Benefits of Having a Fitness Buddy

It's raining outside. Your shoes are still wet from your last walking session. You really should just go out and exercise, but there's something good on TV. Maybe later...

Sound familiar?

Now try this scenario: It's raining outside. Your shoes are wet and you don't really feel like going for a walk, but your cell phone is blinking with a message from your buddy that says she's already left the house and she'll meet you at the trail. You know you have to go, or she'll give you a hard time for ditching her. So, you grab your soggy shoes and head off for a power walking session. Afterwards, you feel good. You always feel good afterwards; it's the getting started part that's hard.

That's why it's so beneficial to have someone else to exercise with on a regular basis. There's no type of fitness regimen that can't benefit from having a fitness buddy. If it's weightlifting, your buddy can spot you. If it's running or biking, they can push you to go faster than you would if you were alone. If it's climbing, she can catch you when you slip and start careening down the mountain (maybe climbing isn't the safest fitness activity).

Whatever your choice of fitness outlets, a workout buddy can not only push you harder than you would yourself, but they can actually get you out the door. Never underestimate the power of social obligations. Those of us who wouldn't think twice about breaking a date with ourselves cringe at the idea of breaking a date with a friend. Especially if we have friends who are experts at giving the guilt-trip.

OK, so you're sold on the idea of a fitness buddy. But wanting one can be easier than finding one. Your regular friends might not be into fitness, or they're the kind of people who start something with good intentions and gradually slack off. It's important to find someone who is as dedicated to fitness (or more dedicated) than you are. But where to look? Here are some ideas:

-Ask a friend, or see if a friend of a friend is looking for somebody. -If you belong to a gym or health club, see if there is a bulletin board out front where you can post requests. -Join an exercise class or take some sports lessons; you might find an interested person or two. -Check fitness web sites, especially related to your interests; there may be a message board where you can look for activity partners.

Whatever route you choose, don't be afraid to initiate proceedings by starting up conversations with people or starting new threads on message boards. You might be surprised at how many people are also looking for regular workout buddies.

Once you find a fitness buddy, don't let him or her down. If you both show motivation and keep to a regular schedule, you'll both reap the benefits.


Can Caffeine Be Lethal?

A lethal dose of caffeine for a healthy, adult male is about 10 grams. That’s about 70, eight-ounce cups of the strongest coffee you’re ever likely to drink. There has never been a reported case of a fatality from drinking too much coffee. The reasons why this is so are twofold.

First, coffee is very quickly metabolized and excreted, and therefore, it’s almost impossible to accumulate a lethal dose in our systems. Secondly, drinking that much coffee is likely to cause extreme vomiting, and this, again, will reduce caffeine accumulations. But all of this is not to say that people have not been killed by caffeine overdose. It’s caused cardiac arrest and respiratory failure.

One of the first such cases reported in recent history was in 1959 when a 35-year-old woman was accidentally administered 3.2 grams of caffeine in a solution intravenously.
The patient began convulsing, stopped breathing and died. Still another hospital patient was given 0.4 grams of caffeine in the same solution and experienced convulsions.
Fortunately for this patient, the error was discovered in time, the caffeine solution was immediately halted, and the patient recovered. And there are other records of caffeine
overdose. A five-year-old girl ate handfuls of Tri-Aqua tablets one Sunday evening, apparently thinking they were candy. Tri-Aqua is a diuretic and contains about 99 mg of
caffeine per tablet. Within an hour, the little girl complained to her mother of “cold chills” and stomach cramps. Her condition steadily worsened and, within four hours, she
was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. Her caffeine intake had exceeded five grams. She had consumed 54 tablets.

A 45-year-old woman was given 50 grams of caffeine instead of 50 grams of glucose during a routine test. A few minutes later she began to vomit. She died about two hours
later. Her caffeine intake had been enough to kill five healthy men.

But, not all of the caffeine deaths have been accidental. Caffeine also provides the mentally disturbed with a method to commit suicide. One case involved a 27-year-old
woman who was found dead in bed with a suicide note. Her death was ascribed to an overdose of caffeine. The vehicle was apparently an over-the-counter drug.


7 Incredible Lifesaving Tips to Manage Your Anger

Experiencing anger is extremely dangerous to your health. It causes your adrenaline and blood pressure to rise up at above
normal levels. Moreover, you could end up hurting someone or doing something that you will regret later on.

