Archive for the 'Being Fit' Category

Working out & the Russian Kettlebell

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

In spite of the assumptions we’ve heard recently, the idea of the kettlebell isn’t a fresh idea. To tell you the truth, they’ve been around since the first decades of the eighteenth century. Over recent years, of course, kettlebells have risen in recognition to develop into one of the trendiest fitness routines internationally. So why not try them out?

The more straightforward moves are doable by all, even if they didn’t have a prior fitness regime, and there’s no need to pay a great deal for the required apparatus. Naturally, the trickier moves aren’t quite as straightforward. So, always walk before you run, as your granny might have said. The first and most essential precaution before starting to train with Russian kettlebells is to make sure you get yourself the correct weight. What’s more, employing kettlebell exercises, it doesn’t take much. Dividing according to gender, the 18lb variety is typically sufficient for beginning women, and males just starting out are likely to get optimal results using a 35 pounder. This stems from the fact that the benefits of a kettlebell workout are linked far more closely to the motions practised than the actual weights employed. An educational aid — such as a brochure or video — is a helpful buy as you start out, checking that you have the actions involved the way they’re meant to be.

The double-handed swing is the first technique to learn on first taking up the kettleball. As the basis of more advanced routines, the two-handed swing should be dealt with early on — and there’s more to it than you think. Everything should ideally sweep fluently, without abrupt stops or jerks. A handy health & safety recommendation merits reiterating here: your shoulders won’t take repeated uses to lift the kettlebells. Instead, use your hips.

If you feel you’ve perfected the two-handed swing, you’re ready to look further on; you’ll have learned enough to try more difficult exercises. To make sure the kettlebell can retain your commitment, variation is useful — you could perhaps vary your backing music, rotate techniques in and out of your daily regime, et cetera. While you become more comfortable carrying out these exercises, look at introducing an additional set of Russian kettlebells into the regime and even different weights. In this way, you can keep your muscles exerting as effectively as possible and avoid reaching a plateau. Don’t think that a well defined body and larger muscles are a realistic option if all you’re using is Russian kettlebells. Rather, call upon them for weight reduction and to advance and maintain all round fitness and health. We recommend folding a kettlebell routine into your broader keep fit course. Don’t forget that it’s entirely your decision how frequently you practise the exercises. Simply going for a couple of exercise sessions every week it’s a nobrainer to support your general fitness levels. And if you pick up the pace to six or so you can burn off excess fat rapidly!

Exercise and the Russian Kettlebell

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Kettlebells can’t be called new. Conjectures backed by experts on the subject locate the weight as having originated in the early 1700s. With that said, is anyone surprised to hear that the kettlebell has become listed among the hottest fitness routines anywhere in the world? So let’s examine how that happened. The Russian kettlebell has experienced an incredible increase in reputation.

All you need are the kettlebells themselves and you can get started with these basic exercise routines. Clearly, the more complex techniques call for more experience before attempting them. As always, it is walk before you run, as the old saying will have it.

Above all, with kettlebells as with all weight training, you should make sure that you get yourself the best weight for you. Thankfully, employing kettlebell exercises, the weights used are surprisingly light. Ladies will probably get the most out of an 18lb kettlebell, although men are recommended to go for the 35lb size. The weights are remarkably light — as in this workout, the really important part’s the movement and not from the amount of weight that is being used. An educational aid (like a brochure or DVD) is a smart buy when starting out, ensuring that you’ve got the techniques the way they’re meant to be.

The initial routine to learn with the kettlebell must be the two-handed swing. As the origin point of the majority of techniques, the two-handed swing must be mastered early on — and there’s more to it than you’d expect. The weight should glide freely, without sudden jerks. Lift the kettlebells using your hips, and not with your spine, to be sure of your physical comfort during your exercises. If you’re sure you’ve perfected the two-handed swing, you’re ready to progress farther; you’ll have all you need to try more difficult movements. Add sets into your preferred day’s exercises, and shake it all up by accompanying it with an assortment of music to ensure things remain enjoyable. Later, as your experience level improves, you could vary the weights and even, perhaps, bring in another pair. Following these tips, you can keep your muscles performing at maximum effectiveness and not run the risk of reaching a plateau.

A message we really must state clearly while we are at it is that Russian kettlebells aren’t designed to help you build your muscles or aid in bodybuilding. What these exercises are designed to do is stimulate weight loss, tone up, and improve overall health.

One last tip, integrate a Russian kettlebell session into a pre-existing fitness course. Naturally, the amount you use them is a matter of individual choice. Start with once or twice over the course of the week for standard fat burning, or push it up and factor in these sessions once a day. You will slim down faster than you’d expect!

Coffee Fruit

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Coffee Fruit is rich with phenolic acids and healthful plant nutrients. These phenolic acids are brilliant anti oxidants. Kona Coffee Fruit begins it?s wholesome goodness along the inclines of high altitude mountain side with rich organic soil. Nourished by mineral-rich soil and warmed by intense tropical sunlight, coffee plants produce a profusion of wonderful bright red fruit, known as Coffee Fruit.
Kona Fruitis so exceptionally rich in anti-oxidants because it grows in high altitude, low-latitude regions where the sun?s rays are strongest. As the plants mature, they develop these powerful antioxidants to protect them from damage caused by high doses of the sun?s radiation and the natural byproducts of photosynthesis.
You might be asking what the difference is between a Coffee Berry and a Kona Coffee Bean. Kona berries are the outer layer of the coffee fruit and are a rich source of anti oxidants. Research reports that 400 mg of concentrate has a radical scavenging activity equal to 9.6 grams of fresh blueberries, 6.2 grams of strawberries, or 4.9 grams of raspberries.
This potent anti-radical power has not been commercially available previously because the fruit rapidly perishes, which is why only the bitter seed has been commercially exploited.
“We have discovered a means of growing, harvesting and processing the whole coffee fruit so that we arrest the development of mycotoxins and thereby render the coffee fruit for human consumption.
Because no one until now has figured out how to do this in a cost effective manner, whole coffee fruit has simply not been available.”
Coffee Berry contains five of eight rare and essential sugars called monosaccharides, with research indicating that these are essential for the proper functioning of various biological systems.
Almost half of the dry weight of the concentrate is made up of polysaccharides, such as mannans and arabinoglactan. Conventional roasting destroys these nutrients, so they are not found in traditional brewed coffee.

Kona Coffee Berry is now available in a new energy drink called XOWii Energy.

Nigeria’s Top Family Country Club Hosts Squash Tourney

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

The Lagos Country Club in Ikeja, Nigeria was filled with some of the country’s top squash players recently after Cargolux Merchant Express hosted the fifth annual squash tournament. The squash balls will keep on rolling next year as the company stated that it will continue sponsoring the event after the successful turnout this year.

In the professional group competitions, second-seeded player Sodiq Taiwo of Apapa Club outlasted Lagos Country Club’s bet Tunde Ajegbe. Emerging as the third place winners are semifinalists Shola Thomas and Moses Durosinmi. The veteran event was just as exciting with Ikoyi Club’s Mick Nwabuzor defeating Apapa Club’s Ed Akerele. Sharing the third place plums were Austin Madugu and Seyi Sofunde.

Lagos Country Club Chairman Michael Adekoya revealed during the closing ceremony that the impressive turnout of players and fans this year had been impressive that it is but logical to stage another one next year and the years to come. He stressed that squash encourages people to engage into sports and to also meet new friends with the same passion for the sport.

Nigeria is gearing itself as a squash powerhouse with prince squash rackets. Adekoya said that The Nigeria Squash Professionals Association has been created to make this goal a reality.

Shina Akinfenwa, Cargolux Express Merchants Cargo Airline Managing Director, the company will continue being part with the continuing expansion of the sport in the country. He said that the company is also passionate when it comes to the game because it builds relationships. He added that the company will continue sponsoring the event in the years to come.

Akinfenwa also said that it is part of his company’s corporate responsibility to be an active participant in this prestigious squash tournament.