@Paul



Thanks Paul for the info on the pzizz napping software! I've been using the demo for sleep and the demo energizing nap all week. I can't tell you how wonderful this is. I went to bed at 9 pm last night and awoke at 3:30 am...that is a full 6 1/2 hours sleep for me!



If I do wake up, I just put my iPod on (by the dresser) and within 1-2 minutes I'm back to sleep. I guess this is a form of hypnosis...but so far I feel good and haven't clucked like a chicken once!



http://www.pzizz.com/

@scott red handed



Again Scott, my thoughts exactly. I think this is brain related, either physically or psychologically.



My youngest daughter is consumed with eating. Despite the healthly environment in our home, she has an unquenchable appetite. She's 9 years old, 10lbs overweight and wants to eat non-stop all the time. (That's her in the picture, beautiful ain't she?) I actually had to go to the school and tell them not to let her go through the lunch line, because she was eating her home-packed lunch then going through the lunch line!



I've taken her to our pediatrician, and nothing is physically wrong with her. He desire to eat is purely psychological (not suggesting that is the case here, by any means). My daughter tends to be on the fidgety side, always singing, tapping, dancing and moving. If she stops....she's suddenly unsure of what to do with her hands and mouth...so she eats. So, I try to keep her very busy, with lots of outdoor activites. When she is inside, I also keep her busy, drawing, coloring and doing chores. I'll place a bowl of healthy snacks on the counter she can "graze" on, like grapes or apple slices.



So, I've experienced you situation first hand , Anthony, and I know it must be frustrating. I suggest a good exercise program daily and keeping busy doing other activites using your body. Cut back on computer and TV.



Again, as scott suggested, you should start with a visit to your doctor.



Good Luck!

Hey David,



I found Stew Smith USN SEAL, to be just what I needed to get motivated and stay motivated. I do a military style workout all outside, using no equipment.



Check out Stew's site for lots of free diet and exercise advice @



http://www.stewsmith.com/



Make sure you click on "Free Workouts" the like to the left There's a 45 Day Beginner Program there that's fantastic.



You can do this!



Pick your target and focus on that target!

I recently purchased a juicer and I'm loving it! I'm pretty busy and I know there was no way I was getting the RDA of veggies in my diet. So when I learned that fresh veggies juice was equivalent to the raw veggies, I purchased a juicer.



Anyone have any great recipes to share? I was also wondering if you can use any of the juices for skin and hair care?



Thanks!

Ashley, you look simply amazing! Don't stop what you're doing.

Wow, you look great..and I too ..love that shirt!

@Max



ROFL, yes he was a "Sandman"...that's funny. I loved that movie...am I telling my age...?

@ Fred



I usually go to bed around 10 p.m. I work out in the a.m. I cut back to two cups of coffee in the morning. My problem is I wake up around 2 a.m and can't go back to sleep. I did sleep 6 1/2 hours last night with only one interruption.



@NYC



have you tried that new coffee out at Starbucks? Casi Cielo? It's soo smooth



http://www.starbucksstore.com/products/shprodde.as p?SKU=134934



@Rincewind



Thanks , I'll look into it!



@Paul



These are GREAT! I feel like I'm on "The Island" or in the movie "Logan's Run" or something. Just the 15 min sample relaxed me in the first 30 seconds. Can't wait to use this.



@Renee



Good idea, I have a very thick book I'm working my way through. I should try that.



@NYC



Thanks for the link to all this knowledge.



"If you need to nap, take a brief nap for 10-15 minutes about eight hours after you awake. "



I need to do this more.

@scott red handed



I tend to agree with you scott. Nothing scientific here for me. Believe me, I know science has it's place concerning exercise.....but for me....past experience tells me if I want to lose fat and tone up fast...I kick up the intensity of my workout. I run faster and do my resistance training in very short-burst intervals.



Of course, I listen to my body.......if I have pins and needles, chest pain, shortness of breath etc....I back off. Otherwise, I "Dig, dig, dig!"

@Lex



Wow, this entire website is fantastic! Full of great, informative and FREE training tips for every body part, beginner or advanced.



Thanks Lex for expanding my knowledge base



http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=An atomyandExercises

@Lex



You are correct the 8 Count Body Builder is NOT a burpee, my mistake.



Let me repost your link , to reinforce what a correct burpee actually is.



Sorry to impede on your thread



Correct burpee:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/rossboxing2.htm

@Lex : I personally run everyday if possible, 30 mins one day and 1 hour the next. Now, when I say 1 hour.......I'm interval training for that 1 hour, not flat out running for 1 hour



Have you tried iTrain? The Outdoor iTread set is what I'm doing at the moment and I find it very challenging. It's broken down into two 30 min sets, so you can choose to do 30 mins or 1 hour.



The coach uses interval 6:1 intervals for all levels of fitness, walking , running and jogging. O.K. the only downfall for me about it is, I don't really care for "Techno" music and I think some of the music is techno.



All and all, it's pretty much kicking my butt. My son and I are getting ready for a little 5K run on Jan, 27...we get to run directly ON Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500! Can't wait.



http://www.itrain.com



Good Luck.

@Lex



Yeah, I think the burpee does not have the push up and the leg extension. Correct?

I love all these posts. Ton's of useful information in here.



Just don't get "analysis paralysis", where you spend more time thinking about doing something than you spend actually doing it!

My fitness program is going quite well, however, I'm only getting about 5-6 hours sleep per night. I think I would have more energy during the day if I slept just an hour or so longer.



Any tips on how to I can put myself back to sleep when I wake up at 3 a.m.?



Thanks traineo peeps!

@ Tom



You are right on point with avoiding "magic bullets". There are no quick fixes when it comes to achieving good health.



"The only thing I really feel confident about is that starving yourself is a waste of time and counterproductive, and that a balanced diet, heavy on the vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, is good for you."



I totally agree. Daily exercise in your target HR zone and a healthy diet with moderate portion sizes is the key to good health



I'm going to pick up that book you suggested. Thanks!

The military calls these "burpees" , 8 Count Body Builders. I do these. They are fantastic for building over-all body and core strength.



Here's a video of an 8 Count Body Builder:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNFq9kbe7B4

I too loathe the gym! Yes, it's sometimes difficult to find the motivation to get with a program and stick with it. I've fallen in and out of exercise routines since I was in my 20s.



About two years ago, however, I started a very different kind of workout. I was browsing the book store with my son, when I stumbled upon The Special Ops Workout by Mike Mejia and Stew Smith, USN SEALS. Don't be intimidated by the titile, there's great beginner programs in there as well.





I instantly fell in love with the idea that I could workout outside anywhere, anytime without any equipment at all. Two years later, and I'm loving the military perspective on fitness.



Another great resource I am currently reading is "Unleash The Warrior Within" by Richard J. Machowicz, Ten-year veteran of the Navy SEALS. "Being a warrior", Machowicz writes, "is not about the act of fighting,it's about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in a cause that you are fighting for that you refuse to quit."



If you're exercising on a budget, like many of us here are, the only thing you need to get started on a military fitness program is your body.



Here's Stew Smith's, (another SEAL) FREE



45 Day Beginner Program :

URL



Also check out "Stew Smith's website:



http://www.stewsmith.com/



and click on the "Free Workout" button in the menu for more great military fitness information.



Good Luck!

I too loathe the gym! Yes, it's sometimes difficult to find the motivation to get with a program and stick with it. I've fallen in and out of exercise routines since I was in my 20s.



About two years ago, however, I started a very different kind of workout. I was browsing the book store with my son, when I stumbled upon "The Special Ops Workout" by Mike Mejia and Stew Smith, USN SEALS. Don't be intimidated by the titile, there's great beginner programs in there as well.



"Special Ops Workout":http://www.amazon.com/Special-Ops-Workout -Exercise-Operations/dp/1578261325/sr=8-3/qid=1169 023570/ref=pd_bbs_3/002-1849010-7801610?ie=UTF8&s= books



I instantly fell in love with the idea that I could workout outside anywhere, anytime without any equipment at all. Two years later, and I'm loving the military perspective on fitness.



Another great resource I am currently reading is "Unleash The Warrior Within" by Richard J. Machowicz, Ten-year veteran of the Navy SEALS. "Being a warrior", Machowicz writes, "is not about the act of fighting,it's about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in a cause that you are fighting for that you refuse to quit."



"Unleash The Warrior Within":



URL



If you're exercising on a budget, like many of us here are, the only thing you need to get started on a military fitness program is your body.



Here's Stew Smith's, (another SEAL) FREE 45 Day Beginner Program:



URL



Also check out "Stew Smith's website:



http://www.stewsmith.com/



and click on the "Free Workout" button in the menu for more great military fitness information.



Good Luck!

I suppose it's possible you do have one leg longer that the other, but I doubt it. Are you left or right handed? Just as we favor one hand or the other, we also favor one side of the body or the other.



I'm left handed, but I too find that my right leg is considerably stronger than my left. So, I made a conscious effort to lead with my left leg while power walking. Also, you can do an extra set on lunges on that side and practice balancing on the weaker leg...using one leg.



If you have pain in your hips or back after working out, there might be a problem and I would suggest seeing your doctor. Also, don't skimp on running or walking shoes. I like the Asics gels.



