Archive | January, 2017

Bodybuilding History Timeline

To understand bodybuilding you need to take time to look back at the history of it how far it has come in the past century. Bodybuilding in the modern evolution started in the 1890’s with Eugene Sandow; who is crowned at the Olympia every September as a world champion. Cultures as a whole started looking at the weight lifting and strongmen as a chance to issue challenges to each other by seeing who could out-lift the most on many levels. This is where power lifting competitions exemplify this challenge and competition at its finest. Nevertheless, symmetry was not a concept known at this point in time, but was soon to have emergence with Eugene Sandow. Sandow himself started in Europe as a strongman before traveling to America in the 1890’s.

Sandow promoted bodybuilding and also published the first magazine of the time promoting the sport called, “Physical Culture”. Sandow happened to suffer a brain hemorrhage when he tried to pull a car from a ditch to show his prowess in physicality. Sandow had the chance to judge the first bodybuilding contest before his untimely death. The first show was called “The Great Show” in 1891. Prize money back then was $2,500 and a gold Sandow statue. Judging criteria was laid out so that points would be awarded for showing more than just size, they included; general development, balance of development, condition and tone of muscle tissue, general health and condition of the competitors skin. The first Sandow statue went to a man named William Murray of Great Britain. After this bodybuilding competition, it became increasingly more popular.

This was the time when the cartoon “Hey Skinny…yer ribs are showing!” became popular. We have all seen this cartoon at some time, where a skinny guy with a cute girl on the beach is picked on by the big guy with muscles. The big guy kicks sand in the wimp’s face and then he takes his girl. This has become the stigma over the years for the big guy. This has been known as the most successful advertising campaign in history. By the end of the 1920’s we had barbells, dumbbells and other exercises that led to more muscular development in present day. On the California coast from the 1930’s to the 1970’s you would see weight lifting on the beach become increasingly popular; where at the top of the list is muscle beach in Venice.

Competition intensified when the Amateur Athletic Union brought in Mr. America in 1939; where the participants would demonstrate athletic skills and were advised to get in the best possible shape to help their chances of winning. John Grimek the first Mr. America was advanced in muscle development and won the award the second year as well. He became a new idol; one where the fitness role takes a new direction in physical development and improvement overall. Steve Reeves and Clancy Ross were both big time names during this time; although some still were skeptic about the sport of bodybuilding.

Early world known names include the greats, Frank Zane, Bill Pearl and Sergio Oliva. Ben Weider the figurehead for present day bodybuilding was the influence in forming the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilders) in 1946. The competition that is known to all at this time is the Mr. Olympia started in 1965 by Weider and the IFBB. The 1960’s would mark the time the biggest bodybuilder in history comes to light. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1967 started his reign with winning the Mr. America title and dominated the bodybuilding world where he would go on to win the Mr. Universe five times and Mr. Olympia an astounding seven times. Bodybuilding grew in the 1970’s Arnold and other stars like Zane, Draper and Feriggno. While the muscular body gained in popularity, the gym world gained momentum and people realized this is a very lucrative business to be in.

The 1970’s brought dominance for bodybuilding and the IFBB. The federation decided to make bodybuilding a legitimate sport when enough competitors in over 100 countries became known. By this time bodybuilding had become a multibillion dollar industry. Currently we have seen many major names come into the world of bodybuilding such as Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris as well as Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. Right training and dieting have become central to everyday life for more than four billion of the world’s population. Competitive bodybuilders are at their all time largest, finding new ways to increase muscle size as well as finding this can be a career choice. In the 1980’s we had the chance to see steroids come to the light and put a black eye on the sport of bodybuilding. The physiques improved due also to advances in training and strategies. We saw Lee Haney win seven Mr. Olympia awards with his physique around 240lbs and be larger than any other bodybuilder at that point where we now see many pushing close to 300lbs. When Haney retired he had beaten down Arnold’s records and many believe to be the largest name in bodybuilding. We now have very public figures in bodybuilding such as reigning Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, former king of bodybuilding Ronnie Coleman and Gunter Schlierkamp who moved his way into the world of film. Bodybuilding competitions continue to be popular and inspirational to many fans.

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20 Dog Camping Tips

Summertime is the right time for you to pack your bags and take your furry pal for an ideal season of camping. It not only makes you feel connected with the nature, but also makes your camaraderie with the doggy stronger. If you are someone who loves camping then sharing the experience with your furry pal will provide even more satisfaction. Dogs are excited when they new smells and sites of the camp site. You will see a new side of your furry pal when you go camping with him. There are certain interesting features that your doggy notices that you might otherwise overlook. Also remember that for camping your doggy does not need to be in the best shape. The only thing that you need to ensure is that you have adequate supplies when you backpack for the camp.

Let us now focus our attention to some of the camping tips that will make the trip a wonderful experience for your doggy:

1. While travelling, stop at regular intervals so that your doggy can go for bathroom breaks, drink water and have adequate exercise.

