Yipz on Healthkicker

Weblog

Sunday, 02 August 2009

RAM TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTHCARE AUG 11-18 IN INGLEWOOD CA!

(Please, if you have time to donate, please do)

Dates:	August 11-18, 2009
Location:	The Forum 3900 W. Manchester Blvd. Inglewood, CA 90305

The Remote Area Medical Corp. is heading to Inglewood CA to provide FREE health care to those who are uninsured, under insured, unemployed, and for those who cannot afford it. Founded in 1985, the RAM's mission is to provide free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance to people in remote areas of the United States and the world. This is your opportunity to volunteer and REALLY help someone who desperately needs it.

To those of you out there in the Healthkicker audience who is currently in need of:

DENTAL: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, and root canals. Everyone receives a free dental exam. Pediatric dentistry is available.

VISION: Vision exam and free prescription glasses made onsite. (NOTE: May not be able to make glasses for everyone.) Cataract surgery.

MEDICAL & WOMENS HEALTH: Mammograms and Pap smears; pediatric exams; adult physicals & medical consults (including diabetes and hypertension); chiropractors; acupuncture; blood lab work; chest X-rays; medication assistance; and many other medical specialties available

Please show up. The line will be Huge, so get there as early as you can afford.

How Far Will You Go to Quit Smoking? Post your Advice Here!

(I will quit smoking... I will quit smoking...)

BBC World News Article Here!

Worried about the yellow mark the patch will leave? How about the cost of the nicotine gum? Scared of withdraws and cravings? Tell that to Former merchant banker Geoff Spice, who is about to Strand himself on an island for 30 days to quit smoking.

"Former merchant banker Geoff Spice is due to land on the small isle of Sgarabhaigh, off Harris in the Outer Hebrides, over the weekend.
Mr Spice, 56, will spend four weeks in solitude with only some books and the island's sheep for company." - BBC World News
This begs the question: What is the difference between people who have quit and people who want to quit?
As a person who has never smoked cigarettes (though have smoke pipe tobacco and Hookah), I have fortunately never had to deal with this circumstance. So this is a call to you, the Healthkicker audience! What are some tips to Quit Smoking?

Friday, 31 July 2009

Keeping healthy company

(yay!)

Remember how your parents used to tell you to keep smart friends around? How "bad company" will corrupt you as a young person? Well... Sad to say, but peer pressure does work, and your actions are directly associated to the company you keep.

Well, if keeping successful and "smart" friends works, then the same should go for healthier friends! These are the people that can help you get to where you need to be, especially if they work out, eat right, and stay active.

Now, I not promoting you dumping your old friends for new slim friends, but what I am saying is spend a little more time with your healthy friends then you normally would. Go out to eat with them, or if they want, go work out with them. You will not be disappointed. Unless they are pretentious pricks. But you get the picture: by doing as they do, you will pick up on their habits. It's just like how in high school, you and your friends came up with the same slang, or how you and your boyfriend or girlfriend are able to communicate in grunts.

This also works as a family unit, as the people you are most likely to spend most of your time with is your family. If you are a parent, chances are you're kids are going to pick up the same habits that you have. This means if you emphasize exercise and healthy diets, then your kids will pick it up!

So, if you don't have a person to look up too, go ahead and be the agent of change in your group of friends!

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

The Cheeseburger Bill - another debate!

(No you can't sue)

In 2004, the US House of Representatives passed a bill banning lawsuits directed at fast food restaurants for making food that was "too fattening" or "the reason for obesity." The bill came about when two teenage girls, both of which were GROSSLY overweight had joined together to sue McDonalds. Needless to say, their case was dropped and fast food was free to make thousand calorie burgers and oversized milkshakes.

Now, I side with the House of Reps on this one. There is no way in hell that you should be able to sue over getting fat, ESPECIALLY when everyone tells you that eating fast food WILL get you fat. Even the fast food industry recognizes and states that their food "Isn't for daily consumption."

But...

Their argument is a legitimate one. For instance, in a Sausage McMuffin, which is only 114 grams (the weight of a newton, or an apple), and has 390 calories, 200 of which from FAT! Now... why would you need close to 400 calories for a small sandwich is beyond me. Unless your a lumberjack with a stapled stomach.

Now, on to you guys. What do you guys think of the law? Is it right to ban lawsuits on fast food, or should they be responsible for their food? Write your comments!

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Workout efficiency

(charts and graphs makes my head hurt)

Ask yourself this question next time you're at a gym: Am I working hard?

Most of you will answer "yes," but how do you guys know? Do you go off of memory? