joints. Any pain during a workout means your body is begging
you to stop.
K-
is for kingly posture. Wherever you are and whatever you do, remember
the correct posture technique. Keep shoulder and hips square to
each other, shoulder blades relaxed and abdomen tucked in tight.
L-
points towards your legs. They follow the principle of direct proportion-the
more you work on them the better they will get.
M-
is for measurements. Don't be too swayed by the declining or rarely-budging
trends of the weighing machine(it could also be mere fluid loss).
What is important are your body measurements. For example, your
WHR (waist to hip ratio). Divide your waist measurement at its narrowest
with hips' measurement at their widest. If the ratio is more than
0.80 for men and 0.85 for women, it is time to re-work your fitness
strategy. It would be wise to keep in mind that miracles donot happen
in a jiffy. Only perseverence pays.
N-
is for nature at its best. Foods closest to their natural form top
the list of sensible in take.
O-
is for overindulgence, which is obviously to be avoided if you are
looking at a life full of fitness and fervour.
P-
is for prevention of injury. Since following a fitness regimen amounts
to hours of vigorous physical activity, make sure that an adequate
warm up always precedes your workout. Also, P indicates an all-important
phase in a woman's life -pregnancy -when you should work out only
after a clean chit from your doctor.
Q-
is for quacks, so stay away from them. Look for trained, qualified
and experienced personnel to help you through your fitness programme.
Fitness instructors are now a common and talked-about breed, who
can ensure a decent commitment level if you so desire.
R-
is for regularity. An absolute must for desired results.
S-
is for strain. This is something you might be prone to if you donot
warm up well enough, cool down or do simple stretches after every
workout.
T-
is for time-a minimum of 20 minute of aerobic workout each time
you embark on such a programme. The best time of day is anytime
that you can find uninterrupted. But remember to keep a gap of 2
hours between meals and your workout.
U-
is for utility-utilize your energy and resources positively. It
is also the urgency to get started.
V-
is for vitality and vigour. Buzzwords in your personal directory
of fitness and versatility-add variety to your workouts and eliminate
drudgery and boredom. Keep the options open to switch the type of
aerobic activity or with that of anaerobic type.
W-
is for weight loss-not the only thing you should be looking for
when you are on the road to fitness. It's also for water -drink
it till it comes out of your ears. Sages of yore have wisely called
it the elixir of life.
individuals
X- is for the X-factor.
Keep it in mind that different respond to different exercises differently
and no two bodies are the same or can react to one exercise in the
same way.
Y-
is
for the healthy years that add to your life when you exercise regularly.
Z-
is for the zenith-the highest point in your life when there is an
amalgamation of self discipline, spirit and the zest for living.
Exercises
to keep Fittness:
We
all know that exercise is the best way to keep fit. A balanced diet
coupled with regular exercise is all that you require to be in the
best of health and also to keep a check on your weight. Now there
are a few things that you need to know before going on a strict
exercise routine
How
Much Exercise Is Enough?
The most important point that you have to bear in mind is START
SLOW, AND GRADUALLY WORK UP. Experts recommend that you do 20 to
30 minutes of aerobic activity three or more times a week and some
type of muscle strengthening activity and stretching at least twice
a week. If that's not possible then you need to do 30 minutes or
more of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, at least five
times a week.
For
beginners and those who have been inactive for a while, less strenuous
activities such as walking or swimming at a comfortable pace is
advisable. Beginning at a slow pace will allow you to become physically
fit without straining your body and putting too much strain on your
muscles. Once you are in better shape, you can gradually do more
strenuous activity.
Does
doing regular house-hold chores benefit my health?
The answer is yes. Regular house-hold chores can be named as Moderate-intensity
activities which work like gardening, cleaning the house and other
housework. These activities can be done in short spurts -- 10 minutes
here, 8 minutes there. Alone, each action does not have a great
effect on your health, but regularly accumulating 30 minutes of
activity over the course of the day can result in substantial health
benefits.
Other
examples of housework that can benefit you are as under:
If the market is at a walking distance then walk it out instead
of taking your car or cab.
Rake leaves
Play actively with the kids
Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator
Mow the lawn
Take an activity break -- get up and stretch or walk around
Park your car a little farther away from your destination and
walk the extra distance
What
other exercises are helpful?
Aerobic activity is an important addition to moderate-intensity
exercise. Aerobic exercise is any extended activity that makes you
breathe hard while using the large muscle groups at a regular, even
pace. Aerobic activities help make your heart stronger and more
efficient. They also use more calories than other activities.
Some
examples of aerobic activities include:
- Brisk
walking
- Jogging
- Bicycling
- Swimming
- Aerobic
dancing
- Racket
sports
Self
Protection Techniques for Womens
:
For
every woman learning a few self protection tactics is always helpful.
Today women have taken up responsibilities both at home as well
as at work. She is required to take bold decisions and has to face
tough challenges everyday. Who knows from where and in which form
danger is lurking in the dark for her and thus to face all kinds
of untoward situations and circumstances she has to keep herself
prepared. Almost everyday we get to hear and read that a woman was
severely beaten and assaulted or raped etc. Why do we have to be
so weak and always have to depend on men for our safety and protection?
In this article we will give you tips on physical safety for women.
Getting
to know the psychology of men
1-The
first thing men look for in a potential victim is her hairstyle.
They're most likely to go after a woman with long hair or a ponytail,
bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. Thus women
with short hair are not common targets. That does not mean you go
and get yourself a short haircut.
2-The
second thing that men look for is outfit or clothing. They will
look for a woman who's clothing can be removed easily and quickly.
3-The
third thing that men look out for is a woman who is not focused
or who is busy talking on the cell-phone or busy searching her purse
so that they can grab her off guard.
4-The
fourth thing that men look for is a woman who is scared and weak
and who will not give them too much of a fight or create trouble.
Therefore no matter how much scared you are do not show it on your
face and give them a tough fight. Start causing trouble, and believe
me he's out of there.
Self
Protection Techniques
If someone is following behind you on a street or at any other
place or you think that a man is dangerous and can do you harm,
look him in the eyes and try to talk something, like what time
is it, or make general small talk, just to kind of letting him
know that you have seen him. You must be wondering how this
will protect you. Well what will be going on at the back of
the mind of the attacker is "Now she has seen my face and
will be able to identify me in a lineup, lets get out of here".
Thus you lose appeal as a target.
If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front
of you and yell Stop or Stay back! Just warn them in as serious
tone as you can get to stay the hell away from you or they will
face dire consequences. This will definitely scare the attacker
away as they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that
she would not be afraid to fight back. As all you have to do
is grab all the confidence and courage you have got and fight
back.
Also carry pepper spray or chilly powder with you. This is a
handy weapon since you can really make the attacker blind by
spraying chilly powder or pepper spray in his eyes.
if someone grabs your wrist, then don't panic but use this technique.
Pull your wrist back so your hand is in waving position (palm
facing forward) and twist it toward yourself and pull your arm
away. It is hard to hold onto wrist bones that are moving in
that way. The attacker will stumble toward you and you will
stumble back, so you can use that momentum to bring the same
out and backhand the attacker with your knuckles in the forehead,
nose or teeth. And after the initial hit, always go for the
groin.
If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker
either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the
upper inner thigh - HARD. He will definitely let go of you coz
this hurts like hell. And after the initial hit, always go for
the groin.

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