2. In case you need to leave your furry pal in the vehicle even for a short duration ensure that there is proper ventilation, shade and water for your pooch.

3. Carry your dog’s essential products like toys, blanket and bed so that he feels at home at the camping site.

4. Always assure the furry pal that he is safe, secured and loved.

5. Keep a watch on the health of your doggy.

6. Always be vigilant about the diseases that your furry pal can contract in the wildlife.

7. Carry flea and tick repellents and collars if you find that there is a higher risk of fleas and ticks in that area.

8. Give adequate time for the doggy to adjust to the new surroundings.

9. Give enough rest to your furry pal.

10. Never leave the doggy unattended when you are outside with him.

11. If you have any leftover food keep it in a place which will not attract wildlife and insects.

12. While you are at the campsite ensure that you do not leave the furry pal unattended.

13. Always have your doggy leashed so that he is safe from any uninvited visitor at the neighbouring campsite.

14. Honour the camp-ground regulations for on-leash and off-leash areas.

15. Always keep the doggy under control all the time.

16. Always follow your doggy especially in forest area as hikers, walkers, bikers, etc. will be using the area.

17. Throw the dog’s waste in an environmental-friendly dog bag and dispose it off in appropriate trash containers.

18. Always leash the doggy far away from the campsite.

19. If see huge space at the camping site, it is advisable to employ an expandable leash. The great thing about this leash is that you can tie a rope between trees and secure the leash to the rope for a dog run.

20. Always be vigilant to ensure that your furry pal is safe from their leash getting untangled around stakes, picnic table, trees and tent poles.

There is nothing better than to snuggle with your doggy in a cosy tent with the scent of camp fire still lingering in the air. With some thoughtful planning you will be all set to heed the call of the wild and have a blast!

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Best Ayurvedic and Herbal Treatment For Gastritis

Gastritis is a common name for all kinds of inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach, which is known as the mucosa. It is characterized by severe stomach ailments like cramps in the stomach, diarrhea and constipation and even blood with the stools.

In Ayurveda, gastritis is known as Urdhavaga Amalapitta. It is caused in people with pitta constitution. When the pitta dosha gets vitiated in such people, there are greater chances of getting gastritis.

There are many causes of gastritis. Food poisoning can lead to gastritis, and so can consuming alcohol and drugs like aspirin and steroids. Allergies to certain foods can cause gastritis. Oblique causes for gastritis are physical stresses caused due to flu, some major surgery, severe burns or injuries.

Nowadays the infection of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori is looked upon as an important cause of gastritis.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Gastritis

– Asparagus (Asparagus racemosa) Asparagus is known to be an antispasmodic. It reduces the fire in the stomach. The root of the asparagus is effective in reducing the hyperacidity of the digestive system.

– Bitter Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) The tea of the bitter chamomile is effective in allaying the gastritis that is caused due to tensions and worries.

– Cardamom (Elattaria cardamomum) Cardamom has soothing effects on the stomach. It is especially beneficial if the gastritis causes heartburn.

– Fennel (Fenneliculum vulgare) Fennel is used as a digestive traditionally by Indians. After each meal, there is a tradition of chewing some seeds of fennel. Fennel soothes the stomach, facilitates digestion, reduces flatulence and relieves the stomach of excess acidity.

– Ginger (Zingiber officinale) The extract of ginger is effective in treating the acid dyspepsia that is associated with gastritis. It is especially useful for people who consume more of a non-vegetarian food.

– Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) The Indian gooseberry, or amla, is very beneficial in the treatment of several stomach ailments, gastritis included. The other digestive ailments it is used for dyspepsia, burning sensation, anorexia, vomiting and hemorrhage.

– Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) The root of the licorice can soothe the inflammation and the injury to the stomach. It is also known to reduce the proliferation of Helicobacter pylori.

– Rhubarb (Rheum emodi) Rhubarb is a mild agent; so it is effectively used in treating gastritis problems in children. It can reduce the acidity in the stomach.

– Sandalwood (Santalum album) Sandalwood helps in gastritis because it has cooling properties. It can soothe the stomach muscles inflamed by gastritis.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Gastritis

A careful dietary regime is needed in case of gastritis. The following points must be noted.

– Only rice that has been aged for one year must be used. Wheat and barley are beneficial.

– Among vegetables white pumpkin, bitter gourd, cucumber, green banana and banana flower are effective.

– Cow’s milk is preferable to buffalo’s milk.

– People suffering from gastritis must not confuse their stomach glands with different kinds of foods at the same time. It is beneficial if the person is kept on a single diet. Ideally the person must be kept on a milk diet or on a diet of old rice.

– Vitamin C has the capacity to help in the absorption of iron and calcium salts in the body. This eases the digestive process. Therefore, the diet must be rich in vitamin C. Foods that contain vitamin C to a commendable quantity are amlas, oranges, etc.

– Pungent and sour tastes must be avoided. Even chocolates, tea and coffee must be avoided as these can increase the acidic contents in the stomach.

– The person must never eat till the stomach is fool. In gastritis it is better to eat little quantities each time, so that the stomach gets proper time to digest the food.

– Sesame seeds and curds must be avoided.

– There should be a total stop to alcoholism.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Gastritis

Amalaki choorna or Triphala choorna is given in a dose of three grams thrice a day for seven days.

If there is constipation along with gastritis, then Avipattikara choorna is taken as the medicine of choice. The dosage is two teaspoonfuls at bedtime.

There is a list of other Ayurvedic preparations that are useful in the treatment of gastritis. Some of these are Dhaatri loha, Sukumara ghrita, Sootashekhara rasa, Kaamadudha rasa, Leela Vilas rasa, Chandrakala rasa and Amalapittantaka rasa.

(4) Home Medications

– Take one teaspoonful of licorice root powder and mix it with pure ghee and honey. Take this twice each day on an empty stomach.

– Have a banana early in the morning. Drown them with milk. This reduces the acidity within the stomach in some days.

– After each meal have a glassful of milk with Isphagula in it.

– Squeeze the juice of an orange and add some roasted cumin seeds in it. Have this with some salt in it. It provides immense relief in gastritis.

Apart from these, keep the mind always stress-free. Do not go to bed immediately after a meal. There should be an ideal gap of an hour between taking a meal and going to bed.

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Vitamins Are Organic Compounds That Are Necessary In Small Amounts To Sustain Life And Health

Vitamins are nutrients essential for health. Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary in small amounts in animal and human diets to sustain life and health. Vitamins are organic compounds which are needed in small quantities to sustain life. Vitamins are organic substances, essential for maintaining life functions and preventing disease among humans and animals and even some plants. Vitamins are complex organic compounds that occur naturally in plants and animals.

Vitamins are named by letters – vitamin A, vitamin C, D, E, K, and the group of B vitamins. Vitamins are organic components in food that are needed in very small amounts for growth and for maintaining good health. Vitamins are compounds that are essential in small amounts for proper body function and growth. Vitamins are organic substances that are required in small amounts for normal functioning of the body. Vitamins are substances that the human body requires but is unable to synthesize and therefore, must obtain externally.

Vitamins are not individual molecular compounds. Vitamins were not discovered until early in the twentieth century. Vitamins are of two type’s water soluble and fat soluble. Vitamins are required in the diet in only tiny amounts, in contrast to the energy components of the diet. Supplements can be beneficial, but the key to vitamin and mineral success is eating a balanced diet.

Vitamins cannot be synthesized by the cells of an animal but are vital for normal cell function. Vitamins cannot be isolated from their complexes and still perform their specific life functions within the cells.

Persons already experiencing coronary health issues should consider having their vitamin D levels checked and take action if a lack of vitamin D detected. I’ve cited the review, “Is US Health Really the Best in the world?”, by Dr. Barbara Starfield (Journal of the American Medical Association, July 26, 2000), in which Starfield reveals the American medical system kills 225,000 people per year–106,000 as a direct result of pharmacological drugs. Berries come in many shapes and sizes, but they are all healthy sources of fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are low in fat and calories, and contain compounds that might protect you from certain health conditions. B 12 deficiencies cause a host of health problems, including potentially irreversible nerve damage that can occur before symptoms are noticed. The easiest way for most people to avoid a deficiency is to take a B 12 supplement containing at least 1000 micro grams of B 12 two or three times a week. The Health Organization Founded by Dr. Rath is Unique in the world: All the Profits it Makes Go to a Non-profit Foundation. Vitamins and minerals are essential to life-and we mean essential. The early human diet was largely vegetarian, humans have adapted to utilize nutrients and vitamins from plant sou.

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10 Strategies For Lifetime Wellness

Learn 10 strategies to help you achieve lifetime wellness and maximize your quality of life. Strategies include exercise, nutrition, breathing techniques, lifetime learning and more…

1. Regular Chiropractic Care

First and foremost, we must ask the question, “Why do people get sick?” We now know that the majority of health problems are caused by stress: physical, chemical and emotional. Examples of physical stress include accidents, falls, inactivity, and sitting for too long. Chemical stressors include smoking, alcohol, processed and preservative filled foods, drugs (including pharmaceuticals) and environmental toxins. It is well accepted that the most prevalent and detrimental type of stress is emotional. Emotional stress can have many sources and is different for everyone, but the most common sources include relationship issues, financial concerns, low self-esteem and social pressures. The good news is that we were born with a nervous system that is capable of adapting to stress, so we don’t get sick every time we have a stressful experience. Because of the stressful world we have created for ourselves, I don’t think it is realistic to completely eliminate negative stress from our lives completely, but a healthy lifestyle that includes practicing the 10 Strategies for Lifetime Wellness will certainly reduce the total amount of negative stress you experience and help to ensure that your nervous system continues to function as designed and manage the negative stressors it encounters. At the same time, regular chiropractic care keeps your nervous system healthy and better able to adapt the negative stressors you can’t control.

2. Drink Lots of Clean Water

Your body is 80% water and without it we could not live more than a few days. Only nerve function and oxygen are more important for life than water. It is crucial for circulating nutrients around the body, internal cellular health, regulating body temperature, and joint lubrication. Daily water requirements can be calculated by dividing your body weight in pounds by two. That number is the number of ounces of water you should consume daily. Add 2 glasses of water per day for each cup of coffee, tea, pop or serving of alcohol you consume. The type of water you consume is also very important. Tap water, despite the regulations that supposedly keep it pure, is filled with harmful toxins including: prescription drugs, rocket fuel, heavy metals, chlorine and fluoride. Currently, the best way to ensure that you are getting pure, healthy water is to use a reverse osmosis filter in your home.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is one of your most precious resources. Just like exercise, the health benefits you receive every night from sleep depend on how long you sleep and the quality of it. Getting enough quality sleep is essential to ensure that your body has enough energy to meet the physical, mental, and emotional demands of life. Sleep deprivation is such a chronic condition that most don’t even realize they are suffering from it. Sleep deficit can have serious and far reaching effects on your health including: a decreased ability to concentrate and focus, a heightened physiologic response to mildly stressful events, a weakened immune system, increased susceptibility for heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The latest research suggests that more or less than 7 hours of sleep per day, including naps, has a harmful effect on your health.

4. Remember to Breathe

Breathing correctly can be as powerful as it is simple. The typical person only uses about 20 percent of their lung capacity, but with practice can tap into their lung’s full potential. Providing the cells of the body with more oxygen can result in significant improvements in general health, mood and energy. It is easy to develop good breathing habits, but it takes practice. Start by focusing your attention on your breathing and bring the number of respiration from a standard of 12 per minute down to as few as 4 per minute. One common technique is called “4-7-8 Breathing” in which you inhale to the count of four, hold the breath to the count of seven, and slowly exhale to the count of eight. Focus on breathing in through your nose instead of your mouth.

5. Exercise

Exercise and movement are required nutrients that industrialized societies are deathly deficient in. The human body requires daily movement and exercise in order to function optimally. However, just as with your diet, it’s important to vary your exercise routine in order to achieve the absolute best results. Your muscles simply get used to the same activity and they require a level of muscle confusion in order to continue to improve and grow stronger. When you are planning your exercise routine, make sure to incorporate the following types of exercise: aerobic, interval (anaerobic) training, strength training and core exercises.

6. Eat Fresh, Organic, Whole Foods

Eat whole foods as nature intended – fresh organic vegetables and fruits, grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free beef, free range organic poultry and eggs, wild fish, nuts and seeds. If the food did not exist in pre-industrial times it is probably not healthy to eat. Shop on the perimeter of the supermarket as this is where you will usually find the healthiest foods. Most whole foods will go bad if you keep them too long. A packaged food that has a long shelf life is most likely full of preservatives, food additives and artificial colourings.

7. Develop a Spiritual Practice

Studies show that people with a regular spiritual practice, regardless of religion, are healthier and happier. Regardless of belief, it is important to thank a higher power each and every day for the things in your life that you are grateful for. Gratitude is a very powerful human emotion and spending time each day being grateful is an important key to happiness.

8. Positive Mental Attitude

Studies show that people with a positive mental attitude live an average of 7 years longer than those with a negative mental attitude. Optimists also have a better quality of life as they seem to attract better relationships. You can focus on what is wrong in the world or on what’s right with it; the choice is yours.

9. Lifetime Learning

Have you always wanted to learn to play the guitar? Learn to dance or cook? Do you have a list of books that you’ve been meaning to read? Learning new things keeps your brain healthy, and keeps life exciting and fun. Learning new things has also been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

10. Get Outdoors

It is important to make time for getting outdoors and reconnecting with nature. Connecting with nature by camping, hiking and going to the beach, or to a park can help remind us that keeping our environment clean and our planet healthy is just as important as keeping ourselves healthy. The sun has been supporting life on earth for years and is even worshipped by many cultures for its vast healing and therapeutic powers. Statistics show that almost a million people die each year and contract serious illnesses due to a lack of exposure to sunlight. Too much sunlight can cause harmful and dangerous damage to your skin, so be respectful. But don’t be afraid to go out and get some sun because the health benefits far outweigh the risks.

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Type 2 Diabetes – Is A Ketogenic Diet Helpful For Those Dealing With Diabetes?

If you are looking for an effective eating plan to better manage your Type 2 diabetes, you might be considering trying the ketogenic diet. Some of you may have heard of this approach before while others may not. Essentially, this diet is one of the lowest carb approaches you can take. The carbohydrate intake is brought down to just 5% or fewer of your total calorie intake, and the remainder of the calories will come from 30% dietary protein and 65% dietary fat. So you could very easily call this a high-fat eating plan.

Sounds interesting, right? Since watching your carbs is what controlling your blood sugar levels is all about, it may seem like a good protocol. But before you jump on the bandwagon, there are a few important points to think about…

1. The Ketogenic Diet And Nutrients. First, when evaluating any eating plan, you should always consider the nutritional density of that plan. Sadly, this is where the ketogenic diet falls short.

Because your carbohydrate intake has to be reduced to such a small amount, this can make it a challenge to consume the appropriate amount of fruits and vegetables – which are the most nutrient-dense foods you can put into your body. While a few vegetables will be permitted, there is just no room for some of the higher carb vegetables such as carrots, peas, and cauliflower.

You will need to stick to leafy greens instead. Restricting the type of vegetables could increase your risk for inflammation and disease related to lack of dietary fiber as well as antioxidants. Not to mention, thanks to the lack of dietary fiber, many people do notice they experience constipation when on the ketogenic diet plan.

2. The Ketogenic Diet And Your Overall Health. The next thing you will want to be factoring in is how the diet impacts your health. If you feast on foods like cheese, sausage, bacon, and steak, all of which will “fit this diet plan” it does not take much to realize this is not going to be doing your health any favors.

To see optimal results, you will still need to be choosing healthy foods only. Many people following this diet struggle with this point, so they find they have a fight with their results as well.

3. The Ketogenic Diet And Well-Being. The last reason to reconsider following this type of diet is it does not leave you feeling well. Most people following this plan will notice they feel “foggy” as brain fog sets in from consuming too few carbohydrates. They may also notice they have high fatigue levels, often making it impossible to fit exercise into their day.

And food cravings may set in, making it hard to follow the plan, not to mention destroying any enjoyment you should be receiving from it.

As you can see, the ketogenic diet is not all it is cracked up to be. You might want to rethink going on this plan if you hope to see optimal health results. A better approach would be to reduce your carbohydrate intake but keep your carbohydrates high enough so you can eat sufficient fruits, vegetables, and even a few whole grains.

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Longer Drives – How the Average Golfer Can Increase Driving Distance Without Buying a New Driver

Are you tired of being the “short knocker” in your group, tired of not being able to reach par 4’s in two, par 5’s in three? How would you like to gain 10-30 yards off the tee without buying a new $400+ driver?

This article reveals the steps taken by a 68 year old retired aerospace engineer to regain the driving distance of his youth.

The steps were taken over a 12 month period of experimentation using many different driver and shaft combinations and modifications.

He began his quest for increased distance because his distance with the driver had fallen off 20-30 yards over the past few years and he had begun to struggle with hitting five iron and sometimes four iron into greens where he used to hit a seven iron.

Self evaluation told him that his swing length was getting shorter and his club head speed was dropping like a rock. He had begun to increasingly have discomfort and flexibility loss in his joints. Especially his knees, hands, wrists and shoulders during and after a round of golf.

This article was written to help you quickly and easily make significant improvements in your driving game using the same success steps. After a review of distance producing factors, you will then learn several keys that will all work together to unlock the Longest Driver You Can Be.

Section One-Driving Distance Factors

Lets talk about distance. The scientists tell us that ultimately ball speed, launch angle and spin rate are factors that the golfer can control to maximize potential distance. Other factors like the wind, slope and hardness of the ground,length of fairway grass, humidity, and temperature are out of the golfer’s control.

Proper selection of a driver loft, head design, shaft type and flex will help the golfer maximize the factors he can control. Swing improvements to get the club going down the target line for the most solid contact will minimize distance and accuracy robbing side spin. Maximum ball speed is achieved when the club head speed is maximum AND the contact is solid with a minimum of back or side spin. Somewhere between topping the ball so it runs on the ground and skying it (Fore God!) there is an optimum launch angle for the conditions being played in.

And as evidenced by more and more professional golfers adopting physical work out programs, building up major muscle strength and flexibility will obviously help gain distance. However the average golfer is either not inclined to put in that much physical time and work or unable to due to age created limitations. So other answers are needed.

The driver is more difficult to hit than a three wood because of its lower loft. For that reason, in recent years club manufacturers have been making drivers with more loft. Some years ago, drivers with 7 to 8 degrees of loft were common; now the more common lofts are in the 9.5 to 12 degree range. the reason your driver shaft length is longer than your three wood shaft is so you can develop more club head speed and hit it farther.

The type of shaft in the driver is VERY important. It must match your swing characteristics or else you will not achieve maximum distance. The shaft is much like the engine in a car. In addition to shaft length both shaft flex (degree of stiffness) and the flex point(low, mid or high) affect performance.

Driver club head design in the past year or so has seen amazing advances in geometry and fabrication techniques that allow club makers to reduce and/or reposition weight to maximize performance. Positioning weight as far back behind the face and as low as possible has made drivers more stable (higher moment of inertia) and increased the launch angle while reducing distance robbing backspin.

Golf ball design has come a long way in the past few years. So now more than ever it is possible to gain distance by selecting the right ball for your swing.

First of all, many golfers think that playing a “pro” ball will help their game. When in fact, it will actually rob them of valuable distance in most cases.

Titleist and Callaway for instance make great “pro” level balls like the Pro V1, ProV1x, Hex Tour and Hex Tour 56. Truth is if your swing speed with the driver doesn’t exceed 100 mph you are giving up distance. My experience and testing has shown that it takes a certain minimum amount of club head speed to adequately compress such balls.

For the average, non-pro, non-low handicap golfer, quality golf balls like the Maxfli Noodle or Callaway Hx Hot or Titleist NXT Extreme are much more capable of producing maximum distance.

Now yes it is true these balls won’t spin as much as the “pro” balls, but they will certainly spin well enough to score with. Besides, how many times do you hit the ball past the hole anyhow?

Section Two-Golf Swing Considerations

It is beyond the scope of this report to try to improve your swing. You should consult with your local PGA professional if you are having basic swing difficulties or just want to map a plan for improvement.

In order to achieve your maximum driving distance potential you will need to make sure of three things as a minimum: Your grip must be proper- For a right handed golfer, you must grip the club in the fingers (not the palms of your hands) and your left thumb position must be to the right of center on the grip. Think of the butt end of the grip as a clock face and position your left hand such that the left thumb is between 1:00 and 2:00 o’clock. Generally speaking, the vee’s between your thumb and forefinger on each hand should point between your chin and right shoulder. You must do everything you can to reduce tension in your hands, arms and shoulders to achieve maximum club head speed. Your grip should be so soft that when you start your back swing, the club head lags behind or almost lags behind initially. If you gauge grip pressure from 1 to 10 with 10 being the tightest, then you should try to start with a grip pressure of only about 4. Of course, there will always be some increase during the down swing. But, if you don’t start tension free then you will fall way short of your distance potential. You must swing through the ball not hit at the ball. The ball must just get in the way of your swing, not be the focal point.

Section Three-Golfer Health Considerations

When the retired aerospace engineer started his quest to regain some of his lost distance, he began a series of very light physical stretching workouts to help regain some of his lost flexibility. This did not take much time and also encouraged him to make sure he did brief stretching to warm up before playing golf. (Note-always check with your doctor before starting any kind of exercise program, especially those with a purpose of having you exert more effort.)

After a couple of months he noticed a definite improvement and could even tell his small muscle control (handwriting) was improving. But, even though that stopped or at least greatly slowed any further loss of distance it did not help him gain back as much as he wanted.

The light exercise / stretching workouts also helped regain some lost muscle tone so he could swing harder. But, his aching stiff arthritic joints let him know they didn’t like the extra stress.

He did research and talked with a number doctors who recommended taking some form of Glucosomine/Chondroitin to increase his joint lubrication and encourage repair/rebuilding of damaged/aging joint tissue. And, this really did help him relieve most of his discomfort. (Note-always check with your doctor before adding to or changing any of your medications.)

Section Four-Golf Club Considerations

There are three major components that make up the driver: the club head, the shaft and the grip.

Club Head For maximum distance your driver club head should have as many of the following features as possible: Face should be slightly (1/2 to 1 degree closed) to encourage a slight draw or minimize the effects of a fade/slice. Weight bias should be neutral or slightly draw biased to encourage a slight draw or minimize the effects of a fade/slice. Size should be 435 cc or larger for maximum forgiveness on off center hits. Loft should be 10 to 12 degrees minimum to achieve a launch angle near the optimum of 13 degrees for maximum carry/roll combined. Construction should be Titanium/Composite materials to minimize overall club head weight and allow achieving maximum club head speed.

Moment of Inertia (MOI) should as high as the limits allow to minimize distance loss due to the club head twisting on off center hits. The Coefficient of Restitution (COR-spring like effect) should be as high as the limits allow to produce maximum possible ball speed. The Center of Gravity (CG) should be low and back to help get the ball airborne without a lot of distance robbing backspin. My current favorite is the Cleveland Hi-Bore XL but there are certainly other very similar clubs made by all the name manufacturers If you decide you want to upgrade to a more current driver technology, there are plenty of bargains on eBay that will save you a lot of money.

Shaft The type of shaft in the driver is VERY important. It must match your swing characteristics or else you will not achieve your maximum potential distance. The shaft is much like the engine in a car. In addition to shaft length, both shaft flex (degree of stiffness) and the flex point(low, mid or high) affect performance.

For maximum distance your driver shaft should have as many of the following features as possible: Flex (ie, Regular vs Stiff) must be soft enough for your swing to properly load maximum energy into the shaft on the down swing. Most golfers, especially senior golfers, are using shafts that are too stiff for their swings. Material of Construction ( Steel vs Graphite) must be as light as possible to maximize club head speed. Graphite shafts have come a long way in the past few years in terms of improved quality and consistency. You may give up a little control with a graphite shaft but for the average golfer the benefit of the distance gained will out weigh the slight loss of control. Flex Point or Kick Point should be Low to Mid in order to help get the ball airborne with a minimum of distance robbing backspin. It sounds goofy, but a low kick point will hit the ball higher whereas a high kick point will hit the ball lower. Weight should be as light as possible in the 55 to 75 gram range in order for you to achieve maximum club head speed.

Grip The grip is very important because it is your only contact with the club. Your comfort level and degree of tension can be adversely affected if your grip is the wrong size or the material is too firm. The following factors should be considered in choosing a grip your your driver. The grip on the shaft should match your hand size so you can grip the club in your fingers, not your palms. You should not be using over sized grips unless your hands are quite large. Even if you have some arthritis issues, there are new very soft grip materials available that will allow a regular size grip to be comfortable for many golfers. If your driver is acceptable in all other areas, it is simple and inexpensive to have one of the latest grips installed. Many golf shops like Edwin Watts or Golf Smith will do it while you wait.

Section Five-The Final Answer

Since we have said that the shaft of the driver is the engine, let’s talk about giving it a boost.

A starting point is to consider lengthening the shaft of your driver. Most standard drivers today have a length of 44.5 inches to 45.5 inches. Older drivers were in the 43.5 to 44.5 inch range so club manufacturers have recognized that they can give longer drives by increasing the length of the shaft. It is practical to safely add 1 inch to 1.5 inches more to the length of today’s drivers with a high strength shaft extender. If the extender is properly designed it can easily be installed into the butt of your driver shaft.

Your driver is longer than your three wood and your four iron is longer than your six iron to help achieve greater distance through increasing club head speed. Lengthening the shaft will make it a little softer and actually help most golfers load more energy into the shaft on the down swing. And, the longer club will help slow down the pace of your back swing so you can stay in better balance and control.

So lengthening your driver will theoretically increase its distance over its standard length. But, when you do lengthen your driver, it will significantly increase the swing weight and change the feel. Both of which could upset your swing and even cost you distance and/or accuracy. That is why most drivers are manufactured at their current lengths even though the USGA allows a driver to be up to 48 inches long. But, don’t worry there is a good solution to the feel problem.

There is another distance increasing technique gaining favor today because it has been proven to both add distance AND increase accuracy/consistency. The technique is called counter weighting. It adds weight to the butt end of the club to move the balance point closer to the grip. Even the great Jack Nicklaus early in his career discovered that adding a lead plug into the butt of his driver helped hit the ball longer and straighter.

There are commercially available counter weighting products from companies like Balance-Certified Golf and Golf Smith that will easily add weight to the butt of your club. Counter weighting has several positive effects:

1) It smooths out your hand action thereby helping to improve accuracy, consistency and ball speed.

2) It also delays hand action so that less backspin is produced thereby giving a hotter ball flight for more roll.

3) It also helps increase club head speed by giving your large muscles a little more weight to react to. My analogy here is that you can throw a golf ball farther than you can throw a ping pong ball.

4) It also helps increase club head speed by allowing more energy to be stored on the back swing for release on the down swing.

My analogy here is the example of a person sitting in a swivel chair who starts spinning around holding two dumb bells out with extended arms(the back swing). Then when they pull their arms back in close to their chest (downswing) their rotation speed(club head speed) increases.

However, adding 20-30 grams of counter weight to the butt of a driver will considerably reduce the overall swing weight and change the feel. Again, both of which could upset your swing and even cost you distance and/or accuracy.

If you haven’t already guessed the answer, using counter weighting in a lengthened driver will give you the best of both worlds.Using a 1.5 inch driver shaft extender with a weight of 25 to 30 grams works best.

The above considerations showed how a simple combination of two proven technologies can give your driving distance a turbo boost.

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The 5 Key Benefits of Eating Healthy

Most of us know that the biggest benefits of eating healthy are that we will stay physically fit, feel better, and have fewer illnesses. We can lower our risk of illnesses like heart disease and diabetes as well. Another key benefit of eating healthy is being able to maintain a healthy weight. In this age of epidemic obesity, this is one of the simplest weight loss plans.

But how many of us teach these benefits to our children, and insure that the habit of eating healthy becomes a part of their daily lifestyle? If we did, we could see healthier, happier children, and teenage obesity could become a thing of the past. Here are the 5 major benefits of eating healthy every day:

1. Eating healthy is probably the easiest and most important way in which you can keep active and shield yourself from the many diseases that are now common as we grow older, including heart disease and diabetes. By eating healthy you are boosting your energy levels, improving your bodily functions, and helping to improve your immune. By eating a healthy diet and combining this with exercise you could end up leading a longer and more vibrant life.