Here are 7 fantastic tips to help you be the one in control of yourself, and not the hazardous madman called "Anger."

1) Relax and visualize.
Calm yourself down. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, imagine all those bottled-up fury come out of your nose and mouth.
Release it and be free. Repeat this step over and over until you feel peace inside.

Then visualize being in a place where you feel most happy, calm, and relaxed. It may be a place like a beach, garden, scenic
locations, or anywhere else you might think of. Just imagine being there and inhaling the essence of your serene environment.
By doing this, you will not find it hard to attain inner peace.

2) Pour out your anger to safe outlets.
You had a big quarrel with your former friend. He betrayed your trust. You want vengeance and you're raving mad.

Hold it. Restrain yourself.

Try your best to get away from him as far as you can. You don't want to hurt anyone. Anger can possess your brain into doing
something that you wouldn't dare do before.

How do you then release your anger if you can't restrict it anymore?

Buy a punching bag, then pour out all your rage in it. Punch it, kick it, strangle it. Imagine the punching bag is your enemy.
When you're done, you will feel a sense of satisfaction. You may even punch and kick through thin air if you desire.

Another way to release it is "SHOUT!" Find a distant place where you can be alone - a place where no one can hear you. At the top
of your voice, yell out loud "Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh." You can choose any word you like as long as you release all those
angry demons out of your chest.

3) Forgive and forget.
Nothing could ease your mental and emotional pains better than by forgiving someone that has hurt you in the past. It is very
unhealthy to burden yourself with unnecessary torture brought about by unpleasant memories of other people's demeaning acts.

Moreover, if they have taken something important away from you, would it make sense to also sacrifice your health and lifestyle?
Of course not.

4) Exercise.
Engaging in exercises increases your endorphins. Your angry mood could miraculously change to a happy one if you get involved
in exercises that you enjoy doing.

5) Have a circle of "sponge" friends.

Do you feel relieved when you voice out all your problems to close friends and relatives? That's the power of voicing out your inner
feelings.

Always have someone to talk to when you're down, when you're depressed, when you're mad, or in any other occasion when you feel
you have to get the thorns out of your chest.

6) Listen to soothing music.
It calms your soul. A 20 minute session of listening to relaxing music while resting comfortably could soothe the upset spirit.
Take deep breaths often.

7) Pray.
Deadly consequences arise when people could not hold back their fury. Ask for guidance that you will be able to control your temper.
Prayers bring inner peace to those who ask for it.

There you have it - 7 essential rules to release yourself from thetreacherous killer known as "Anger." Manage your anger, save your
life.


Jeans That Fit: How to Find Them

We all own jeans and they truly are the main ingredient of any casual wardrobe. However, they are not all equal or equally flattering. We are not all born with the same shape, so, the style we wear will impact the way we look. Have you ever seen an outfit on one of your friends that looked spectacular but when someone else wore that same outfit it lost its pizzazz? That has to do with the body shapes of the two people and sometimes the color of the garment. Both women could be the same height and weight but have a totally different shape. The same holds true for jeans. Here are a few hints when trying to find jeans that will fit and look great on YOU.

Small flat behind:

If you have a small flat behind and your jeans tend to make you look smaller, choose a design with detailed pockets that are high and slightly smaller than those found on most styles. Pockets will drawn attention to the eye and will create the illusion of width and lift.

To add curves Wear low-rise jeans in a cotton-Lycra blend. The clingy fabric hugs the body and a contoured waistband will help create curves. Choose a pair that has been lightened at the thighs and knees to make legs look more shapely. Avoid standard boot cut jeans that have little shape.

To flatten a tummy:

Try a medium to high-rise (no higher than the belly button) in a dark color.

For the appearance of smaller thighs:

Stick to dark colors for sure and wear flared styles that will draw the eye downward and create balance. Don’t wear them too tight or too loose.

For the appearance if slim hips:

Do look for jeans without front pockets or jeans with slit pockets and stay away from front patch pockets. Buy dark colors with stitching that is the same color (or very close) as the fabric. Avoid light stitching and designs.

To prevent a gap at the waist:

If your hips are much larger than your waist then you will probably have this problem. What to do? Wear stretch denim jeans and stay away from crisp or heavy fabrics such as cotton.

To make your legs appear longer:

Wear a high-heeled shoe and flared jeans that will completely cover them.