Good Luck.

I too am asthmatic, fortunately it's gotten a lot better as I have gotten older! O.K. here's a suggestion for you.



I hate the gym. Just loathe it and love being outside. My complete workout is done outside, without any equipment. I do a military style workout, using only my body as resistance. I do a series of lunges, squats, 8 count body builders , push ups and combat drills. After a 20 min jog, I go into my resistance circuit, which lasts 15-20mins. Go directly from one exercise to the next without resting and you will get your heart rate into the zone fast!



I suggest purchasing the book:



The Special Ops Workout



Written by Mike Mejia and Stew Smith USN SEAL



Don't be intimidated by the title. There's a workout in there for every level from beginner to insane. I like the fact there are plenty of pictures showing each exercise.



Also visti Stew Smith on the web at : www.stewsmith.com



Good Luck!

@Chereen



I agree with you 100% It is a personal choice. I was in denial about coffee myself for many years, and wine too for that matter! I figured because there was no definitive documentation as to the ill effects of coffee, it was O.K. for me. I was wrong.



While I was drinking coffee, I was riddled with tension, body aches, insomnia, headaches and stress. Since quitting AND increasing my H20 intake, I no longer have muscle spasms, aches, I sleep much better, have more energy and feel all together much healthier.



Coffee IS a diuretic and it DOES dehydrate you.



dictionary.com:

Main Entry: caf·feine

Pronunciation: ka-'fEn, 'ka-"; 'kaf-E-&n

Function: noun

: a bitter alkaloid C8H10N4O2 found especially in coffee, tea, and kola nuts and used medicinally as a stimulant and diuretic â€"caf·fein·ic /ka-'fE-nik, "kaf-E-'in-ik/ adjective



caffeine [ˈkӕfiːn, (American) kӕˈfi:n] noun



a drug found in coffee and tea





This is my favorite, LOL:



al·co·hol /ˈælkəˌhÉ"l, -ËŒhÉ'l/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[al-kuh-hawl, -hol] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

â€"noun 1. Also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, ethanol, fermentation alcohol. a colorless, limpid, volatile, flammable, water-miscible liquid, C2H5OH, having an etherlike odor and pungent, burning taste, the intoxicating principle of fermented liquors, produced by yeast fermentation of certain carbohydrates, as grains, molasses, starch, or sugar, or obtained synthetically by hydration of ethylene or as a by-product of certain hydrocarbon syntheses: used chiefly as a solvent in the extraction of specific substances, in beverages, medicines, organic synthesis, lotions, tonics, colognes, rubbing compounds, as an automobile radiator antifreeze, and as a rocket fuel.



Wanna drink that?

I find this post very fitting for me today, as my parents are here visiting with me for the week. My father is 67 and my mother 64. After a very successful career in the Navy, my parents returned to their hometown in North Carolina. The problem with that is their "hometown" isn't really a town! They live in a very rural area of the Carolinas, at least 30 minutes from a real "town".



My parents returned to North Carolina to be close to extended family, that was 27 years ago. Now however, many of their family members have passed away. Only three living eldery relatives live within 15 miles. Other than that, they have very little to no outside contacts or activities.



I live in Florida and my brother lives about 1 1/2 hours away from our parents. We are both very concerned with the fact that they have chosen to practically isolate themselves from the outside world. We often find ourselves talking about which parent would "fair better" if living alone.



Last year, my brother built a computer for our dad. (He put Linux on it in the beginning, SHAME ON HIM! lol) Over the past year, my father has become very active in several military forums! He's constantly forwarding me links to sites he has visited, funny jokes and inspirational messages. He's even connected with a few old Navy buddies online. Because of this, I feel my father would fair much better than my mother, if the time ever came when he was living alone.



Personally, the value of online social networks would be that I have an opportunity to communicate what's "really" inside my head, in a fashion that oral delivery cannot provide. Does this make sense? When I type, I'm actually typing as a thought comes into mind. So you guys get my thoughts, "hot off the grill" so to say! When I speak, I have to mold that thought into speech......which for me.....I always have to "think" about what I'm going to say and how......you know tonal values, etc.....here I can just open the sewer to my mind and let it rip!

Benefits:



The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.



Downside of Green Tea:



To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.



Information Obtained from About.com.



Remember, caffeine is a diuretic which yes, can supress your appetite but at the same time dehydrate you. So your body over compensates by retaining fluid.



Have you ever thought of juicing as an alternative? You can purchase a good quality juicer for about 50 bucks. 1 cup of fresh fruit or veggie juice equals 1 cup of raw fruit or veggies. Plus, each cup equals one cup of water and it's loaded with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants.