Most men have a high sex drive that usually comes on full force as young men. These desires start due to an increase in testosterone in the early teen years and run wildly like the bulls in Spain through the 30’s.

The problem is that no one ever talks about why the desire to have sex declines with aging or what you can do to fix it. The natural ego in a man makes this conversation a very tough one to have.  A lot of men correlate the lack of sexual desire with working and the added stress that comes along with it, this does play its part.

However, if you will recall when you were a young man, your average day could have been filled with a class starting at 8am, studying after school followed by 4-5 hrs of work, and capped off with a party and possible alcohol consumption till 2am.

You would still have the desire to chase a young lady, hoping to engage in some sexual fun. As opposed to now where you come home from a long day, maybe play with the kids or walk the dog, eat dinner, watch some TV, and possibly roll over and give your wife 4-6 minutes she probably wishes she could have back.

What happened and how do you fix it? Women have menopause. Is there a male equivalent and does it affect your sex drive?

The Male Pause

Andropause or male-menopause is a recognized problem that men also experience hormonal changes and a decrease in testosterone production. Finding ways to maintain a higher testosterone level will most likely result in a healthier sex drive.

Men in their 20’s and 30’s need not be alarmed. This change is something that typically happens to middle aged men. If you are struggling with sexual desire, do not be too shy to consult your doctor about your decrease in desire. I guarantee you will not be the first man to have this conversation with your physician.

Many medical experts believe that having a strong sexual appetite well into your 70′s is achievable, if you’re doing the right things.

Symptoms

• Decreased sex drive
• Lack of energy
• Weight gain
• Loss of muscle
• Hair loss
• Excessive sweating
• Irritability

Mental State of Mind

Psychological factors play a part in men of all ages. Of the two major reasons for decreased sexual desire, I believe the psychological situation is easier to fix than the physical.

In the crazy, over competitive world we live in today stress does play a part in one’s desire to have intercourse. This is something that can be fixed by just spending a little “you” time – not referring in any way to masturbation.

Take a day to just clear your mind and do some things you’ve wanted to do and put aside the things you feel you have to do. Try to alleviate stress by realizing that things are going to happen and do your best to try and make the outcome favorable to your situation.

Depression is another big one that plays a part in decreased sexual desire – also the medication you may be taking can hinder your seeking of the flesh. Realize that you may be suffering from depression and take the proper steps to regain a happy mindset and lifestyle, I know it is not easy.

I know from first hand experience after going through my first big heartbreak – a 4 ½ year relationship ended while we were engaged to be married – I suffered a tremendous decrease in my sexual desires. The recovery process took about 6-8 months before I regained my lust for women.

How to Erect the Situation

What you eat can play a larger part than most people would think. Obviously eating poorly such as fast foods and less fruits and vegetables can contribute to a very lethargic state.

It’s not only about what not to eat that can play a part, but also the right things to be eating. Acquiring a diet high in natural aphrodisiacs could increase your libido to levels it has never reached before.

For example foods like oysters, almonds, avocados, bananas, and many other foods are proven to increase your testosterone levels and could have you back in the saddle in no time.  If you’re really hard up for more frequent hard-ons you may actually want to have a smorgasbord of all these foods.

Get Your Blood Pumping

Another thing that happens as we get older, and this goes for men in their mid to late 20’s, is our amount of daily activity goes down. After years of being involved with sports or various physical activities and sharing the same schedule with friends (making it easier to go to the gym on regular basis) some of us get jobs and become more sedentary.

Exercising has numerous amounts of positive effects from helping the body look good, which in return helps the body feel well. Also studies show that 45-60 minutes of exercise can increase testosterone levels.  Note that more than that can lead to a decrease in testosterone levels.

Alternative Options

If eating right, straightening out your psychological state, and exercising don’t work for you then you always have the option of consulting your doctor.  Depending on your health they could get you on a supplement that could naturally boost your testosterone levels.

Before you rely on one of the many popular male enhancement creams or pills, you should ask about what you may be able to change in your daily routine that could return your sex drive closer to normal for your age.

It is hard for men to realize that they may not have the desires they once had when they were a young man. A large part of the American male culture is bragging about their sexual conquests with women in their various circles or locker rooms.

It is important to take in all the determining factors and find out which one may be the reason for the decrease in sex drive. Once you get your body and mind back on track things will start to point in the right direction more often!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Four Great Sex Workouts
• Sexy Sizzling Summer Beach Body
• Increasing Sex Drive With Food:P90 Sex

Photo by Clix

Welcome back for the 19th episode of the GenXXL Health Podcast!    Join Tony Tucker and Shahara for the next 20 minutes as they discuss:

• The Cotton Ball Diet – 1:15
• Diet Deceptions – 4:00
• “The Expendables” Workout Habits – 13:35

Enjoy the podcast and tune in next week for another great episode!

Additional Reading on GenXXL

• Diet Deception: The Health Food That Isn’t
• Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks: Workout Routines for “The Expendables”

The Podcast

Is it healthy or not? Heather's takes the mystery out of healthy foods.

Foods that claim to be healthier than their conventional counterparts are showing up everywhere, but are they really any better for you?  In most cases, no.  In some instances, they’re downright detrimental to your health.  Those are the ones I want to focus on today, the junk masquerading as health food.

I could have called this piece, “Things That Piss Me Off,” because there is so much misinformation out there regarding health and wellness.  Let’s look at the top three offenders on my wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing list.  These choices aren’t going to aid your weight loss or get you healthier, so beware!

Smoothie Love (Handles)

If you read my articles even once in a blue moon, you know that I love smoothies as the cornerstone of a diet high in fruits and vegetables. In fact, I credit green smoothies with my own 90-lb. weight loss over a period of nine months in 2008.

However, there are healthy smoothies, then there are glorified milkshakes. Case in point: McDonald’s new fruit smoothies.  Their tagline is “we’re changing the way you look at fruit.” Yeah, apparently they want me to look at fruit as the reason my hips are expanding and I can no longer button my jeans!

The Golden Arches would have you believe that you’re getting healthy food when you choose a smoothie over a burger, but their large strawberry-banana comes in at 330 calories, more than a cheeseburger.

Now, I realize that not all calories are created equal, so let’s take a look at the ingredients: strawberry puree, banana puree, water, sugar, concentrated apple juice, cellulose powder, natural (botanical source) and artificial flavors, xanthan gum, citric acid, colored with fruit and vegetable juice, pectin, ascorbic acid (preservative).

So let me get this straight. We need white sugar, juice from concentrate, plant fiber powder, artificial flavors, two thickeners, and manufactured vitamin C to preserve our “healthy food.”  Wow.

To add insult to injury, there are seventy grams of sugar in this smoothie.  That’s nearly six tablespoons of sugar in one smoothie.  If the sugar content isn’t enough to give you pre-diabetic convulsions, consider that there are a mere three grams of protein in our smoothie.

Your blood sugar will skyrocket, and you’ll crash an hour or so later.  You’ll be groggy and believe that “health food” makes you feel worse than the junk you usually wolf down.  This diet deception is worse than the others, because it maligns true healthy eating.  Lest you think McDonald’s is the only culprit, smoothie chains are no improvement!

Cancer in a Veggie Patty

Cancer in a patty?

The soy-as-health-food-myth really gets my goat.  I was a vegetarian for 13 years and happily wolfed down soy-based products for most of them in the name of getting sufficient protein.

People who eat soy regularly have higher rates of esophageal, pancreatic, liver, and stomach cancers than the general population.  This is the same set of cancers that lab rats develop when fed heavy amounts of soy.  Coincidence?  I think not.

The soy thing wouldn’t make me so angry if it weren’t for the fact that soy is in EVERYTHING!  Pick up just about any packaged food and you’ll see soy lecithin (used as an emulsifier) or soy flour. Monsanto and Dow Chemical are no idiots; these products make them a ton of money.  Too bad it’s at the expense of our health and safety.

Add to the list that soy is a top-eight food allergy, and you should quickly see the folly of adding it to so much of the food supply. The good news about soy being such a widespread food allergy is that its inclusion in a product must be listed on food labels by law.

It is my recommendation to skip soy products in almost all forms. Tamari, nama shoyu, and soy sauce are ok in moderation and so long as they are naturally fermented.  Also be aware that upwards of 98% of soy in the United States is genetically modified, so be sure to buy organic.

Some people choose to eat naturally fermented tofu.  Again, I don’t mind that in very limited amounts.  However, it’s difficult to find fermented tofu. You’ll generally find this in Asian markets labeled as “stinky tofu” or “pickled tofu.”  Stinky tofu is a perfect name, as the stuff stinks to high heaven–really.

If you’re a vegan and think that soy protein is the only ethical way to go, au contraire. Check out the your soy-free vegan options to up your protein quotient and stay soy-free.

Is It Really a Healthy Choice?

I have to confess, I love the convenience of frozen meals.  That’s not to say that we eat them in our household, but I love the idea at least.  What I’m not so fond of is the ridiculous amount of sodium, white flour, and tiny servings of vegetables in these meals.

Of course they’re low-calorie.  So low, in fact, that you’ll probably be famished about an hour after you finish this “meal.”  Many of them are high in protein, which is great.  However, they’re so low in fat and fiber that they won’t keep you full for any length of time.

The statistics are misleading, as many of the meals contain potatoes which are counted as a vegetable instead of as a starch (but this is within federal guidelines, of course *eye roll*).

The sodium in these meals has come down significantly, but many still contain more than 25% of the maximum recommended RDA.  Bearing in mind that the upper limit is the point at which people start to demonstrate salt-related disease, 25% is still quite high.

Some of the “healthier entree” frozen food companies have removed preservatives from their meals, but not all, and not across the brand’s offerings. Rather, a small selection is available for those of us who eschew chemicals parading as food products.

Enter the much-debated “yeast extract.” Just know that it’s code for “MSG,” but food companies can get away with calling it yeast extract because technically, that’s what it is.

Frozen entrees often taste like cardboard, so I can’t blame companies for trying to up the taste factor in their offerings.  Too bad they choose to use a product that’s one of the most potent neurotoxins known to man to do it.

So there you have it, my top three offenders in the “health food movement.”  More deception is being perpetrated each day, so be on the lookout for more lies from the food industry!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Flavor Without Fat or Fad
• A New Look At Smoothies
• Soy Free Vegan Protein Blends

Photo from: Tom Terwilliger

No more “moderation” in weight loss—aiming to lose one pound per week. No more giving yourself a long-term goal of 50 pounds in a year. A new study from Stockholm’s International Congress on Obesity says that those who lose three pounds per week are more apt to stick with weight loss and reach their goals.

I love Sweden. They have great meatballs. They gave us Ikea, for heaven’s sake. My daughters look adorable in those Hanna Andersson dresses. Really, what’s not to love?

Now, those same practical, forward-thinking Swedes are telling us to  take the weight loss bull by the horns. To just buck up and get ‘er done. Is it really possible to lose weight quickly, naturally, and safely and keep it off?

The Study’s Findings

Photo from: In Motion

First, the study started with participants who weighed around 220 pounds (100 kilos). The researchers placed participants into a group losing 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kilos) or 1.1 lbs (0.5 kilos) per week. The first group’s goal was to lose the weight in 12 weeks, and the second in 36 weeks.

It found that 78% of the participants in the 3.3 lb. group met the goal of losing 15% of their body weight during the study’s time frame. Only 48% of the longer-term group met the goal.

Katrina Purcell, the study’s presenter, mentioned that the reason for the disparity is quite clear. It’s harder to maintain motivation when the losses are so slow in coming. Given that we’re a quick fix sort of people, this makes perfect sense.

So should we all run out and start trying to create a 1,500 calorie per day deficit (the average needed to lose 3 lbs. per week)? Well, perhaps. There’s one significant caveat to the study, and that’s the long term maintenance of rapid weight loss.

Since the study is new, the long-term effects haven’t been identified. However, Purcell is following the groups and hopes to publish the results in three years.

Going Dutch

Since this study hasn’t yet proved that more rapid weight loss is better maintained in the long run, we turn to the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment.

In a study that was presented at the same conference, they examined the link between the amount of weight loss on a weight loss program and the maintenance of said loss afterward.

The study found that 54% percent of people who lost weight were able to maintain it, no matter how much weight initially came off. It also found that the net weight loss was higher for those who lost more initially after a period of one year.

Breaking Down the Findings

Photo from: The Age

So what does all this mean for you?  First, it means that there’s no reason to adhere to the 0.5-1.0 lb. per week goal if you can safely lose weight more quickly.

The simple fact is that change is required to maintain weight loss. You know the saying, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten?” Spend time losing weight, even rapidly, and return to your old habits and the pounds will pile back on. Enter the yo-yo.

The truth of the matter is that you can lose weight any way you’d like. If you want to do the Master Cleanse or Atkins, or even the cupcake and broccoli diet, you’ll lose so long as you have the motivation.

But maintaining weight loss, especially significant weight loss, is determined by eating reasonable portions of nutritious food and moving your body. Wow, there’s a radical thought.

Say what you will about decreasing fat and sugar content of food and aggressive marketing by junk pushers, uh, “fast food restaurants.”  You can choose to walk away.  A one-man or one -woman protest against the system is all you need to get away from being overweight and the debilitating health conditions that come with it.

My Story

Post-pregnancy Heather

I am currently expecting my fourth child (my laptop barely rests on what’s left of my lap at present). After my third was born, I was obese. Not in the cute-fat sort of way, but in the pre-diabetic, doctor-on-my-ass, fasting blood sugar at 94 kind of way. Fat.

Not one to accept that my life was going to follow the same path of most in my Midwestern, corn-as-a-vegetable family, I made a choice. I chose to shed the pounds I’d carried since childhood, reinvent myself as a slimmer person, and be happy about it.

I tossed everything with junk. I bought a grain mill, a Blendtec, started jogging, and went to town. While it was a financial burden (hubs is a public school teacher), we made it work. Why? Because it mattered.

All those excuses about not having the money or the time flew out the window when I realized that this was a matter of my health, and my health was worth the time and the money. My family was worth the expense and the change. We broke the pattern, after all.

Having been exactly  at 220 lbs. myself (at 5’2″) and losing 88 pounds over nine months, I lost weight more slowly than the study participants. I confess to having stalled because of boredom and overuse injuries after month five, but got back on track after a 6-week maintenance (and sanity) break.

After-working-her-ass-off Heather

That means that I lost an average of 2.6 lbs. per week when I was working at it.  I managed to keep 80 lbs. of it off until I became pregnant again early this year.  This takes some serious work, because a 1,300 calorie per day deficit is no joke. I averaged about 15 hours per week in the gym between cardio, strength, and Pilates and yoga.

It wasn’t always fun. I hurt. I cried. I made some dishes that emphatically were NOT tasty. But in nine months I went from someone who got pitying looks for her weight to someone whose advice others sought for diet and fitness. Heck, you’re reading this now because of that transformation.

I engaged in calorie cycling to “trick” my metabolism into staying high throughout the process, eating an average of 1,700 calories per day (remember that I was nursing).  Even though the work was hard, it was a relatively short amount of time required to drop from a size 20 to a size 6 and was well worth it.

Passion is the most important component of a weight loss program, and passion is the fuel that keeps weight off after the initial loss. I can’t say what the Swiss study will tell when it reemerges in three years, but I know what my own life will show: a passion for health keeps the metabolic fires burning. Don’t let them go out.

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• A New Look At Smoothies
• Warm Weather Exercise Tips
• Orthorexia: Misplaced Fixation

Photo by Clix

Welcome back for the 17th episode of the GenXXL Health Podcast!  Summer heat can slow you down but Tony Tucker is here to pick you up with tips for maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  Join Tony for the next 19 minutes as he discusses:

• Eating and lifestyle tips for blood type-AB – 1:50
• How to build up your back – 8:10
• Eating tips for healthier skin – 13:20

Enjoy the podcast and tune in next week for another great episode!

Additional Reading on GenXXL

• Eating for Your Blood Type: Type AB
• Define Your Deltoids
• Eat Your Way to Healthier Skin

The Podcast

Photo from: Reader's Digest

To start this article off I feel it is relevant to borrow a phrase from the MTV generation’s Salt-n-Pepa, “Let’s talk about sex”.  More importantly, let’s talk about how to increase your or your partner’s sex drive by the consumption of various foods.

I could use the word libido as opposed to sex drive, but libido sounds like a word my grandparents would use.  I think it’s safe to say that none of us want to think about our grandparents when discussing sex.

I often hear the complaint from men talking that after being with a woman for a while she loses her appetite for sex. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the man has stopped being romantic, put on weight, and in some cases acts like because he has a woman he is entitled to a certain amount of penetration.

I also believe there is a unspoken percentage of men who lack the sexual desire necessary to please their woman; they just don’t say anything because a lot men have a locker room mentality and pretend like they could sexually satisfy multiple women at the same time.

Whatever your reason for looking to increase your sexual activity is no business of mine, but if my research on this topic can aid you in any way it is my pleasure, or more accurately, your pleasure.

Eazy-E “Give Me That Nut”

Photo from: Ellen Barrett

I know that I have just made my second reference to 90’s rap music. Men, you can’t deny that back in the day certain rap videos were also great for arousal…I’m getting off topic.

The smell of almonds is said to arouse passion in females.  Almonds are a great source of essential fatty acids and also give you healthy hormones which is important if you’re going to have a strong desire to stroke.

I would suggest to any man who has been on a few dates with the same woman and may be looking for an edge to close the deal the bedroom, if you want to get that nut, maybe go on a healthy binge of almonds the days prior to the big date.

Wetter Than The Sea

Photo from: Science Blogs

When I was younger I heard people reference how certain kinds of seafood would supposedly make those who ate them hornier.  After I got to an appropriate age I found out that oysters are linked to increasing baby making activities.

Oysters contain plenty of zinc. Zinc is vital for producing testosterone and is also beneficial to sperm.

The added bonus is that oysters cause the body to produce dopamine,  a hormone that results in additional sex drive in bodies of both men and women.

Any men out there looking to partake in some long overdue love making, take her out for a seafood dinner and order a platter of wet and slimy oysters to help seal the deal.

The Darker The Better

Photo from: Dirt Rag Mag

Men you know when you get into a fight with your woman and have to say you’re sorry, remember this: Flowers say “I’m sorry”, chocolate says “I love you”.

Well according to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, chocolate not only displays how you feel, but also may help you get laid.  A study in 2006 showed that women who ate chocolate on a daily basis were more prone to sexual activity than those who didn’t.

Dark chocolate contains two important ingredients that will help you get back into her heart and possibly her pants.  Dark chocolate contains serotonin, a mood booster.  Also phenylethylamine which mimics the brain chemistry of a person in love.

So the next time you’re in the dog house, be sure to bring a box of dark chocolate and give her a foot message.  If all goes well maybe there will be a few extra pieces left over that you can melt down and get freaky with.

Is That a Banana in Your Pocket?

Photo from: Cardiovegsular

A banana can be used to arouse men in more than the way most men are thinking of right now, watching a woman slowly eat one.

Eating a banana will help too, as it contains the bromelain enzyme. This is thought to increase sex drive and in some cases cure the most feared word in the history of men–impotence.

I watched a documentary one time on monkeys and they said that monkeys had one of the highest sex drives of any animal.  Now I get it, men start getting some potassium, case closed.

Testicle Tree

The Aztecs called the avocado tree “ahuacatl”,  or translated in to English, the “testicle tree”.  Avocados naturally increase male hormone production due to the large amount of vitamin B6.

They also have potassium.  It’s effective for both men and women to regulate the thyroid gland, which ultimately increases sex drive.

Avocados also provide you with better, healthier looking skin.  For you single people out there, this fruit now has two ways to help you get laid.

Spice Up The Bedroom

Photo from: Thank God I'm Natural

I’m not suggesting you take any of these following items in the bedroom, although if your love making is really boring it couldn’t hurt.

Women’s Health has suggested some aphrodisiacs (a substance that increases sexual desire. The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sensuality and love. Throughout history, many foods, drinks, and behaviors have had a reputation for making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable) that could help you feel frisky from the inside out.

Ginger-a stimulant that may increase blood flow to the genitals

Honey–contains simple carbohydrates that provide instant energy and fuel for the working muscles.

Nutmeg & Clove–help your nervous system relax (nutmeg more than cloves).  Not too much nutmeg though, it could have hallucinogenic properties.

Celery–releases a pheromone that triggers female attraction.

Flax seeds–helps increase testosterone, a very important hormone in boosting the need for bumping uglies.

These are all great ways to try and increase your sex drive, before automatically relying on that little blue pill.  We’ve all heard the side effects: blurred vision, headache, facial flushing, upset stomach, erection lasting longer than 4 hours. No thanks.  Banana anyone?

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Four Great Sex Workouts
• Sexy Sizzling Summer Beach Body
• Optimum Sex Length: 3 to 13 Minutes?

Photo from: Conspiracy Planet

For men and women looking to take steroids for the first time, it can be a daunting step. You may be feeling nervous, doubtful, and uncertain, mixed with the desire to look like a superhero. A popular and easy way to acquire the steroids you may be looking for is through an Underground Lab (UGL) or an online pharmacy.

How do you know what to get or how much to get of it? What is the proper way to administer? Can you actually trust them to send you what you’re looking for?

These are all likely concerns when possibly consuming a product from any company. The company you choose should be able to answer these questions. You want them to be honest, fair, knowledgeable and accessible. These are all traits you can expect from the more notable and reputable online pharmacies.

However, the internet has been buzzing about some companies who think they are the Michael Jackson of the game. They pretend like they can teach you to “moonwalk” into a bigger better body, when in actuality they are just “Smooth Criminals.”

Pathetic groups of people, who probably live in their mothers’ basements, are trying to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers and in the process are creating a bad name for other legitimate UGL and online pharmacies.

Who are these fabricating impotent imposters? What are some of their gimmicks? Why do these companies feel the need to lie to us?

The Scam

Photo from: Bullshit.com

“Battery Park,” a forum user on the Scam.com, lists more than 30 sites related to notorious scammer and owner of Asia Pharma Michael Karnner.

Message boards and forums across the web are filled with people who have been sold low-quality products that don’t live up to their claims. Mesomorphosis.com user “Knuckles 101″ describes an experience with using Asia Pharma products:

“I put 2cc’s of Balkan test e (retard) in my quad and I swear I could not walk for a week. Horrible pain!!!”

Several people on Boardreader.com have made complaints about these sites. Yet, similar scam sites selling Asia Pharma products continue to pop up all over the Web. They also set themselves up with favorable reviews, but someone should clue their reviewers in on how to spell.

Asia Pharma has a terrible YouTube video promoting their product. Just because they show us boxes and play loud techno music doesn’t prove their claims.

Both Asia Pharma and British Dragon claim to have the highest-quality product with the best and most expensive lab on the market—all available at the most affordable prices. LIES.

I’ve been to several of these websites claiming to sell Asia Pharma and British Dragon products and there is no proof they live up to their own hype.  Several consumers have taken to forums and message boards complaining about not even receiving their products after making online purchases.

Proof of License and Registration, Please

Photo from: Vagabond Insider

A couple of members from the Mesomorphosis.com forum have even tried to locate which pharmacies Asia Pharma is approved to sell their “product” and had no luck finding them.

People have also tried to find their pharmacy license number and have had long, highly opinioned statements to make.

“btw Pnut…I have asked several sites from asia pharma, world pharma, pharam eu etc for a pharmacy license number…I to this day have not gotten one. world pharma said (and I believe they are all related) that they talked to their attorneys and they were told not to give it to me. I call that bullshit….Ive been an attorney over 12 yrs and know better… that info has to be public and on file…and no one can find it, give it, or knows about it…so I know damn well they are not a real pharmacy.. if they are (and they arent) they will get busted soon.. thai gov (or other asian gov) and the u.s. gov work together. if usda/fda/customs/fbi/dea and whom ever find out what a AP and the others are doing by selling sending aas into the u.s. without a script or other legitimate/medical reason, they will soon get busted. and it will turn into a big sting as it has before…. that is why, other than their prices are outrageous, I will not buy, nor will I suggest anyone else to buy from them…I have been offered free gear from them and declined…they were a sponser on a source board I mod at and told the board owner of all the spamming they did and were taken off the board. they emailed the owner and said they were pissed and would put that board on every scammer list they could…” – Big Karch, Moderator

Supposedly Asia Pharma is legal in a few Asian countries, but do you know how easy it is to get things in Asian countries? Hip-high children smoke cigarettes and buy booze over there.

Another forum member, Tonya, previously responded to user named Peanutbutter (who had his or her account deleted for spamming).

“It is official! Asiapharma is UGL.
You can not buy Asia Pharma products in Thailand pharmacys.
I have a friend in Thailand he asked throughout Pataya and Bangkok.
Over 50 pharmacys and not one had Asia pharma gear or ever heard of it.
He also called Thai food and drugs agency. They never even heard of asiapharma.
The THAI registry number is made up. It is a complete fabrication. It is a lie.
Asiapharma is not registered in Thailand or anywhere else and can not be purchased in any pharmacy in Thailand or anywhere else.
This is just a lie to defraud people into buying overpriced UGL.
If you buy asiapharma you get a hyundai for the price of a Ferrari.
If you get anything at all. Because many of the sites that sell Asiapharma are a well known scam.
Pharmaeurope.com eurobolic.com to name just two.”

Creating these fraudulent fronts are casting an even bigger cloud over something that already suffers a bad enough rap. Groups like this should do it right, or not at all.

It Will All Catch Up

William Llewellyn, a well known scientist, inventor, and much more in this particular field has been the target of smear campaigns by Asia Pharma, Eurohormone.com, and British Dragon. Why? Based on the fact that they asked him to speak and write about how poor their competition is. When Llewellyn didn’t comply with their demands, they attacked him and all the other companies.

These imposters joined the industry late and think that doing things cheap and illegal are the ways to get ahead—not to mention all the scamming involved.

It is illegal to distribute these products in America without a license to sell them to the pharmacies.

Eventually having fake sites, creating your own reviews, bad mouthing everyone in your industry, providing poor products or no products at all, and distributing them illegally will come back to haunt them. Instead, Asia Pharma and British Dragon think that everyone else should bow to their greatness. In time companies like this will be held accountable.

I’m not going to advise you to use one site over another, but I am advising you to avoid anyone or anything associated with Asia Pharma, Euro Hormone, and British Dragon. If you’re going to use a UGL, don’t use AP and the dirty bath water they’re trying to sell you.

Photo by Clix

Welcome back for the 16th episode of the GenXXL Health Podcast!  Summer heat can slow you down but Tony Tucker is here to pick you up with tips for maintaining a healthier lifestyle.  Join Tony for the next 15 minutes as he discusses:

• The misnomer that is morning sickness
• How to be healthy and live longer
• Eating and lifestyle tips for blood type-O

Enjoy the podcast and tune in next week for another great episode!

Additional Reading on GenXXL

• How to Live a Healthier, Longer Life
• Eating Right for Your Blood Type: Type O

The Podcast

Photo from: She Knows

As human beings age – especially women – we look for ways to keep ourselves looking younger. Maintaining our bodies shapes with exercise is a great start, but how do we keep the wrapping paper of our body, the skin, looking vibrant and young?

The skin is the largest organ in the body and since we can see it, that should allow us to keep tabs on how it looks.

The most recognizable sign of aging is wrinkles. There is also rough or leathery and saggy skin to think about. Some of the best ways to avoid these negative aspects that we don’t like are obvious: excessive eating, sun exposure, and smoking.

The world we live in today is a very vain, appearance driven world, which is why skin creams, beauty products, and plastic surgery have become so popular. According to a 2007 report conducted by UCLA scientists – 48% of women and 23% of men would be interested in getting plastic surgery.

What if the key to having great skin was intertwined with what you put in your mouth?  Samantha Heller, a clinical nutritionist at NYU tells us that is exactly the secret to maintaining great wrapping paper on the present that is the inner you.

“Everything you eat becomes a part of not only your inner being, but the outer fabric of your body as well.  The healthier the foods are that you consume, the better your skin will look.”

Common Sense of Skin Care

Photo from: Let's Get Green

I believe everyone knows and wouldn’t debate the importance of water. The body should receive eight glasses of water a day or half gallon. This recommended amount should come strictly from strictly water, rather than soda, juice, or my personal favorite, beer.

I have been told that hard water is bad for you and dries out your skin. But, according to Liz Lipski, author of Digestive Wellness, hard water is high in minerals and when people use water softeners they can actually be taking out helpful minerals.

“A water softener may help your plumbing, but its hard water that is better for your health.”

Keeping the skin hydrated is crucial to having healthy looking skin and also helps to flush toxins from the body.

Go Green Beverage

Drinking tea is wonderful for the body and especially for the skin because it’s filled antioxidants.

More specific than just any tea is drinking organic green tea. There is a substance in the tea called catechins and this is thought to be very beneficial. A study done by doctor Ray Shahelian showed people who drink green tea are 20 – 30 percent less likely to get basal or squamous cell skin cancer.

Green tea gives a double bonus because not only may it help prevent skin cancer, but it also helps protect against the signs of aging.

Gatherers Voted Tribes Best Skin

Photo from: Photo Frenz

These next two I am going to talk about remind me of the days of pre-civilization when all tribes had hunter and gatherers.

The Hunters – mainly men – would go out and take down the main course, usually some source of meat for protein.

The Gatherers – mainly women – would spend their time collecting nuts and berries. I have no doubt they were eating while they were on the job and reaping the benefits.

Walnuts contain Omega-3 oils which happen to be a great way to get more flexible, youthful-looking skin.

Eating large amounts of various berries has proven to be phenomenal for the skin. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and even plums contain the perfect nutrients to give you younger and healthier looking skin.

AllWomensTalk.com also mentions that eating mangoes can be very beneficial.  Mangoes have a high content of vitamin A and this fruit will help restore flaky looking skin.

So, remember our ancestors the next time you have the luxury of going to the grocery store and be sure to gather plenty of nuts and berries.

Not Just for Your Eyes

Photo from: English Jungle

For as long as I can remember, my mother has told me to eat loads of carrots to improve my vision. When I was youngster I just wanted to eat them so I could more properly quote Bugs Bunny – “Ahhh, what’s up Doc?”

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A and then uses it in the body.

Carrots are also a good source for vitamin C, which is a masterful antioxidant that clears up negative growth created by over exposure to the sun. The end result is that they helps prevent premature aging.

The consumption of enough carrots can also act as a natural sunscreen. This whole time I thought I was less susceptible to sunburns because my father is of African descent!

Ugly, but Nutritional

Photo from: Louisey

One food that I hadn’t tried until recently was avocado, due to the fact that the sight of it was off putting.

Avocados contain vitamin E and positive monounsaturated fats. The combination of these ingredients provides for great looking skin and help people suffering from dry skin.

They go amazingly with many foods you may already eat – cheeseburgers, burritos or tacos, nachos, and various salads.

Skin Is Scary Without the Dairy

Photo from: Hub Pages

When I was growing up, my family and the school system would harp on the importance of consuming dairy – especially milk. They had cheesy milk ads about how to grow up bigger and faster by drinking milk.

Lipski says it’s important to eat fairly good amounts of A-rich dairy foods. This is even more vital for people who suffer from diabetes and thyroid conditions.

Low-fat yogurt, which has vitamin A, also contains acidophilus – a live bacteria that is great for your intestinal well being. Lipksi says:

“Anything that helps keep digestion normal, any live bacteria or enzymes, is also going to be reflected in healthy-looking skin.”

The next time you come across a “Got Milk” ad, find out if it’s got what vitamins and other vital components your body needs.

More Foods to Fight Aging

Photo from: Bridges to Italy

If a bear didn’t have such a beautiful coat, I bet we could see its tremendously moisturized skin. The reason for this is because of all the salmon they eat trying to swim up river. Salmon contain essential fatty acids and help fish eater’s wonderful coats.

Whole grains are another great way to improve your skin. Consuming whole grains is important for the growth of new cells and to help strengthen the skin against infections. It also helps with cracking and peeling on you feet, because no one wants “Flintstone Feet.”

Something I found really interesting is the use of extra virgin olive oil medicinally to soothe sunburn and other skin irritants. These are common practices in countries like Italy and Greece. However, it also appears they use it in their hair, but I wouldn’t recommend that.

People are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on all sorts of ways to preserve their skin when they could just be orally consuming the answer at a much cheaper healthier cost.

I strongly suggest that you implement some of these things into your daily diet. If in ten years you aren’t noticing the benefits in your skin health from these foods, you can come to Los Angeles and I’ll drive you to a plastic surgeon.

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• What to Eat NOW: Summer’s Bounty
• Flavor Without Fat or Fad
• How Sweet It Is

Photo from: World Fitness Network

Summer is here bringing tank top season with it. Love it or hate it, working on your deltoids is a necessity for that overall sleek, sculpted look. You can do all the chest and bicep work possible, but without sculpted shoulders you can look just plain puny.

Shoulder Anatomy

Photo from: Fit Step

The deltoid is a three-part muscle that caps the shoulder—anterior, medial, and posterior.

The Anterior Deltoid contributes to many pectoral-related movements, like the bench press. It rounds out the shoulder and gives the impression of width from the front.

The Medial Deltoid is most active during lateral movements, like lateral raises. Located on the outside part of the shoulder, it is responsible for moving the arms directly out to the sides — and visually, it adds more width to the shoulder.

The Posterior Deltoid is used in muscles that engage the back and rhomboid muscles, like upright rows. It improves the appearance of the back of your shoulder and helps with overall posture.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, with the ball being the humerus and the socket being the glenoid. Shoulders can abduct 150 degrees, flex forward 180 degrees, extend 45 degrees, and rotate internally 90 degrees. That’s a huge range of motion for a ball and socket joint, which opens up the a wealth of possibilities for injury.

Injury Prevention

One main place of shoulder injury is the rotator cuff. It is important to properly warm up your muscles prior to beginning a weight-lifting routine. With my clients, I recommend doing some cardio prior to weight lifting, so your body is up and ready to go. There are also various stretches that can be done to help ease shoulder pain.

Remember that muscles should be “warm” prior to beginning any stretching. Stretching cold muscles can result in muscle pulls and other injuries.

Get Ready to Work

Photo from: EXRX

The following exercises can be added to your existing routine or done as a complete shoulder workout in its entirety. Three sets of 8–12 repetitions are recommended.

Military Press – Rest your weighted bar on your upper chest and shoulders, then press it up right in front of your face, extending your elbows until they are just about locked. Be careful not to lock the elbows. Return the weight to your chest and repeat.

It’s important to note that military presses should always be done to the front. Lowering the bar to the back of your neck puts your shoulders in an unnatural position and leaves them prone to injury. On a positive note, you can also lower the bar further when you go to the front, offering a longer range of motion, which in turn, leads to more muscle growth.

Arnold Press — Using free weights, stand with you feet shoulder distance apart with the weights positioned in front of you palms facing in.

Begin the Arnold Press by bringing your elbows out to the side while turning your palms facing out as you continue the lift overhead press. Return to starting position to complete one rep.

Upright Rows — Grab the bar with hands placed at shoulder width in an overhand grip. Pull the bar straight up to your neck, with elbows flaring out to the sides. Lower and repeat.

Rear Delt Row — Using a wide handgrip on your bar, bend your knees and lean forward with your back straight and abs in tight. Slowly pull the bar up to your chest until your upper arms are horizontal and then lower back down.

Lateral Side Dumbbell Raises — Standing with feet shoulder distance apart and knees bent, begin with your weights in your hands and arms down at your side. Raise the weights out to the side until your arms are parallel to the floor; lower back to starting position.

Dumbbell Half Lateral Raise — This move is executed exactly like the Lateral Side Raise, except when you reach your lifted position with arms parallel to the floor, turn your thumbs down and lower the weights halfway, pausing for a count of four and then lifting back to shoulder height. Lower arms back down to your starting position to complete one repetition.

Rear Lateral Raise — With knees bent into a squat position and tailbone pointing back, lean forward pulling the abdominals in as tight as you can. Hold the weights in front of you with palms facing in and lift both arms out to the side, extending until they are parallel to the floor.

You want to keep your elbows above your wrists throughout the exercise.

Single Arm Front Lateral Raise — Standing with knees bent and abdominals in, lift one arm straight up in front to shoulder height. It’s important that throughout this movement that you maintain a straight wrist, and not allow the hand and wrist to droop.

Side Lying Lateral Raise — Lying on your side with hips stacked one on top of the other and knees slightly bent, raise your weight from the floor into a vertical position with palm facing forward. Keep your elbow slightly bent throughout the exercise.

Challenge Yourself

Photo from: MSN

For increased intensity during the Side-Lying Lateral Raise, try this exercise in a side plank position with your legs extended out to the side and top leg crossed over the bottom. Place your elbow right under your shoulder and lift your hips off the floor into a side plank. Your hips should remain stacked throughout the exercise.

Continue to execute the side-lying lateral raise from this position, squeezing the abdominals in tight to secure your position. You can try a few repetitions in this position, and then drop to the floor for the remainder of your sets.

Show It Off

Whether it’s for bulking up or toning up, these deltoid exercises will get the results you’re looking for. Use them as additions to your current shoulder routine, or as a routine in its entirety.

Your hard work will pay off and you’ll be tank top ready in no time at all.

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Sexy Sizzling Summer Beach Body
• Beyond the Crunch: Finding Your Inner Six-Pack
• MMA: Get In Fighting Shape Today

Photo from: 9Point87.com

Human beings have long searched for the answers on how to live a longer life. At one point we even thought there was something that could restore your prime—the Fountain of Youth. If we could only ask Juan Ponce De Leon how that worked out for him.

To my knowledge the closest thing we’ve found to the Fountain of Youth is plastic surgery. You can get your lungs, heart, and even brain tucked or lifted to my knowledge. However, we have been setting records for the length of how long people are living.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports show there are 500,000 centenarians in the world —almost 100,000 reside in the United States. This was shocking news to me since Americans suffer from the fast food epidemic.

Researchers expect these numbers to grow, the Census Bureau projects by 2050 there will be 1.1 million centenarians in America by itself. Boston University predicts there will be more than that—estimating about 3 million baby boomers will live into their hundreds.

What are some of the secrets for living to be 100? Obviously not smoking or drinking like a fish, but what else? Experts believe equal parts are played by family history and the way you live your life.

Exercise Years on Your Life

Photo from: Regina Nuzzo

Researchers showed that people who get three hours of exercise a week have had younger DNA and cells by nine years. The studies were conducted on 1,200 sets of twins to support the aging of DNA in inactive human beings.

They studied the telomeres, which are the protective ends of the chromosomes that shorten with age. Telomeres are one of the most important factors in studying the aging process by correlating the shortening process with amount of exercise and activity someone gets.

Dr. Eric Rackow, a professor of medicine at New York University, puts the keys to life quite simply: “If you want to be 101, you have to live an active life both mentally and physically, and you do not want to be overweight.”

Even something as easy as walking five days a week for 30 minutes can increase your life expectancy by up to three years. Dr. Oscar Franco has conducted studies and he too thinks having an active life style is the way to go.

According to Franco, “Three years of extra life: It’s a very clear message that makes it easy to grasp what might be the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.”

Three years may not seem like a long time now, but if you can avoid health complications at the end of your life by walking or exercising then it is definitely worth it.

Feed Your Body Right

Photo from: Srilankans

Many young people eat or don’t eat certain foods because they want their body to look a particular way. It isn’t until people age and suffer health complications that we finally find out what is good for us, and essential for long term health.

Make sure to eat vegetables, fruits, and nuts. They are healthy important parts of the diet that most people don’t get enough of. Eating less red meat and more fish and chicken has proven to be beneficial for keeping people healthy.

Daisy McFadden, will be celebrating her 100^th birthday this coming November and she claims that her eating habits have played in to her long life. For many years she has eaten oatmeal, cranberry juice and a banana for breakfast. Most often McFadden follows that with a salad for lunch—beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, and chicken or fish. For dinner it is usually steamed vegetables and some sort of lean meat, capped off with fruit for dessert.

McFadden’s doctor, David Prince, tells us that we don’t have to eat like this for every meal for the rest of our lives. It’s ok to give into temptation once in awhile, but there is one thing we must remember, especially Americans.

Prince says, “It’s important not to feel deprived.  Have a treat once or twice a week, but maintain portion control. The simplest rule is to split what you like with a friend.”

According to NationMaster.com, America is the most obese nation in the world.  This statistic can partially be attributed to the fact that we don’t eat enough natural or slow foods, the fast food industry, and portion sizes.

Results in Tradition

Okinawa, Japan is known as “the land of the immortals” and for good reason.  They have the highest concentration of centenarians in the world—457 persons over the age of 100 in Okinawa.

It is said that a big reason why they live so long is the traditional Okinawa diet.  They eat seven portions daily, mainly consisting of low calories and a high concentration of vegetables.

7 portions of vegetables and fruits

7 portions of cereals

2 portions of soy products

Various portions of fish weekly

Meat and dairy products very sporadically

Myth About Booze

Photo from: Bernard Farrell

Of course it’s not good for anyone to abuse alcohol on a regular basis. Dr. Prince supports a study that shows two to three alcoholic drinks per week can extend your life expectancy.

Dutch researchers suggested that drinking can increase your life after following 1,373 men for more than four decades. Men who had about 20 grams of alcohol daily (equivalent to a half a glass of wine) had 2 ½ years added to their life expectancy at age 50.

Half a glass of wine a day may add five years.

One beer a day may add 2 ½ years.

Don’t Worry Be Happy

Photo from: 7 Layer Living

One thing people forget and underestimate is the benefits we can receive from living a stress free life. Spending your time with people who are relatively upbeat and optimistic about life will help you to live the same way.

Optimism is not guaranteed to work, but what do you gain from dwelling with negativity on something that may be out of your control?

Surrounding yourself with great people and remembering the importance of laughter and love will help you to enjoy generations beyond your wildest imagination.

McFadden provides us with one of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard and also a great attitude towards life. “I don’t fear age. If you don’t get old, you die young.”

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• What to Eat NOW: Summer’s Bounty
• The Slow Food Movement
• Breaking Down Men’s Fitness: “25 Ways to Get Stronger Now”

Photo by: See My Cells

At the beginning of this series, we began looking at eating for your blood type, based on Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s book, Eat Right 4 Your Type. His research offers diet plans for each of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O.

In the previous articles, we looked at how Type As and Type Bs should eat to maintain optimum health. We’re making an absolute about-face now with Type O.

The entire theory of eating for your blood type hinges on the way each blood type is said to process lectins. Lectins are a kind of protein that bind to a particular kind of carbohydrate in the gut.

A common way to remember how lectins work is to look at the lectin as a protein key which fits into a specific carbohydrate lock. When the right key fits into a lock in the digestive tract, it breaks the cell membrane, which damages the cell.

The goal of the blood type diet is to avoid the lectins that are most attracted to your blood type while eating the foods that nourish the body. Here’s your history and recommendations, Type O!

History of Blood Type O

Photo from: A Brief History of World Costume

You are the original blood type, according to Dr. D’Adamo. Your blood line has been around for more than 30,000 years, dating back to pre-Cro-Magnon man. It it the most common blood type in the world today.

As the bearer of this blood type, you are known as “the hunter,” because you thrive on a meat-based diet. You have an immune system that’s a force of nature and a digestive system to match. You also bear enough stomach acid to jump start your average 1982 El Dorado in order to digest all that protein.

Your ancestors were nomadic people, following the herd and staying just long enough for the pack of animals to move on. When they moved, you moved.

As more humans populated the Earth and the herds grew thinner, you adapted by learning to grow and preserve some foods necessary for survival. This dietetic metamorphosis protected you against times of extreme famine, but was never meant to comprise the bulk of your food intake.

Once you settled into your particular geographic area and began to work cooperatively as a society, your health began to decline in some areas. In particular, you developed stomach ulcers and thyroid problems. To balance these concerns with you ideal diet’s makeup, you’ve got a lengthy list of food recommendations!

Foods to Avoid

Photo from: Teitel Bros.

The bad news first: pork, in all its forms, are out.  I know, I know. However, the only other meat on the “no-no” list for you is goose. So unless you’re a Dickensian Christmas fan, you’re probably not missing out on much.

With a few exceptions, dairy is not for you. However, when you feel the need to indulge, you may consume butter, farmer’s cheese, feta and mozzarella.

You should avoid most nuts and beans. The exceptions to that rule are pumpkin seeds and walnuts, along with adzuki beans, black-eyed peas and pinto beans.

As grains go, Essene and Ezekiel breads are the only truly recommended edibles. There are some ancient grains on the “yellow light” list that you may indulge in when you’re really craving them: amaranth, barley, buckwheat, Kamut, millet, rice, and spelt.

Type Os are relatively limited on fruits, which really bums me out for you. Figs, plums, prunes, and most berries are kosher. However, you shouldn’t have strawberries, blackberries, oranges, tangerines or melons.

Under no circumstances should Type Os consume coconut or products containing coconut. In fact, due to coconut oil and its presence in many body care products, you’re encouraged to check your personal care products and toss anything that has ingredients beginning with coco-.

For many Type Os, this transition to products that have a shea butter base as opposed to a coconut oil base has transformed their lifelong skin conditions and relieved persistent rashes and skin irritations.

On the beverage front, coffee, black tea, and distilled liquors should be avoided. Also to avoid are nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, capers, black and white pepper, and vinegar.

Foods to Indulge

Photo from: Ohio State University

Now for the positive things, the foods that you Type Os should indulge!  The meat category is large, containing just about everything you could ever wish for. Beef, lamb, venison, and veal are the most highly recommended protein sources for you.

Oily fish such as cod, mackarel, and herring are also high on the list of positives for your blood type. Olive and flax are the best sources of oil for you, with canola and sesame also making the list of acceptable alternatives.

Greens of all kinds are a great friend of Type Os, because they supply vitamin K in abundance. Lucky ducks, you’re the only type that is allowed to have tomatoes. Take note, however, that eggplant and white potatoes are out.

Be sure to get lots of alliums into your diet in the form of garlic, leeks, onions, chives, and shallots, as they’re fantastic for your overall health.

Lots of root vegetables are recommended for you, such as rutabaga, turnips, and sweet potatoes.  Since most sweets are out for you, roasted root veggies are a great way to get a sugar fix. Thank you, caramelization!

One of the most important things that Type Os can consume is a great variety of sea vegetables.  Because you tend toward hypothyroidism, you should indulge as many varieties as possible. Dr. D’Adamo recommends iodized salt, but I can’t abide recommending something so damaging to your health.

Parsley, cayenne pepper, and curry are the most recommended spices for you. Interestingly, due to your high levels of gastric acid, you can have seltzer water and club soda, which are verboten for other blood types.

Lifestyle Considerations

Photo from: E-Vitalsigns

The inborn “fight or flight” response is particularly strong in Type O. This should come as no surprise considering that this blood type was around when mankind actively hunted and had to decide when to stand their ground, and when to run to save their hides.

However, Type Os don’t typically respond well to these stressors, especially when their diet and activities aren’t in line with their needs. They’re liable to lash out, throw temper tantrums, and even struggle with addictions such as gambling and substance abuse.

To keep these destructive responses in check, it’s recommended that Type Os stick close to their dietary guidelines, as well as avoiding alcohol and caffeine altogether.

More than for other blood types, Type Os require significant and strenuous exercise. Not only will regular exercise benefit your cardiovascular health (especially important when ingesting large amounts of saturated fats found in meat), but will also keep your moods in check.

In fact, exercise is Dr. D’Adamo’s recommended release when you are stressed, making important decisions, spending large sums of money, and/or are craving a pleasure-inducing substance (such as nicotine or alcohol).

As a long-term health solution, Type Os should see better digestion, less ulcers and thyroid problems, and less stress in their lives as they apply the principles of the Type O diet.  Type AB, you’ll wrap up the series for us next week. Be sure to check back as we close it out with the baby of blood types!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• A Vegetable By Any Other Name
• Eat Right For Your Blood Type: Type A
• Eat Right For Your Blood Type: Type B

Source list:

http://www.dadamo.com/bloodtype_O.htm

http://www.drlam.com/blood_type_diet/print/blood_o.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2162526_eat-type-o-blood.html

http://www.tidesoflife.com/er4ybt.htm

Photo from: Jungle Seeds

Besides being flat out delicious, cayenne pepper has a whole host of health benefits that are worth knowing about. Now, I know that you probably only think of cayenne as being good for bringing the heat to your favorite dishes, and that’s definitely the thing that makes it worth trying.

The thing that will keep you coming back is the ability to protect your heart, enhance your immune and digestive systems, relieve headaches and heal fungal infections. There’s some evidence that it can kill prostate cancer, too. According to Dr. Joe Mercola ,

“The active ingredient in cayenne pepper, called capsaicin, has been found to reverse Type 1 diabetes in mice, for example — an astounding breakthrough that the medical community keeps quiet about. Capsaicin also has cancer-fighting benefits.”

Digestive Benefits

Photo from: Ehow

Cayenne is hot; that’s no surprise. However, there are gradations of heat that you’ll want to be aware of when adding cayenne to recipes. The heat comes from the chemical capsaicin, and capsaicin is measured on the Scoville scale.

While most cayenne pepper is in the 30,000-50,000 unit range, be aware that some breeds of cayenne, such as the African Birdseye, are as high as the 100,000-350,000 range. Needless to say, it’s wise to know what sort of cayenne you’re using!

Believe it or not, cayenne pepper can help heal ulcers. I know that it seems counter-intuitive, but the same capsaicin that brings warmth into the body also soothes the mucosal lining of the stomach. A quarter teaspoon of the pepper in one cup hot water will soothe the stomach.

If you add a teaspoon of honey to your cayenne and hot water mixture, you’ve got a fantastic remedy for a sore throat. I’ve talked often about how I drink the Master Cleanse lemonade recipe for breakfast most days.

I tend to use honey to sweeten instead of grade B maple syrup when I’m not on the cleanse itself. That’s partly because I buy honey by the gallon and the syrup is harder to find, but also because I prefer the milder flavor. When cleansing, of course, use the syrup for its mineral benefits!

Cayenne is great for weight loss, as it warms the body internally, ratcheting up the metabolism. Bodybuilders should be taking cayenne daily, but especially before competitions for that extra-lean look.

Circulatory Benefits

Photo from: Herbs Pro

I’ve heard time after time that cayenne pepper has the power to stop a heart attack cold, literally within 30 seconds. If the patient is still conscious, administer one teaspoon cayenne pepper in eight ounces of hot water AFTER calling 911.

Continue to give cayenne every 15 minutes until the patient arrives at the emergency room, even when you’re in the ambulance with the person.

You may also use liquid cayenne extract, administered a teaspoon at a time. Be sure to find a brand that isn’t irradiated, which will render it impotent.

Besides being great in a crisis situation, cayenne is a great daily preventative. It strengthens the vascular system, and clears plaque from the arterial walls. How? Well, it equalizes the blood pressure from arteries, veins, capillaries and nerves.

A side benefit of the circulatory benefits of cayenne pepper should be evidenced in your complexion. People who take cayenne on a daily basis report clearer, more hydrated, glowing skin.

Immune Benefits

“Cayenne pepper contains many wonderful phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. It cleans the blood allowing hormonal signals to make their way unimpeded through your system, thus the enhanced immune response.” –Dr. Schulze, cayenne expert and herbologist

This sinister cancer cell can't fight off Cayenne's immune army. Photo from: Health Jockey

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, real or perceived and often begins in the gut. Of course, cayenne’s ability to aid in reducing inflammation isn’t limited to the immune system, but certainly makes a difference in this important area.

Capsaicin works as a substance P inhibitor, one factor that causes inflammation in the body. Taking one to three teaspoons of cayenne per day (whether in food, or capsules, or a combination of both),  can help with arthritis, bursitis, or other chronic inflammation conditions.

The antioxidants and beta carotene contained in cayenne helps strengthen and repair mucous membranes. These are the first line of defense against pathogens trying to cross the nose/eye/mouth barriers. The more bacteria and viruses they trap, the healthier you’ll stay.

As Dr. Mercola pointed out earlier in our article, clinical studies show that cayenne pepper kills prostate cancer cells in studies on mice. That’s fantastic news for cancer research on humans.

“Capsaicin had a profound anti-proliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells in culture.”  It caused 80 percent of the prostate cancer cells growing in mice to “commit suicide in a process known as apoptosis,” according to Dr. Soren Lehmann, Hot Pepper Kills Prostate Cancer Cells in Study

Other Cool Benefits

Photo from: NY Times

Knock out a nasty headache with cayenne. Dilute 1/4 tsp. cayenne in 4 oz warm water. Mix with a cotton swab and apply to your nasal passages. Yes, it will burn, but the pain should go away in 15-20 minutes.   Sit down and relax. You should notice the burning subside, and the headache with it.

After I posted that tip on headache cures, a friend of mine here at GenXXL gave it a shot on her raging, week-long migraine.  She reported back that the pain was gone, but that her visual disturbances remained.

Because I don’t experience those problems with my migraines, I was glad to hear how the cayenne nasal swab worked for her. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear whether it KOs your headache, or just burns your sniffer.

Cayenne pepper is great for stopping a wound from bleeding. As crazy as it sounds, cayenne causes the blood pressure to equalize inside the body. The blood is then free to clot because there’s no loss of pressure as it seeps from the wound.

Instead of using Icy Hot on your lower back pain, a poultice of cayenne pepper, garlic and raw potatoes can help improve circulation, thereby loosening the tight muscles. Frankly, I’m tempted to eat the remains of that natural medication!

Whether you add the powder to your food or drink for spicy enjoyment or swallow available capsules whole, you’ve got to get this amazing herb into your diet.

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• The Natural Medicine Cabinet: Headache Remedies
• Juicing For Your Cleanse
• The Natural Medicine Cabinet: Cinnamon

Photo from: Fitness and Diet Reviews

I know, I know, you’re a bodybuilder. You don’t want to hear about doing cardio. But here’s the thing: if you want to get really cut, you’ve got to get really lean. Along with diet, cardio is the way to get to your ideal physique.

I’ve been in the “I hate cardio” camp before, and it was easy to justify because I was doing two 2-day splits in the weight room. What I hadn’t taken into consideration was that, even though I looked pretty hot, I was a little puffy still.

Even more than that, I realized that I had to maintain my heart health so I could stick around to see my kids grow up, and get to an age where it would be acceptable to talk about whippersnappers and the good old days.

As much as we all want to look amazing, we all know that that alone is useless if we don’t have good overall health. If you have the physique of a Greek god(dess) and a strong, lean heart muscle, you’re going to be the envy of the gym for decades to come!

What Is HIIT?

Photo from: Business Week

HIIT stands for high intensity interval training. Before you bow out of this article, let me entice you with this little gem: you can do your cardio work, start to finish, in 20 minutes. That includes warm up and cool down. I know, I know, unbelievable.

No more slaving on the bike, managing as much resistance as possible until you start hallucinating. No more mind-numbing hours walking on the treadmill.

If you’re cutting, you want to burn as much fat as possible. If you’re bulking, you want to minimize your fat gains. If you’re maintaining and want to surpass your previous aerobic and anaerobic thresholds, you need to shake up your workout. All of these are great reasons to do HIIT.

When you look at soccer forwards and basketball guards, they’re usually the leanest guys on the team. That’s because they spend most of their respective games in moderate motion, followed by periods of anaerobic work. That, in a nutshell, is what HIIT is.

Periods of moderate activity are followed by short bursts of intense activity. You’ll alternate those periods for mere minutes and, in so doing, burn up to nine times more fat than those who maintain a consistent elevated heart rate throughout a 20-60 minute workout.

Who Should NOT Do HIIT?

Photo from: That Girl Kate

Those who are obese, or even particularly bulky lifters who are not accustomed to cardio might want to skip HIIT because of the sheer stress on the joints.

If you have heart problems, lung issues like asthma, or any other chronic diseases like diabetes, you may want to stay away, at least until you’ve got clearance from your medical professional and your disorder is well controlled.

Finally, if you’re lifting six days per week, you just don’t have time to do cardio. I don’t honestly believe that most people benefit from from lifting that much, but if you’re doing it, you likely know what you’re doing and exactly why.

How to Work HIIT into Your Routine

Photo from: Vibrabody

Last time we talked about “high intensity” training, it was resistance training, or HIRT. These two forms of exercise dovetail beautifully and accomplish your workouts in one quarter to one half the time you’re probably taking now.

If you’re looking to maintain, do HIIT two days per week and one longer steady cardio session. You do HIRT two days per week, and won’t need to do any full body resistance training (RT) like a traditional builder would do. Take the other two days as rest days.

If your priority is to keep your gains and drop fat, you’ll do one day of HIIT, two days of full body RT, one day of HIRT, and three days of rest.

Finally, if your goal is to gain muscle, you’ll want to do one day of HIIT or low and slow cardio, three days of full body RT, two days of HIRT, and one day off.

HIIT for Cardiovascular Endurance

Photo from: Catapult Fitness

You’re in maintenance mode, that short, blissful period of time when you’ve come off of some big gains (and hopefully a few new personal bests) and aren’t dieting down for a competition or beach vacation. It’s the best time to be a bodybuilder, when you’re off the crazy cycle!

Your best bet for a HIIT workout is either on the road or on the treadmill. Since the mercury is creeping up toward 100 degrees and it’s still June, I opt for indoor running. That, combined with the fact that you can’t trick the treadmill once you set it, are the best reasons to hightail it to the gym.

The easiest HIIT workout for you is alternating 30 seconds of moderate jogging with 30 seconds of all-out sprints. When I say sprints, I want your heart left on that machine. If not your heart, at least the gastric remains of your last meal, if you get my drift.

The first two weeks, do eight minutes, meaning that you’ll do eight jogs and eight sprints. The following two weeks, add two minutes, or ten jogs and ten sprints. Generally speaking, you’ll max out at 15 minutes of HIIT, though some people (who are certifiably nuts) like to go up to 20 minutes.

HIIT for Cutting

Photo from: Healthy Influence

You’re already in the worst part of a bodybuilders phases, and I’m sure you’re grumpy because you’re not eating any carbs. Believe you me, I have no desire to make you want to throw plates at my head.

The good news is that even though you’re in cutting mode, you don’t have to slave away on the machines for hours to shed fat. You can put in the same amount of time as the maintenance jerks and get some amazing fat-melting results.

Instead of jogging during your 30 second recovery periods, you’ll walk briskly. You’ll still have to leave everything you’ve got on the mat during your sprints, but at least you get the joy of walking instead of jogging as you gasp for breath.

You’ll do eight minutes in alternating 30 second intervals for the first two weeks, ten minutes the second two weeks, 12 minutes weeks five and six, and 14 minutes for the final two weeks.  If you’re still cutting after eight weeks, well, I just feel sorry for you.

HIIT for Bulking

Photo from: Tumblr

Oh yeah, you’re living the high life. Eating carbs, lifting heavy, sleeping a lot, yours is one good life. It’s probably the reason that most serious lifters stay in the sport, getting to live like “normal people” when they’re in bulking mode. Well, if normal people eat 5,000 calories per day, that is.

Anyhow, back to your workout. You’re already cruising, but when your goal is to add muscle mass while keeping fat gains to a minimum, you’ve got to be serious about your cardio.

Since these workouts are shorter to prevent muscle wasting, you’ve got to give every ounce of guts you’ve got. Seriously, I know you want to spend as little time as possible cutting later, so be sure to put everything you’ve got into these short workouts.

You’re going to alternate a light jog and an all-out, gut wrenching, Chariots of Fire style sprint to the end. Since this workout is only five minutes worth of 30 second intervals for the first two weeks, you don’t have time to slack, cream puff.

Add two minutes every other week, but don’t exceed fifteen minutes no matter how long you’re bulking. It is best to stay between 9 and 11 minutes, but of course that depends on how big you’re looking to get in this phase.

Final Thoughts

Photo from: Troy Havard

If you’re not into running, you can alternate your walking/light jogs with jumping rope.  Personally, I can barely manage not to trip over the rope, much less skip Rocky style, but if that’s your thing, it’s a fantastic workout.

Be sure to jump as fast as you can in your intervals. If you have the balance, coordination and desire, single leg lumping is fantastic for getting the heart rate up into the stratosphere.

Double-high knees will accomplish just about the same work without as much risk of bashing your head into the mirror and looking like a total idiot, but to each his own.

You can also manage to do your high intervals on an elliptical, a recumbent bike, or an erg/rowing machine.  So long as you remember to go light in the breaks and “go to the mattresses” in the sprints, you’ll have yourself a fantastic fat-blasting workout!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• HIRT Brings the Hurt
• Cardiovascular Exercise Burns Off Fat
• The Primal Lifestyle: Exercise

Photo by Clix

Welcome back for the 15th episode of the GenXXL Health Podcast!  Is everyone making the most of summer thus far?   Whether you need some tips on how to revitalize your ab routine or ideas for season meals Tony Tucker has got you covered!  Join Tony for the next 17 minutes as he discusses:

• How to work on that six-pack without doing crunches
• Summer snacks and recipes for delicious, healthy summer foods

Additional Reading on GenXXL

• Beyond the Crunch: Finding Your Inner Six-Pack
• What to Eat NOW: Summer’s Bounty

The Podcast

Photo from: Women's Health

Have you ever finished having sex with your partner and felt a burn? Make no mistake, I am talking about the burn in your muscles not in your genitals.

If certain sexual positions are done correctly you can receive the benefits of an actual workout.

“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being,
while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.”

This quote on exercise was given to us by the Greek philosopher Plato. I doubt he was referring to sex with this bit of common sense that has been passed along the ages, but it definitely applies to sex workouts.

The following tips will not only give you a physical bump, but may also increase the amount of sexual activity you’re partaking in. However, none of these activities will be done without the proper stretching techniques.

Valuable Love Making Muscle Stretches

Sex has to be the best way to workout on the planet.  If for some reason it’s not for you,  you should try some these positions and tell me if you still feel the same way.

Just like any solid workout, stretching before and after is vital to the body’s performance and progress when exercising.  What are three great areas to target before engaging in one of these sexual workouts?

No. 1 Groin Stretches

These are especially helpful for women to keep the hips and pelvic area loose and flexible. For a woman to stretch this area she should lay on her back bringing her heels into her groin.  Then slowly spread her legs down towards the floor applying slight pressure on her inner thighs with her hands.

For men it is nice to have your woman help and maybe even lead to a little arousal or foreplay.  Men should lay on their backs with their feet pulled in towards their groins, with their knees pointing to the ceiling.

The woman should kneel in front with her legs straddling by both ankles to hold the position. Finally press gently on his thighs slightly above his knees until he feels the stretch in his hips and groin. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.

No. 2 Quad Stretches

To get a quality stretch on your quads you are going to do the hurdlers stretch.  For this sit on the floor or bed and bend your legs at the knees so your toes are pointed directly behind you.  Then slowly lean back until you feel the stretch in your thighs and ankles. Make sure to hold this for 15 – 20 seconds and repeat 2 – 3 times.

One modification for people with any type of knee injury is to try this stretch while standing up. Pull your heel towards your buttocks while keeping both knees together. This modification helps reduce any stress on the knee.

This stretch is very important for whose ever on top. Ladies, later I will introduce you to the benefits of one of your mans favorite position for you to be in and this stretch will come in handy.

No. 3 Lower Back

Stretching your lower back is so important for people with back trouble or those who intend to get really freaky. This exercise is simple, but really helpful. Lay on your back, bring your leg to your chest by bending it at the knee and pulling into your chest with your hands.  Bring your leg down slowly and repeat this with the other leg.  After you have done both legs separate, bring them up together and hold for 30 seconds.

Now that you have the knowledge on how to get limber for love making, lets learn how to make your body keep yearning for a burning.

Wheelbarrows Just Got Better

Photo from: Veoh

The wheel barrow position is just like you would imagine it. The woman starts from the push-up position. The man grabs her by her thighs elevating her pelvic area to comfortable position creating the appearance of wheel barrow.

Now that the woman is elevated to the push-up position she will receive a workout to her triceps area, chest, and also to her abdomen.

The man will receive a great bicep workout from holding her. Also, when the man starts to do his thrusting he will receive abdominal and back workouts.

This is not an every time position, but will provide results if you mix it into the rotation. Men, — one suggestion –  if you want to continue this sexual position, don’t drop her on her face.

Ride’em Cowgirl or Lotus

Photo From: Seks.nl

Ladies these two are for you. Men if you find your women complaining that being on top is too much work let them know the benefits. Then you can just kick back and enjoy the show.

For these sexy time exercises men sit down (Lotus style) or Lay down (Cowgirl style) on the bed and women sit on top. For Lotus style the next thing women should do is wrap their legs around the man.

At this point women, use your arms and legs to move up and down from either position. By doing this women will receive a great workout for their legs and arms which is more fun than spending that extra time on the elliptical.

Also for an extra bonus for women, I have heard it is sometimes easier for women to climax on top. Ladies if you need something done right, you might just have to do it yourself.

Maximize the Missionary Position

Photo by: Fitness Magazine

The missionary position is the most common style – most likely you had sex like this for the first, wonderfully confusing, short experience.

Men mainly get the workout on this one in their abs, arms and legs depending on how long they can hang.

Women looking for a workout from this position should stretch your back, and then arch it when you can and tighten your abs. SheKnows.com compares it to doing Pilates in bed.

Patti Britton, author of “The Art of Sex Coaching”, talks about a woman strengthening her core from applying this method.

“You can strengthen your core by focusing on pelvic lifting using your core, not your lower back. That’s where women tend to get stuck – they tend to rely on their lower back to give them propulsion.”

“She Knows” also recommends for women looking to push it f arther, they should tighten their Kegel muscles.

Steamy Shower Scene

Everyone has seen the scene in the movie where the woman joins the man in the shower and he hoist her up, pushes her against the wall and gives her some sweet lovin’.

The standing sexual position for a man is an amazing arms, shoulders, back and legs workout that you must be in top shape to perform.

For a woman this “hop on and ride it” position can also have its benefits.  The woman has to have strong upper body strength to hang on while he rocks the boat.

With these tips you can now give your body pleasure and a workout in one activity.  For all you single people out there who have friends with benefits, now you can have an exercise partner with benefits too.

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Sexy Sizzling Summer Beach Body
• Optimum Sex Length: 3 to 13 Minutes?
• Breaking Down Men’s Fitness: “25 Ways to Get Stronger Now”

Photo by: See My Cells

Last week we began looking at eating for your blood type, based on Dr. Peter D’Adamo‘s book, Eat Right 4 Your Type. His research offers diet plans for each of the four blood types: A, B, AB, and O. This week it’s your turn Type Bs!

In the previous article, we looked at how Type As should eat to maintain optimum health, and now we’re looking at a very different nutritional picture with Blood Type B.

The entire theory of eating for your blood type hinges on the way each blood type is said to process lectins. Lectins are a kind of protein that bind to a particular kind of carbohydrate in the gut.

A common way to remember how lectins work is to look at the lectin as a protein key which fits into a specific carbohydrate lock. When the right key fits into a lock in the digestive tract, it breaks the cell membrane, which damages the cell.

The goal of the blood type diet is to avoid the lectins that are most attracted to your blood type while indulging the foods that nourish the body. Here’s the rest of the story!

History of Blood Type B

Photo from: Golden Bridge

Blood Type B has been around for 10,000 years, according to the research, and is based on the nomadic lifestyle. The individual with Type B blood is said to have a strong immune system and a digestive system that can handle most foods, although the foods must be carefully balanced.

D’Adamo says that Type Bs originated in the area of what is now India and Pakistan. Having migrated, their blood type mutated to adapt from the heat and vegetarian diet of Africa to cold weather and a diet which included meats and cultured dairy.

As the people from the Himalayas moved west into Europe, they took their blood type with them. It is said that Germany and Austria have high concentrations of type Bs today due to this Asian nomadic migration. Blood Type B is said to be the most adaptable to geographic moves.

Today, the largest distribution of Type B blood is found in the people of Japan, Mongolia, northern China, Korea, India, Germany, and Austria and their descendants.

Foods to Avoid

Photo from: Foodie Fumblings

There are some fantastic things about being the “balanced” blood type, and one of those things is that you get to eat a less strict group of foods than the other types. However, the nomad still needs to be careful of equilibrium in the diet, and there are many foods that you should avoid altogether.

Type Bs are often prone to being overweight, so foods that slow down metabolism should be avoided. Dr. D’Adamo suggests skipping corn, wheat, buckwheat, and rye in the grain category.  Tomatoes and lentils are not recommended to protect the metabolic process.

Most nuts and seeds are sadly out. Eat Right 4 Your Type says that they interfere with insulin production for Bs. Highest on the “avoid” list are cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.

While you’re  not best off as herbivores like Type As, there are still a few proteins you’ll want to avoid. Chicken, pork, and shellfish are strict no-nos because they are seen by the system as antigens. D’Adamo theorizes that eating these foods will cause an attack on the blood stream, which may lead to stroke and immune disease.

On the beverage front, you should skip soda, tonic water, and distilled water. Green tea isn’t beneficial to your type, either. Skip gelatin, black pepper, almond extract and the herb goldenseal.

Foods to Indulge

Photo from: Oregon State Dairy Processing Program

Wonder of wonders, you get to eat dairy!  Naturally, some types of dairy are better than others, and the same is true in your case. The best options will be naturally cultured dairy products like yogurt and kefir. You may also have several soft cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta, farmer’s cheese, feta and goat varieties.

D’Adamo suggests that the best meats for you are lamb and mutton, venison, and rabbit. While these aren’t easily found in your supermarket (aside from lamb), they may be procured during hunting season relatively easily if you know a huntsman.

Otherwise, you may choose beef, pheasant, and turkey. It’s still best to choose the preferred meats for your type as often as possible. Don’t forget about eggs, as these are fantastic for your blood type on this diet!

While it may seem on the surface that your diet is better dictated by Dr. Atkins than Dr. D’Adamo, read on. You need to balance all of those animal products with healthy amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables and grains.

The best vegetables for you are leafy greens, and that’s no surprise. They’re some of the most nutrient dense foods available on the planet! The magnesium will also help to boost your fragile immune system, so stock up and chow down.

For fruity goodness, be sure to include pineapple, banana, cranberry, grapes, papaya and plums. Yum! Just imagine the green smoothies you could make out of those bad boys!  Two bananas, 2″ of pineapple, half a small papaya, a few handfuls of spinach and kale with just a few cranberries? Yes, please!

Finally, grains. You get to enjoy some of the rarer grains, like the sweetness and light crunch of millet, the ancient relative of wheat that is spelt, and the ultimate comfort grain, oatmeal.  Ezekiel bread and Wasa are also great for your system, so have at it.

Lifestyle Considerations

Photo from: Andrewcg

Like Type As, you don’t respond terribly well to high amounts of stress. The body’s cortisol levels become elevated, making you irritable and susceptible to sleep problems. The good news is that meditation and visualization benefit you more than other types.

As a Type B, you’re probably highly intuitive and creative. That inherent quirkiness needs to play itself out in your choice of exercise as well as your general lifestyle. You’re the type who needs a mental and physical challenge when moving your body.

Dr. D’Adamo suggests that you regularly engage in sports that awaken the mind but only push the body to moderate levels. Such exercise would include tennis, martial arts, cycling, hiking and golf. I imagine you’re pretty good at rock climbing, too!

Well, there you have it; a lifestyle blueprint for type B blood.  I haven’t forgotten you, Type ABs and Type Os. Be sure to check back next week for part three of this four-part series on eating right for your type!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Eating Right For Your Blood Type: Type A
• The Primal Lifestyle: Diet
• The Grass Is Always Greener

Photo from: Fanpop

Men are salivating and women are envious of the body that Scarlett Johansson burned up the big screen with in Iron Man II.

For women dying to know her secret, you must know that this was no easy feat for the 25-year-old bombshell. In a article on MSN’s Health and Fitness section, personal trainer Bobby Storm lets us in on Johansson’s true feelings about her current exercising regimen.

“The first day she freaked out because it was really hard, but by the end of the five months she had totally changed her lifestyle.”

I’m sure it had something to do with the millions of dollars she stands to make for looking sexy.

The other thing women must know before reading this is that if you are overweight, these tips alone will not give you Johansson’s body. If you are battling a weight problem and want to lose weight check out CrossFit or HIRT (High Intensity Resistance Training), and then come back to add some finishing touches to your body.

These exercises help with shaping and toning the female body and will give you that little bit of extra sexiness you’ve been looking for.

Tougher Push-Ups

Photo from: Women's Health

Push-ups are one of the oldest exercises in the book, but when you add the twist of moving your body into the shape of a T you challenge your body even more.

Not only do you intensify your challenge, but also target your chest, arms, core and shoulders.

Women’s Health gives a perfect step-by-step example of how to properly perform this exercise.

“Get into pushup position with feet together and hands shoulder-width apart (A). Lower yourself until your chest is 2 to 4 inches off the floor (B). As you push back up, lift your right arm straight up and rotate your body to the right until you form a T, balancing on your left hand and the outside of your left foot (C). Return to the top of the pushup position and repeat to the opposite side. That’s 1 rep. Continue alternating to complete the set. Return to C1 after a rest.”

The workout recommendation is 3 – 4 sets, 4 reps, with 90 seconds of rest in between each set.

Improve Your Booty

Photo From: Shape

This particular exercise helped her create Johansson’s stealthy, sleek, cat-like appearance on the screen. It is great for toning and shaping your legs and buttocks.

Split squats are often people’s least favorite workout to do because of their difficulty and the burn you feel from doing them correctly.  About.com provides a great demonstration on how to execute this exercise.

“Stand about 3 or so feet in front of a step or platform and place the left leg on the platform, either resting on the toe or the top of the foot.

Make sure your feet are wide enough that the front knee stays behind the toe when you lunge down.

When you have your balance, bend both knees and lower down into a lunge.

Push through the front heel to stand up and repeat for 10-16 reps before switching sides.”

This exercise is important—your jeans will thank me and your ass will never look better.

Colorful Extension

Photo from: Notions of Identity

This is one your going to want to avoid doing in public—not that you’re going to workout in line at the grocery store.

The Flamingo Extension is another great exercise targeting several key areas. It works your back, core, glutes and shoulders. There are many different positions and styles you can do the flamingo exercise in.

To do this move, stand with feet together and bend your left leg slightly, lifting your right foot off the ground behind you. Your knee should be bent to a 90 degree angle.

Bend forward at the hips as you extend your right leg behind you and left arm in front of you so your body forms a T position. Hold your abs in tight, squeeze your shoulder blades together, and engage your glutes as you hold the position. Return to a standing position and repeat on the opposite side.

If you’re a beginner, it’s probably a good idea to try doing the yoga flamingo pose before you get into the full extension version that Johansson uses.

Improve Leap Frog Ability

Photo from: Natalie's Notes

A great way to improve strength in your lower body is by doing squat jumps. If you already have a regular workout program and are looking to add an exercise, you should switch between this and split squats.

Fit Sugar gives us proper directions on how to do jump squats. It is important that you make sure not to let your shoulders lean out beyond your knees to avoid straining your back.

“Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms at sides.

Start by doing a regular squat and then jump up as explosively as you can when you rise up reaching for the ceiling.

When you land, lower your body back into the squat position to complete one rep.”

Do two sets of 10 reps to begin, once you feel your body getting stronger make sure that you push yourself by increasing it by half a set to a full set.

Get Your Super Hero On

Photo from: Iron Mind Iron Body

These exercises probably won’t get you a staring role in a major motion picture, and there is also no guarantee it will land you a guy like Ryan Reynolds. However, they will help you tighten and tone.

According to Johansson’s personal trainer Storm, these exercises weren’t the only things she did to acquire her amazing form.

“No workout was ever exactly the same because I didn’t want her to get bored. I wanted to keep her in a place where she wanted to do more. I was having her do a lot of balance, coordination, and core work, but what she really loved was the strength training —things like pull-ups and kettlebells—and the idea of feeling and looking strong.”

All of these workouts can be done from home and free of any equipment, but ladies you must remember to mix in strength training. Kettlebells can be a great workout if done correctly and will help increase strength.

If you want it, then go get it.  Keep in mind that Scarlett’s body didn’t happen over night, nor did she workout only when she felt like it. She kept a strictly scheduled, three day a week workout for five months before the film.

Just think, if you start now you could be Black Widow for Halloween. Worst case scenario entertain your man with a little role playing.

Photo by: See My Cells

If you think you’ve tried everything to shed fat, you’ll want to consider the blood type diet.  Today we’ll look at what it is to eat for your blood type, and discuss how type As should eat.

I confess, I thought this diet was absolute quackery at first.  A friend whose health philosophies and practices I respect mentioned it to me one afternoon at a birthday party, so I decided I owed it to myself to at least look into it and bring you the story.

Since that day, I’ve done quite a bit more reading into the subject and, what’s more, was really surprised that the way I naturally feel best eating generally syncs with the diet’s recommendations for my type A positive blood.

What Is Eating For Your Blood Type?

Photo by: Trails.com

Dr. Peter D’Adamo is a naturopathic physician who advocates a blood-type directed diet.  His book, Eating Right 4 Your Type, is based on his belief that the four blood types, A, AB, B, and O, respond differently to chemical compounds in food called lectins.

His work is based on the studies of William C. Boyd, who was an immunochemist and blood-type anthropologist.  In the 1940′s he surveyed the world to determine the distribution of blood types.  He divided the world’s population into 13 distinctive races and published a book on his findings in 1950.

Using that research, Dr. D’Adamo grouped the races together by blood type and gives diet recommendations based on blood type, race, and subgroups of blood identifiers.

The premise is that each blood type evolved from an ancestor’s job.  As such, blood type A is called the Cultivator, or one who thrives on plants.  D’Adamo believes that this blood type evolved 20,000 years ago .

Blood type B has been around for 10,000 years, according to the research, and is based on the nomadic lifestyle.  The individual with type B blood is said to have a strong immune system and a digestive system that can handle most foods.

Type AB is called the Enigma, and is said to have evolved in the last 1000 years.  Less than five percent of the world’s population has blood type AB, probably because of more interracial offspring from genetically dissimilar ethnic groups.

Finally, type O is known as the Hunter, supposedly the oldest blood type coming in at 30,000 years of antiquity.  This blood type is believed to be the only type to thrive on a high-protein diet in Dr. D’Adamo’s plan.

Lectins

Photo from: National Centre For Biomolecular Research

The entire theory of eating for your blood type hinges on the way each blood type is said to process lectins.  Lectins are a kind of protein that bind to a particular kind of carbohydrate.  They’re very specific.

A common analogy is to think of a lectin as a protein key, which fits into a specific carbohydrate lock.  When the right key fits into a lock in the digestive tract, it breaks the cell membrane which damages the cell.

The keys (that is, lectins) can be inactivated by monosaccharides and oligosaccharides.  The carbohydrates bind them, preventing the protein from attaching to the “lock” in the cell membrane.  The goal is to protect the gut and the rest of the body from inflammation and destruction in the given foods.

Blood type dieting’s goals are to strengthen the immune system, shed excess weight, and prevent infections, as well as giving the body fuel that it can digest well and easily.

Generally speaking, type As should eat mostly vegetarian diets, B  a varied diet of meat, grains, dairy and vegetables, ABs should be largely vegetarian, with occasional meat, fish and dairy, and Os should eat heavily meat-based diets.

Foods To Avoid

Photo by: Big Kidz

If you’ve never had your blood type tested, there are several ways to determine it.  For women who have given birth and for anyone who has undergone major surgery, your blood type will be in your medical records.

They tell you what type your blood is when you donate, since it has to be classified during donation.  You may find a test at your local drugstore in the pharmacy department, and/or your doctor can can order one for you the next time you go in for a visit.

When you know that you’re type A (positive or negative), you can begin to apply the principles of eating for your blood type to your daily diet.

The problem I personally have with the diet is the recommendation of soy protein for vegetarians.  I am not a fan of soy, especially since blood type eating for As recommends consuming adequate amounts of legumes.

This diet recommends that you become a vegetarian.  If you feel the need to consume meat, the best choices are chicken and turkey.  Avoiding most dairy is required,  though yogurt and kefir are allowed, as are feta, ricotta, and mozzarella.

Non-sprouted wheat should be avoided, as with most grains containing gluten.  Amaranth and buckwheat are the most recommended grains, and sprouting them will increase the nutrition content significantly.

Foods To Indulge

Photo by: Flickr

I absolutely love that the recommendation is for As to consume lots of fresh vegetables, preferably raw.  The only restrictions are nightshade vegetables (which cause a host of problems in many people, myself included), along with cabbage and mushrooms.

Personally I love cabbage and couldn’t see giving it up.  However, it is remarkably difficult to digest.  Choosing fermented types of cabbage will make the process much easier on the system.

Fruits are encouraged, especially berries.  Melons aren’t recommended, and neither are coconuts, bananas, or mangoes.  Along with berries, alkaline fruits like lemon and grapefruit are encouraged, as are plums and figs.  Pineapple and cherry are recommended for their digestive benefits.

Legumes are encouraged, especially black beans, lentils, and black-eyed peas.  Soba noodles, artichoke pasta, and Ezekiel and Essene breads are high on the list for grains, and sprouting them will increase the nutrition content significantly.

Black tea, soda, beer, and distilled liquors are expressly forbidden.  One cup of coffee and one glass of red wine per day are thought to aid the digestion of As, so feel free to indulge.  Also, green tea and ginger tea are fantastic for the system!

Final Thoughts

I was surprised at how well most of the recommendations jive with how I’ve come to eat for wellness over the last 15 years.  I was a vegetarian for many years, and just came to eat seafood over the last three years.  Dr. D’Adamo suggests that type As live largely vegetarian lifestyles with occasional seafood and little dairy.

Also, the diet recommends against pistachios and cashews (along with a few other nuts).  I find this particularly interesting, as I am ridiculously allergic to poison ivy.  I’ve become allergic to mangoes, as they are closely related to poison ivy, and pistachios and cashews are in the same family.

I’ll be back next week with another blood type, along with food recommendations and a few recipes, so be sure to check back.  Be sure to leave a comment if you’ve tried the blood type diet, whatever the outcome!

Additional Reading on GenXXL:

• Soy: Myth Vs. Fact
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Photo Courtesy of ContraCostaBootCamp.com

High Intensity Resistance Training, also known as HIRT, is a different kind of strength training, and it’s making waves.  Bodybuilders are finding that adding one or two days of HIRT in place of their usual split is resulting in a leaner look and lower body fat.

Whether you’re cutting or bulking, you can use HIRT to elevate your basal metabolic rate (BMR), keep muscle while you’re cutting, minimize fat gain during bulking, and gain muscular endurance.

The Basics

Photo by Greg Westfall

HIRT is sometimes called interval training, but that’s easily confused with High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), which we’ll discuss soon. Other times it’s called circuit training. In CrossFit, it’s often called tabata, but that’s just one kind of HIRT.  HIRT is the most easily distinguished and what we’ll use for our purposes.

In HIRT, you’ll perform sets of 5 to 15 reps. You’ll do super sets and giant sets, and you’ll push through the burn. Finally, you’ll focus on the largest muscle groups, knowing that the smaller groups will get worked in the process.

There are two rules to HIRT:  push each set to the maximum; and keep your intensity as high as possible throughout the entire workout.

Pushing each set means that you do every set of every exercise until you finish it or collapse. No joke. It’s going to hurt; that’s the point. Anyone who is serious about bodybuilding knows that the sport hurts, and it’s not for wimps or whiners. The focus of this workout just emphasizes the truth about serious lifting.

And, you’ve got to work as hard as possible during the entire workout. Do the whole workout. Don’t skip anything. That’s the only way to keep your muscular strength while shedding fat.

How HIRT Works

The exercises that comprise a complete HIRT workout succeed in doing two things. First, they raise the BMR. Increasing your BMR is the only way to increase your daily caloric burn in the long term. It makes perfect sense, because a body with more muscle will have a higher basal metabolic rate.

Second, it keeps your Excess Post-Oxygen Consumption (EPOC) high. The higher we can push the EPOC after a workout, the more burn we’ll achieve during a workout and shortly thereafter.

It’s important to note that HIRT is designed to shed fat and retain muscle. You’re not going to gain strength during your HIRT workouts, and you need to adjust your methods accordingly.

If you’re looking to maintain, you could do just HIRT two days per week, HIIT two days per week and one longer cardio session. You won’t need to do any full body resistance training (RT) like a traditional builder would do, and you’ll have two rest days.

If your priority is to keep your gains and drop fat, you’ll do two days of full body RT, one day of HIRT, one day of HIIT and three days of rest.

Finally, if your goal is to gain muscle, you’ll want to do three days of full body RT, two days of HIRT, one day of low and slow cardio and one day off.

There are two ways you can approach a HIRT routine. If you’re new to lifting, you’ll want use one of the routines I’ve got here. There are different ways to focus the exercise, but I prefer either body weight exercises or Olympic lifting exercises.

If you’re an experienced lifter and are accustomed to creating your own routines, just be sure you hit the anterior and posterior leg chains, vertical and horizontal pushes and pulls and, of course, the core.

Body Weight Routine

Photo by Sally "sazztastical"

You all know how much I love body weight exercises, so adding HIRT with body weight just gets me all excited. This routine is perfect for those who are less experienced in the weight room, as well as those who don’t belong to a gym. You need just a couple of things to get a killer workout.

You’ll do each set for 10 minutes, giving it all you’ve got. I personally think this workout is more taxing than the Olympic lifting workout that follows, because it’s got you on the floor and back up again every minute or so. It’s pretty killer.

After you finish the group, take a three-minute break.  It’s a good time to puke if you need to, because I’m pretty sure you’re going to want to when you’re finished. The entire workout should take 40 minutes, plus a warm-up and stretching after, for a total of 45-50 minutes. This workout is modified from ProjectSwole.com.

Group A:

1. 5 push ups
2. 5 inverted rows
3. 5 jump squats
4. 10 V-sit crunches

Group B:

1. 5 chin ups
2. 5 pistol squats
3. 5 Russian twists, with a medicine ball if you have one
4. 5 push ups on a medicine ball if you have one, or on the floor if you do not

Group C:

1. 10 skipping lunges
2. 30-second plank hold
3. 5 dumbbell swings or medicine ball swings with each arm, or 5 scapular push-ups
4. Plank row (with or without dumbbells)

Olympic Lifting Routine

Photo from Daylife.com

Do each set for 10 minutes, going from one exercise to another without resting. After each super-set, take a 3 to 4 minute break.  The entire workout should take 40 minutes, plus a warm-up and stretching after, for a total of 45-50 minutes.

The bar should be weighted based on what you can manage for the exercise where your performance is weakest. On average, you should go with 15 to 20 percent of your one-rep max, but you’ll probably want to start even lighter with this one. This workout is modified slightly from ProjectSwole.com.

Group A:

1. Power Clean
2. Push Press
3. Upper portion of Romanian deadlift (hips to knees only)
4. Five reps of bent over barbell rows (one bar or two dumbbells)
5. Lower portion of Romanian deadlift (knees to floor only)
6. Touch the bar to the floor and repeat.

Group B:

1. Deadlift
2. Hang Clean
3. Push Press
4. Back Squat
5. Push Press
6. Touch the bar to the floor and repeat.

Group C:

1. Deadlift
2. Hang Clean
3. Push Press
4. Overhead Squat
5. Barbell Abdominal Roll Out

Final Notes

Photo by Greg Westfall

Besides being incredibly taxing to the system, you need impeccable form to do these exercises well. If you make even a tiny mistake, you will injure yourself. At the beginning of a workout you may have the strength you need, but by the end you’ll struggle.

There’s nothing wrong with struggling to keep great form, that’s part of the balance needed for successful bodybuilding. It’s best to work with a partner who can motivate you and correct your form when necessary.

It might be a good idea to get a trainer to watch you execute these exercises if you don’t have a regular lifting partner. At the very least, use the mirrors religiously.

Add HIRT to your workout regime and watch more lean muscle pop out in just a few weeks. Whether you’re adding bulk or leaning out, HIRT will bring the hurt!

Additional Reading on GenXXL

• Is CrossFit Fit For You?
• Getting Big On A Budget: Equipment
• Xtra Xtra Large: A Beginner’s Guide To Getting Big