Service Providers Oppose Government’s Approach to Illegal File Sharing

Filed under: Caveat Emptor, Life Of Technology, Universe Of Telecommunication — admin at 9:43 am on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Government has stated that it is planning to sever broadband connections as a strategy to fight illegal file sharing on the internet. This has caused a flutter among a number of rival internet service providers (ISPs) and have made them come together to draft a letter.

This letter drafted by Ed Mayo of Consumer Focus, Deborah Prince of Which?, Charles Dunstone of TalkTalk, Tom Alexander of Orange UK, Ian Livingston of BT and Jim Killock of Open Rights Group came out in The Times, and it took on the Government’s plans of lessening illegal transferring of files.

Their main argument was that the users of broadband and the ISPs should not be made liable for the acts of a few people, since most users do not indulge in such unlawful transfer of files and therefore this measure is completely unjust.

Charles Dunstone, CEO of TalkTalk has further asked all key content providers to join hands with ISPs in the UK to think of a better way by which they can address the Government. He also declared TalkTalk’s commitment on this issue, stating that they will not stop in their efforts of protecting the rights of users and prevent such a measure to be adopted, one that is outside the purview of the judiciary as well.

They all elaborated that creative industries play an undeniable role in the nation and that such a measure clearly sabotages all consumer rights of users and hinders development of better and more advanced services.

The letter has stated that users cannot be held liable until proved, until which time they are innocent, and that a kangaroo court procedure must be averted at all costs, as neither is the evidence tested in such courts nor are users who have been accused given any rights to protect themselves against such dubious allegations. In the absence of such rights, all innocent users will have to face misery.


What You Will Want to Consider if You’re Going for 3D Poker Sites

Filed under: Baker's Dozen — admin at 8:35 am on Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Poker games aren’t solely for big-spenders anymore. There are nowadays such a large amount of wonderful online poker websites that a game with limited appeal rarely played outside of Nevada has been transformed into the international craze we see now. So, why has all this happened so quickly? From the very first poker web site went live in 1998, thrills, convenience and the chance to train before wagering hard earned cash have driven the development of online poker. Naturally, it didn’t take very long until poker websites were being launched at a spectacularan pace to get in on the action.

The worldwide appeal of online poker resulted in contests like the World Poker Tour being brought to our TV screens in 2002. Participation rose by an incredible 500% over the following year, the World Series of Poker arrived on our TV screens along with the famous player Chris Moneymaker. Chris surprised the world by demonstrating that it was feasible to go from working 2 jobs to living a life of luxury solely by betting on a game. Most poker lovers could only daydream of playing cards for a living and Moneymaker was showing everyone how it was done. This made online poker even more appealing, and in 2004, this formerly dying pastime was earning a smooth billion. Nowadays, individuals from all over the globe sign on to poker websites to play for ready cash and massive rewards, or only to play fake money and improve their skills. With the tremendous array of options available, it really doesn’t matter at all if you are just beginning or you’d like to earn your living this way. Now and again it can be useful to learn from the professionals online, it’s easy to spot poker’s greatest celebrities playing all the time on television. Though nowadays to be honest, with the choice of gambling without actual money means that you have essentially got rid of risk entirely. It could even turn out to be the opportunity you have been waiting for all your life. Online poker has protected the game from becoming defunct in a very short length of time. Now that playing a hand or two of poker online has become so accessible and so enjoyable, it’s a safe bet that the business is going to go from strength to strength.

The Keys to Talent Management

Filed under: Business Opportunities, Managers World — admin at 10:34 am on Monday, September 14, 2009

A successful business depends to a great extent on good people management skills. People management may be improved and learned. Having a innate skill for dealing with people can be an advantage, but you can do many things that will simplify the process. Relationship Building: Begin by remembering a person’s name. Talk to staff; get eye contact during a conversation. Develop a respectful attitude, in addition be attentive to the other person’s point of view, irrespective of whether you agree with them. The development of listening skills is one of the most effective things you can do to improve your people management skills. Encourage any input from your co-workers.

Keep your promises: Don’t give promises you won’t fulfill. If a promise is not kept, it can destroy trust, and people will not give you their best without trusting you. Everytime you make a commitment or give your word on something, you are wasting your time and effort unless you follow through. To be frank, when you can’t be counted upon, they will not be there when you truly need them.

Be open to feedback: It’s a two-way street. Keeping an open mind regarding other’s ideas is an important skill in managing people. If you are prepared to demonstrate that you are approachable and open, you prove that other people’s thoughts matter to you, and they will value your thoughts. Welcoming discourse in addition furthers growth of fresh ways of thinking, ways of fulfilling the goals of the team, and strengthens the team dynamic. By allowing the team a voice, the project and the outcome becomes important to every employee. Communication is important: Good communication is central to managing staff skilfully. Be approachable, apply listening skills, encourage all sorts of feedback, and give team members an equal voice. Inspire team members not only to speak with you, but with each other. The creative process depends heavily on the open exchange of ideas, and when the team communicate openly, you can root out problems at an early stage, and corrective measures can be applied before things get out of hand.

A little time will be necessary, but the rewards far outweigh the effort. By inspiring a good team dynamic and by taking on board your team’s ideas, a thriving business will be yours.

Learning Algebra

Filed under: Education Special, Hall Of Science, Universe Of Mathematics — admin at 11:24 am on Sunday, September 13, 2009

Algebra is good at differentiating relationships between things that vary from time to time. For example, the relationship between a person’s income and advancement of his expenses could be determined and calculated using easy algebraic equations. Math is not an easy subject for a large percentage of students. Many software programs are available with a mixed bag of topic presentation so students of whatever intellect level can find the way that works for him/her. These applications also assists students to understand importance of Algebra in real life as well as within industry field. Wider functions employed in algebra include Graphing non-linear inequalities, Solving compound inequalities , Solving quadratic inequalities , Adding and Subtracting matrices etc.
Although algebra is an easy to follow course of study, students may face a lot of trouble if they do not practice the basic concepts hard enough. This makes fundamental math skills central to help students successfully progress from algebra and advance into more high-level math with self-confidence.

How to Successfully Tackle Algebra

The algebra software on offer in the market today offer far more useful guidelines and help than what is included in formal textbooks, such as homework assistance, interactive tutorials, games and a worksheet tool or graphing calculator. The most useful software have all of these constituents - ease of use and covering of all the topics.

Such instructional tools useful when different forms such as audio, video, animations and games are put in to use in order to teach the lessons. Schools and colleges require that students complete algebra courses from pre-algebra to algebra II. Important topics normally include: Finding complement of an angle, composition of functions, finding type of polynomial, determine if line is Subtracting polynomials, Finding domain of a function, Graphing a parabola and Adding rational expressions etc.

How to Use Algebra Software

Some algebraic software shows results only, while some other (most suitable for elementary use of algebra) give away techniques and ‘how-to’ guides on math concepts that are in use. The most central software feature from the students perspective is the ease of use. Thus, the software ought to be loaded with value added options like high quality and timely user support, embedded help options, and easy to understand algebra tutorials.

The Seasoned Player’s Definitive El Gordo Lottery 101

Filed under: Baker's Dozen, Betting, Lucky Gambling — admin at 2:57 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2009

When you first come across the El Gordo Loteria, a part of the Euromillions Euro lotto, you will definitely want to find out more. With payouts that can be as high as 2.6 billion Euros, the El Gordo Lottery claims one of the world’s richest jackpots. Even that isn’t the only thing that is remarkable here. With over 13,000 prizes being offered your chances of winning a prize work out to around one in every six. When compared with the prizes given by other lotteries, you’ve got to admit that El Gordo’s offerings certainly aren’t bad! In the Euromillions Euro lottery, one draw is held every month. But three months a year have special lotteries for grander prizes. The most substantial of all the drawings is “El Gordo” which is held around Xmas, while the two other bigger draws occur in January - “El Nio” - and the summer (”San Ildefonso”).

Balls with numbers ranging between 00,000 and 84,999 are not what you expect to see from lottery systems, but the El Gordo lottery employs an unusual approach taking full advantage of them. During the draw a ball is drawn from a bowl to determine the winning ticket while a second is drawn from a second bowl to determine the value of the prize.

Should you want to get in on the action you can get a full ticket called a “serie”. Also available for purchase is a “décimo”, worth one tenth of a full ticket. This is your other option. Sadly, both these choices are pricey ways to play and neither of the two improves your chance of winning anyway. This is the reason that the e-lottery scheme is popular with many Euromillions Euro lottery players.

Everyone is certain to win a prize if they participate in the e-lottery system. Just buy into the El Gordo Lotto syndicate and they’ll divide you into teams. With each team numbered between zero and nine, the last digit on the winning ball picks the winning team and they take the money. The money is then divided among the team members. In time for the next lottery, the syndicate once again sells subscriptions and the e-lottery continues.

Some players feel hesitant when they hear that they have to share these big payouts. What you have to remember is that when the amount being divided is 2.6 billion Euros, a single share is still a considerable sum of money. No reason for concern playing by e-lottery as you’re guaranteed to win something during each draw, and a place in the e-lottery is the more affordable way to go. E-lottery is the best strategy…

Chamonix Mont Blanc’c Real Estate Market Place Is Still Going Well in Spite of the Credit Crunch

Filed under: The Recreation Trail, Travel Stuff — admin at 2:26 pm on Thursday, September 10, 2009

Should you travel to Chamonix Mont Blanc in the Alps then you will find some of the bestsnowboarding in the Alps but a historic ski resort too.Chalets in Chamonix have rocketed as the popularity of the resort increases, and the popularity of the ski resort shows no signs of abatting. There is unquestionably doubt due to the credit crunch, however Chamonix remains a popular choice for purchasers even if the English purchasers have disappeared.

But the property market in Chamonix Mont Blanc carries on showing growth and Chamonix stays a favorite selection with buyers.

With a growth of 5 percent in the housing market last year it’s apparent that the property market place is expressing signals of stabilising.You can see this if you liken the last year’s growth to the period of 2001 to 2006, which saw spectacular growth.

In this time chalet apartment prices in the Chamonix valley grew by 150%.

Of course if you bought during this time period then you will have made a brilliant option.

Even last year the price of chalets jumped by almost 20% exhibiting solid development in a market where need outstrips supply.Apartments in the Chamonix valley achieve a moderate cost of 5,700 Euros a square metre.

This does alter alot dependant on which part of Chamonix Mont Blanc you decide to buy, and the type of chalet.

In the centre of Chamonix Mont Blanc a luxury chalet can trade for as much as 13,000 Euros a square metre, furthermore should the apartment enjoys a panorama of the mighty Mont Blanc, or if it hasd the added bonus of private parking, there will invariably be good demand.

Smarter flats pull the optimum prices a metre squared with a 3 or 4 bedroom apartment fetching about 6,500 euros per m2.

For a small studio the cost will be 115,000 euros and upwards, and for a more spacious flat anticipate to hand over in the region of 700,000 Euros.Should you be looking for a town house then expect to hand over one million Euros for a detached house in a sought after spot.Apartment costs in Chamonix Mont Blanc settled in 2008, to be sure in no small part due to the recessioin as well as the relative strength of the Euro vs the pound hitting the buying ability of the British buyers.

Notwithstanding at the luxury end of the market the price of luxury chalets and bigger houses has remained high.Notwithstanding, this calm in the market isn’t anticipated to continue as demand will be picked up by Italians and Russians who are quite happy to splash several million on a luxury ski chalet.So right now could be the opportune tine to buy in Chamonix with some deals to be found.

Selecting the Best Sales Lead Companies

Filed under: Four-Wheelers, Great Insurance Tips, Your Finance Resources — admin at 10:15 pm on Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Insurance brokers used to spend a good portion of their work day cold calling people who, a number of times, did not ask to be contacted. Currently, insurance marketing for insurance brokers includesobtaining filtered leads from sales lead companies. These insurance lead websites offer an efficient alternative to prspect lists and other marketing methods.

Insurance lead generation companies offer a great product for agents looking for a larger client base. First, they accumulate information from prospects interested in a new policy through their own network of websites. Then, they use the data supplied to match each prospect with localized insurance underwriters.

With a number of lead generation sites each providing slightly different products, brokers can’t always figure out which company is best for them. You should look for a website that can consistently supply quality prospects with prices that can create a good return on investment (ROI), a fair billing system and return policy, a way to filter your leads and that the leads are delivered in real time.

The price of each insurance lead is one way to review an insurance sales lead webiste. At the same time, you must keep in mind that higher costing leads may supply an increased number of clients than cheaper leads. It seems that most of the time, you get what you pay for.

A few insurance lead generation websites try to make you make a significant deposit before sending you leads. With so many lead generation sites allowing you to try their service with a small upfront deposit or some that will charge you after you receive leads, there is no reason to put up too much cash up front.

No matter which insurance lead service you use, you’ll eventually be sold a lead that you can’t contact or was previously sold to you. A worthwhile lead service will also have a good refund
return policy for these types of leads.

Filters help eliminate poor quality users. A sales lead company should have filtering abilities including geographic and lead filtering. Much of the time, you will have to pay more to use filters, as you will be sent better quality users, but the extra fee is commonly worth the added fee.

In conclusion, when selecting an insurance lead service, you should browse around and test several lead generation companies. A few will be good for auto insurance sales leads while others may supply better home insurance sales leads. If you buy insurance leads from multiple lead services, it will give you an edge against other brokers and will keep the quality of your sales leads in check.

Heart Matters

Filed under: Fitness — admin at 12:17 pm on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Your heart is between one to two times the size of your clenched fist. Contrary to popular belief, it is not located to one side of the body - it is located almost in the exact center of your chest. Due to the shape of the heart and chest cavity, the heart pounds against the chest wall on your left side, so the heart rate is stronger when felt there. Your heart is responsible for pumping about six quarts of blood throughout your body, with about the same amount of force that the average person applies when squeezing a tennis ball. The heart is not under voluntary control. A system known as the autonomic nervous system, which includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, is responsible for regulating your heart rate.

There are many ways to measure how healthy a heart is. A healthy heart should beat with a fairly regular rhythm that will change based on levels of exertion and oxygen requirements. A healthy heart has a high stroke volume, which refers to the amount of blood that is pumped out with each beat. A healthy heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood, so the resting heart rate of a healthy heart will be lower than average. Blood pressure is another indicator of heart health and should be in the healthy range of around 120 over 80, as determined by the national average.

Various types of training have different effects on the heart. Training that elevates the heart rate for even brief durations can increase the size of the heart. This will increase the stroke volume, and result in a lower resting heart rate. Training can also increase the rate at which the heart recovers from a bout of intense work. In other words, a trained individual will return to their resting heart rate faster than a sedentary individual. Exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure. In addition, regular cardiovascular exercise can increase the concentration of hemoglobin in blood, allowing the body to become more efficient at transporting oxygen to the cells that need it (as well as removing waste products such as carbon dioxide).

The average resting heart rate for an adult is around 72 beats per minute, or 75 for women and 70 for men. The lowest recorded heart rate is 28 beats per minute, attributed to a Spanish cyclist named Miguel Indurain. Many athletes have resting heart rates between the mid 30’s and mid 40’s. Bradycardia refers to a resting heart rate less than 60 beats per minute. It is simply a name for the condition of a slow heart, and does not imply an unhealthy heart or disease. Tachycardia refers to a resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute, and is considered a very dangerous condition to have.

The notion of maximum heart rate was designed to help people safely and effectively exercise. The maximum heart rate is theoretically the most times that your heart can safely beat in the span of one minute. The traditional formula for computing maximum heart rate is 220 - age. I am 29, so my maximum heart rate would be computed at 191 beats per minute. As you can see, maximum heart rate will decrease with age.

It has been speculated that the generic equation for determining maximum heart rate is not very accurate. Individuals of the same age will have different sized hearts, stroke volume, blood pressure, resting heart rates, and other factors that would contribute to the maximum possible beats per minute. A few attempts have been made to “fine tune” the formula, but even those efforts may fall short. One formula is known as the “adjusted heart rate”. It involves removing the resting heart rate from the maximum before applying a target formula. For example, if my target heart rate were 193, 80% of my maximum would be 154 beats per minute. In other words, my “target” heart rate at 80% is 154 beats. Using the adjusted method, I would first subtract my resting heart rate, apply the percentage, then add it back in. So, in this example:

193 (maximum heart rate) - 39 (resting heart rate) = 154.

154 x 80% = 123.

123 + 39 (adding resting heart rate back) = 162.

Therefore, instead of the traditional 154 beats per minute, my “adjusted target” at 80% would be 162 beats per minute. Another “tweak” to the traditional formula is known as the Tanaka method. Based on a study of literally thousands of individuals, a new formula was devised which is believed to be more accurate. The formula is 208 - 0.7 x age. Using this formula, my maximum heart rate when I was 27 would have been 208 - 0.7 x 27 = 189, or about 3 beats per minute less than the traditional formula.

So why even worry about your heart rate? Heart rate is a great indicator of training. In order to better understand heart rate, you must understand the various “systems” of energy that your body uses when you train. There are three systems that are always in effect, but one system will dominate based on the type of training. These systems are ATP-CP and glycolytic (both are anaerobic, or systems that do not rely on oxygen as the primary energy source) and aerobic.

The ATP-CP system is the system that bodybuilders are most familiar with. It is the system where your body is forced to perform work without the aid of oxygen. When you perform a repetition during a weight training exercise, your muscles contract and must generate force quickly to resist the weight. This action happens quickly, and your body is not able to use oxygen to fuel the contraction. Instead, your body will rely on stores of energy within the muscle cells, namely a compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate. ATP depletes rapidly, and is replenished by CP. Sports that rely on this system include power lifting, shot put, and short distance sprints.

Bouts of work lasting more than a few seconds will draw energy mainly from the glycolytic system. Once ATP and CP are depleted, the glycolytic system kicks in. This system takes carbohydrate stored in the muscle cell (glycogen) and breaks down the glycogen to replenish ATP. Sports that utilize the glycolytic system include mid-distance sprinting, basketball, volleyball, boxing, and football. These are all sports that involve prolonged periods of moderate activity mixed with short bouts of near maximal effort.

Marathon runners and other distance runners use the aerobic system. The aerobic system utilizes oxygen for energy. The blood transports oxygen, so this system has the largest influence on the heart. Any type of activity that is prolonged (more than a few minutes) and does not involve repeated bouts of near maximal effort would use the aerobic system as the primary source of energy. Keep in mind that all systems are being used, but the aerobic system becomes the predominant system.

The rate at which your heart is pumping can help indicate which energy system is dominant at any given period of time. This is where the maximum heart rate and target heart rates become useful. Traditionally, training “zones” have been determined based on percentage of the target heart rate. The common breakdown of these training zones is:

50% - 60% = low intensity
60% - 70% = fat-burning zone
70% - 80% = aerobic zone
80% - 90% = anaerobic zone
90% - 100% = maximal zone

The low intensity zone is ideal for burning calories without stressing your body. If you are recovering from a workout or an injury, on a reduced-calorie diet, or looking to burn additional calories with minimal impact on muscle gains, this a great zone to work out in. Brisk walking on an incline is an ideal way to reach this zone, and the main drawback is time. It takes the longest amount of time to burn a given number of calories when training in this zone.

The fat-burning zone is what I consider the land of myth. This is the most misunderstood zone in training. When you are at 60 to 70 percent of your target heart rate, the majority of your calories burned will come from fat, during that training session. Over 65% of your burned calories can come from fat. Due to this trivial fact, many people believe that this is the necessary zone to burn fat. This is not necessarily true. Any time you create a caloric deficit, or expend more calories than you consume, you will lose weight in the form of fat and/or muscle mass. While other systems may burn less percentage of fat, they can burn more calories and therefore result in greater fat loss!

As an example, let’s talk about the “aerobic zone.” In this zone, intensity increases, so less of your calories are burned from fat. However, due to the increased intensity, you burn more calories per minute. Does this mean that you should avoid the aerobic zone if fat loss is your goal? Let’s break this down.

It is estimated that 45% of calories in the “aerobic zone” are burned from fat. Let’s say you run 6mph to reach the “fat-burning zone” and you run 9mph to reach the “aerobic zone”.
In one hour, you will run either 6 miles or 9 miles. According to research, a 175-pound person burns on average about 34 calories per mile. So, in one hour, you might burn:

6 x 34 = 204 calories, or
9 x 34 = 306 calories

In the fat-burning zone, you burned 65% of your calories from fat. This is 204 x .65 = 133 calories from fat.

In the aerobic zone, you burned 45% of your calories from fat. This is 306 x .45 = 138 calories.

As you can see, getting comfortable and going into the “fat burning” zone actually burned fewer calories. You might say, “What’s the big deal? It was only 5 calories difference.” But when you take into account total calories, you burned over 100 more calories in the aerobic zone. Since total calories expended have the largest impact on the amount of fat you will lose, obviously the aerobic method will result in more fat loss (provided you also resistance train so that you are not losing muscle) than the “fat-burning” method.

The fat-burning zone and below used the aerobic system. In the aerobic zone, you are still using the aerobic system of energetics, but may see a shift towards the glycolytic system. Once you reach 80%, you are venturing into the glycolytic and ATP-CP zones (over 90% is going to be predominantly ATP-CP). So heart rate relative to your maximum heart rate can help understand where your fuel is coming from and even how many calories you will burn. What is interesting to note is that the longer you sustain an elevated heart rate (i.e. aerobic zone or higher), the longer it takes for your body to recover by slowing down. This means you continue to have a faster metabolism and to burn more calories even after your training is done!

I mentioned these “traditional” zones because I don’t like to follow tradition when it comes to monitoring heart rate. For one, I feel that perceived effort is just as valid an indicator. Why limit yourself based on a “zone” you must workout in, when you can simply push yourself to achieve your results! Another problem with the traditional method is that it does not take into account errors with the heart rate calculations - should I train in the same zone as someone whose resting heart rate is 75 beats per minute (my own resting heart rate is around 39 beats per minute)? I don’t think so - I think that the lower resting heart rate is an indicator of advanced fitness and means that I can train more intensely. What if your heart is maxing out at 170 beats per minute instead of 193? Should you still “push the limit” because the equation tells you to? I don’t think so.

Heart rate can still be a useful tool for training, but you must learn to use your body as the tool, not the equation. For example, if you want to understand what your anaerobic zone is, instead of plugging away at a formula, why not perform anaerobic work? I can guarantee that you will be using your ATP-CP system (a completely anaerobic system) when you perform a one-rep max. So instead of taking 90% of 220 minus your age, just strap on a heart rate monitor the next time you perform a maximum lift. Then, instead of relying on statistics, your body will tell you what your “anaerobic” zone is. This may not be traditional, but do you think your heart will lie?

Once you have this useful information, you can apply it to your training. If you are performing high intensity interval training, and would rather have your heart dictate the intervals than your perception, let your body be the guide. Start by walking on an incline for several minutes. This is your low intensity zone. Now go outside and perform an all-out sprint. This will be your high intensity zone. Now you simply build intervals between those two heart rates for your training. Again, no equation that has no clue what the size of your heart is or what your blood chemistry is like - let your body be the tool.

As a final note, heart rate can apply to resistance training as well. If you are looking to reduce body fat, calories are king. Should you rest 15 seconds? 1 minute? How about staying in the “aerobic” zone? Pick a target rate for your training. Your “75% effort” (somewhere between your sprinting and incline walking) could be the bottom line. Simply rest until your heart rate drops to that level, and then perform the next set. This will ensure your heart rate is always elevated to a minimal level while allowing sufficient recovery to move on. When you are training for strength or heavy lifts, how long should you rest? 3 minutes? 10 minutes? Again, why not let your body decide. Rest until you fall to the fat-burning zone or even less, then start the next set. For you, this may only take 2 minutes, while another person will recover after 10 minutes of rest. The key is that your body is telling you when sufficient recovery has taken place to perform the next set - not some rigid standard like “4 minutes” that doesn’t take into account your specific, individual recovery ability.

When you are training, don’t forget the most important muscle: your heart. Not only is it an indicator of health, it is a tool that can help to improve your health. Instead of relying on cookie-cutter formulas, you can use your heart as an interactive gauge to tailor your workouts to your own unique body. Learn that the heart matters and use the powerful information it provides to build your peak physique.

EzineArticles Expert Author Jeremy Likness

Jeremy Likness is an International Health Coach and motivational speaker. After losing 65 pounds of fat, he discovered his true vision to coach thousands around the world to better health. A Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Performance Nutrition, Jeremy is the author of the internationally-selling e-Book, Lose Fat, Not Faith and the companion 5-CD set. Jeremy has been published in major online publications including Tom Venuto’s Fitness Renaissance and Bodybuilding.com. Jeremy’s approach is unique because he focuses on fitness from the inside out. Visit Jeremy online at Natural Physiques.

Using Nutrition to Boost Your Cardio

Filed under: Fitness — admin at 10:11 am on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

So, you’re doing cardio religiously and you’re not getting any
results…What’s the deal?! Good news. You’re probably just making
some minor mistakes that need to be corrected. If you want to make
changes to your body, it’s probably pretty important for you to
understand how your body works. After all, I doubt you’re running on the
treadmill because your cable got shut off and the cardio-theater at your
gym is the only place you can watch “The OC.” I’m almost certain you
want to burn fat. So, let’s learn how that works.

We’re going to talk about using nutrition to maximize the benefits of your workout. What you
eat and when you eat it can make a world of difference. But first, we
need to talk about how your body works.

Even though you want to get
rid of the excess fat that’s stretching out your pants, your body is not in
such a hurry to do so. You almost have to trick your body into burning
that fat as energy. You need to have fat to survive, and to your body,
those love handles are money in the bank. Because of this, when you
don’t eat anything for an extended period of time (as little as 4 waking
hours), your body will go into what’s called “starvation mode.” In
starvation mode, your body will actually store more fat and break down
muscle tissue to use as fuel. This slows your metabolism and increases
your body fat. It’s basically a self defense mechanism. With no fuel
coming in, your body fears it may have to survive for some time without
food. Your body doesn’t know that you’re just stuck in traffic or that you
had to skip lunch because your boss was making you do his work. It just
thinks…Holy Mackerel, I’m gonna starve. So instead of using it’s
valuable fat stores, your body gets stingy and actually cannibalizes it’s
own muscle tissue to use as fuel.

So to keep your body from freaking
out and going into starvation mode, try to eat small meals throughout the
day. 5 to 6 small meals a day is ideal. When I say meals, that doesn’t
mean that you need to sit down and have 3 courses. A handful of
almonds or even a protein shake can count as one of those meals.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you eat a turkey sandwich right
before you hop on the treadmill, your body won’t burn fat then either.
When you eat carbohydrates, your body stores them in the form of
glycogen in your liver. As you expend energy, your body uses these
glycogen stores until they are gone. When performing any type of
aerobic activity, like walking, running, etc., your body can use glycogen
stores or fat stores for fuel. The problem is that your body will never use
the fat stores until the glycogen stores are gone.

So you’re saying that
if I don’t eat, my body will get scared and hold on to all my body fat, but if
I do eat, my body will just use that as fuel instead of burning fat? Yes….
And if this were the end of the article, you would probably be pretty mad.
Fortunately, there are ways to make this work.