2. You will meet your daily nutritional needs. Your daily food intake should include some amounts of grain, fruit, vegetables, milk (or other dairy products), beans, oils, and protein. There are vitamins and minerals in healthy foods which can boost your immune system and shield you from many common illnesses. In some cases, by eating a healthy diet you can actually reduce the risks that are often linked with such serious diseases as cancer and diabetes.

3. You will enjoy life more and have more energy to face the tasks before you. Healthy eating can reduce your stress levels. Combine this with daily exercise and you will increase this effect even more.

4. You will sleep better and be more rested when you wake up.

5. If you are currently overweight, you will be able to lose that weight more easily – and maintain it long term! Most people who lose weight with fad diets gain it right back again when they go back to their normal eating patterns. With a healthy diet that you maintain for life, you will lose that weight once and maintain it long term.

Once you implement a healthy diet, you will be surprised at how fast you will start reaping these rewards. The benefits of eating healthy will continue to reward you for the rest of your life.

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Exercises, Tighten and Tone the Buttocks – How to Get a Tight Butt

Ok! Who wants a tight butt? If you do, there are certain exercises that you can do to tone, shape and lift your buttocks. Some exercises just require your body weight and others require the use of exercise equipment like rubber or elastic tubes or bands, weight lifting exercise machines or free weights. In this article I am going to give you a basic program that you could do three times a week. This program is great for getting rid of that “jiggly butt.”

Here is the routine:

  • 20 Body weight squats
  • Squeeze and tighten the buttocks muscles as hard and as tight as you can for 30 seconds
  • 20 Reverse hyperextensions
  • Squeeze and tighten the buttocks muscles as hard and as tight as you can for 30 seconds
  • 20 Leg curls with the left then the right leg
  • Squeeze and tighten the buttocks muscles as hard and as tight as you can for 30 seconds
  • 20 Leg lunges forward and backward with each leg
  • Squeeze and tighten the buttocks muscles as hard and as tight as you can for 30 seconds
  • Repeat this circuit again 2 to 3 more times

If you do this routine 3 times a week your buttocks will be tone, lifted and totally jiggle free. If you combine this program with a healthy nutritional program; not only your tush will be tone but the rest of your body should become lean and sexy.

A healthy diet menu, consists of plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. For beverages you should drink water and avoid drinking soda or other beverages that contain soda. The reason for avoiding sugar is that it increases your insulin levels and when your insulin levels are spiked most of the calories that you consume are stored as fat. This is also why you should also avoid caffeinated beverages.

If you cannot give up your coffee decrease the amount of cream that you use because the cream is loaded with empty calories. Just imagine your butt, hips, belly and thighs getting bigger and fatter with each and every yummy sip. Is it really worth it?

If you have difficulty controlling your appetite and cravings there are many nutritional products and supplements available that work wonders at decreasing and controlling your appetite. Be careful when considering taking over the counter diet products and fat burners because they may have great fancy labels on the outside but contain nothing but garbage ingredients inside.

It is always best to work with a trained Medical professional when taking any dietary supplement, especially when it comes to appetite suppressant pills and products and fat burners. Medical weight loss practitioners, usually only use the safest and most effective weight loss and appetite suppressant medications, supplements and products.

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Big Muscles Can Mean Small Testicles – Hormone Replacement Therapy Does Have Side Effects

We’ve all seen the guys on TV prison shows with their huge muscles, and the body builders and the drug dealers etc. – all men who have done more than just tone up; rather they have gone all out to an extreme level of muscle mass building. Almost certainly they have used steroids to achieve this, which is an illegal drug rarely prescribed by doctors and certainly never prescribed simply to build muscles for the sake of muscles.

However these drugs containing synthetic hormones, steroids or testosterone most likely have unwanted side effects because what happens is that the brain senses the flood of androgens in the system and via the pituitary gland the testicles are told to stop making testosterone. Over a sustained period of time, with the testes no longer producing hormones, they shrink – literally because of lack of use. So it follows that large muscle from synthetic hormone treatments probably has also resulted in small testicles, a condition that can be permanent even when no more drugs are taken. Infertility is also a related side effect.

The alternative to bulking up muscle mass that does not have the unwanted side effects is to boost the body’s own production of testosterone, and this can easily be done with safe, non-toxic diet supplements similar to the multi-vitamins most people already take every day. The rules for taking them are quite simple – mostly that you should have several in your home and rotate using a different one each day. The last thing you want is for your body to build up a resistance to any of the supplements, and cycling them solves that issue.

When you have a normal routine of boosting your testosterone levels you will experience a sudden and sustained ramping up of your energy levels and it is this increase in energy that will burn up all your excess body fat and replace it with more muscle mass. Rather than consuming external and synthetic hormonal drugs which disrupt your body, the best method is to stimulate your body to higher levels of its own natural hormone production.

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