Neurobiologists at the University of Cambridge in Great Britain and the US National Institute on Aging in Baltimore have found that running may improve our abilities for retaining and recalling memories, by encouraging growth of new brain cells.

The researchers used two groups of mice in their study. One group had access to a hamster wheel, while the control group did not. Each mouse was trained to respond to images of two squares displayed on a computer screen in front of it. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

When trying to lose weight, many of us will come across the term “metabolism.” This refers to the rate at which you burn energy and is affected by a wide range of factors; your age, gender, activity level and diet all play a part in determining your metabolism.

However, the one you really ought to concentrate on is your diet.

Your diet is the key to keeping your metabolism high and eating food can actually help you to lose weight, whether this appears counter-productive or not. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Can I still eat out if I’m dieting?

Of course you can! You might not want to eat out every night, especially in the beginning as you reestablish your nutritional foundation, but the occasional restaurant meal does not have to derail your progress.

In fact, feasting on well-prepared protein options can enhance your commitment when you see how tasty good food is!

When you familiarize yourself with your caloric needs, you become able to understand your food options and make smarter choices. You learn how to cope with oversized portions and endlessly long menus. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

If you’ve been living under a rock for the last half a year you’d perhaps you’re unaware that “The Twilight Saga: New Moon“ DVD has hit the stores today, March 20th, 2010. Of course, I pre-ordered so I already saw it a couple of hours ago.

As for the film itself, my opinion of it has not changed: it’s amazing.

But what shocked me most was…. Taylor Lautner. He gained 30 pounds of solid muscle for his role as a powerful and ripped werewolf.

During the slow parts of the movie I did my 3-second fake snore to pretend I wasn’t into the movie (and just in case someone recognized me) but I have to admit I was really impressed with the outstanding shape Taylor got into. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

I’m a big fan of printed media and I generally extract relevant news so I can update my blog with fresh information. I decided to post some of the clippings here.

Daily Mirror: Fat epidemic as NHS obesity cases rise 60% in past 12 months

Hospitals saw a hefty rise in the number of people admitted for obesity last year. The increase in just 12 months was 60% – and the number has shot up nearly NINE times in 10 years. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

A friend of mine, recently converted to vegetarianism, asked me:  “What do I use to replace fish oil?”

If you drop fish oil from your diet, then you can simply replace it with flax oil. Hemp seeds are another substitute and a relatively new item on the shelves of health food stores. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

An anti-doping authority in Italy announced that traces of a banned substance was found in Adrian Mutu after he tested positive for it a second time. This could very well end the career of the 31 yr old Fiorentina striker.

A four year suspension is also possible.

His agent Victor Becali said that Mutu was “worried but optimistic” about the situation, even though his A sample tested positive for an appetite suppressor called sibutramine. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Do you want to lose weight, but just can’t seem to keep track of everything you do?

Do you often wonder if the things you’re doing are making a difference at all with your fitness? If so, then you can now breathe a sigh of relief.

Thanks to the wonders of technology, health tracking devices are starting to become more widely available and are making a huge difference for those who use them. But what are they?  Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

2010 is your year. It’s a new year with new challenges, opportunities, and changes. But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed:

You still want to lose weight, get into shape, and look great. Everyone is watching the big names in fitness for the latest solution.  You included?

Here are a few ideas that we think will be on the scene… Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Here it is another January. The year’s keep flying by and what did you accomplish last year?

Did you make those little changes you kept talking about, or did you watch time slip away, all the while wishing and hoping something, somehow would change, if only…

If only you’d get up a half hour earlier, think of what could be done?

A quick early morning workout perhaps, or time for a real breakfast? Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

And you start to feel as if all the delicious foods are there just to tease and taunt you to fall back from all of the work you have done all year long to get your body looking like we want them to.

You know it’s time to do something to prevent extra weight. You have been looking in the mirror for a while and have finally decided enough is enough!

Sure, you know all the things you need to do to get back in shape like eat better and exercise, but why not get a little help… I’m talking about a fat burner. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Step 1. Start a diet plan and follow it strictly for 1 week.

If you want to lose weight, you need to eat less calories per day than you have been eating. Staying on a healthy diet plan is the true way of losing weight.

With a healthy low fat diet plan, it can helps you lose up to 2 lbs or more in a week, and to go on losing weight in a healthy way until you reach your goal.

Depending on your gender and how much weight you want to lose, you can start a plan with a caloric intake ranging from 1000 to 2000 calories a day.

After a week, you may continue your weight loss by repeating the plan, or switch to another one with a different caloric intake.

Remember, diet plans can only work if they motivate you sufficiently to decrease the amount of calories you consume. Starting a diet plan can be pretty easy but after a week or two of eating the same foods your enthusiasm can take a dive. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Sometimes we don’t think about our calves until we don a new pair of heels and wonder why our calves don’t look fabulous. How could they when we neglect them so much?

We use our calves throughout the day without even thinking about it, but when it comes time for the gym, it’s the last body part we want to work on.

Plus there’s the looming myth that if we work out our calves, they’ll get big and bulky. No! The exact opposite is true. To shape your calves, you have to strengthen and stretch them.

When your calves aren’t strong, they tend to look flabby and shapeless. Many women know that muscle weighs more than fat. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

Ask any woman what their New Year resolution is and they will instantly tell you that it is to ‘lose weight’.

But why wait until the New Year to begin your ambitions of reaching your ideal weight?

Despite many misconceptions that everyone puts on weight during Christmas – making diet plans useless – there is no actual rule stating that you have to wait until the holiday season is over before you put your weight management programme into action.

You can even begin today. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »

I’m hungry. It’s 6:16 AM and my stomach is grumbling. Do I really want my breakfast now? I usually eat around 7:00 AM. This sure feels like hunger to me, but is it real hunger, or something else?

And now it’s 10 minutes later and that grumbling is gone – funny.  Sometimes that occurs during the day and thinking it’s hunger I  want to eat but that may not be what it is after all.

Perhaps I’m thirsty or it could be something else entirely. It doesn’t hurt to wait a few minutes, just to see what happens.  Hunger is not going to hurt you. It’s a normal part of daily  living. Hunger can wait. Click to continue reading the rest of the article »