Option 1: Right when you wake up, before you eat or drink anything
(except water), do 55 minutes of moderate impact cardio. Walking or an
elliptical machine is ideal. If you’re breathing too hard to carry on a
conversation normally, slow down. If you get light headed or weak from
this option, eat something with no carbs before you workout. For
example: egg whites, chicken breast, or a protein shake with no carbs.
Protein consumption will not affect your glycogen stores so your body
will still be willing to burn fat. With this option, it’s okay to eat breakfast
when you’re done.

Option 2: If you only have 20 minutes in the
morning, do intervals before you eat. Warm up for 5 minutes and then
run for one minute and walk for two. Each time you run, make it a little
more intense until you are running at full blast for one minute. After 20
minutes of these intervals, cool down walking for 5 minutes and then
don’t eat for an hour after you’re done. Your body will burn fat for that
entire hour.

Option 3: If you can only do your cardio in the middle or at
the end of the day, use either of the above formulas but try to workout
about 2-2 1/2 hours after you eat.

Option 4: Do your cardio right after
you do your weight training. I know you’ve heard to do it before…this is
wrong. Warming up for 5 minutes before you weight train is fine, but
always do your fat burning cardio sessions after your weights. For more
on this option read “Weights Before Cardio”: www.shapeyou.com/nutrition_cardio.html

Option 5: If your cardio
sessions are more intense like an advanced step class or a spin class,
you’re better off having something in your stomach. Try eating about 2
hours before the class and then don’t eat for an hour after the class.
Most often, during an intense cardio workout, your body is not willing to
burn fat as fuel. It doesn’t know that you’re going to stop in an hour. It
thinks this behavior could continue for some time so it can get stingy
with it’s energy stores. But it will burn plenty of fat in the hour after you’re
done.

Be specific when following these formulas. They work. Am I
saying that if you eat before your cardio that you’re wasting your time?
No, anytime you do cardio it’s great for your heart, you’re burning
calories and you can increase your metabolism. But why not get the
maximum benefits if you’re going to do the work anyway.

You may reprint or publish this article freely as long as you include a
visible, active link to ShapeYou.com along with the author’s bio.

Tony Hale is a certified personal trainer with 12 years of experience
servicing clients in the entertainment industry throughout the Hollywood
area. He is also the editor in chief for http://www.shapeyou.com
To Train with Tony online, visit http://www.shapeyou.com/trainers.html

Lose Weight And Skyrocket Your Metabolism With Regular Cardiovascular Exercise

Filed under: Fitness — admin at 8:36 am on Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Do you try to eat well, even diet, but aren’t seeing the results you were hoping for? Are you just trying to gain more energy? Do you ever feel like you’re not breathing enough?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above you should consider the proven, time-tested weight loss tool called cardiovascular exercise.

I know that it’s terribly hard to start walking or jogging when you have so much stress to deal with in your life. I’ve been through this myself numerous times, but I can always count on the fact that even walking around outside or parking far away from the store can truly increase my energy and metabolism.

For maximum results, balance your meals with a ratio based on 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fat; and do 10 minutes of walking, jogging or running on 3-5 days of the week.

We all have tons of work to do. At many times, we can’t follow the idealistic command of “get off your fat ass and just do it,” so I’m not telling you that. That would be pure hypocrisy, so the advice I give to you is to just take 10 minutes to do cardiovascular exercise next time you want to watch television or talk on the phone with a friend.

If you want to make this weekly exercise easier on yourself, you should take a moment to visit our weight loss forum, over at PhenForum.com. Start your own personal daily progress journal and post whenever your want. Expect nothing less than tons of support from our community of friends with the same goal; healthy weight loss!

EzineArticles Expert Author Ian Mason

Copyright (C) Shoppe.MD and Ian Mason, 2004-2005

Learn more about health, diet and exercise at our weight loss forum.

PhenForum.com is a popular discussion forum for weight loss programs, diet advice, and tips to help you burn fat.

All the best,

Ian Mason

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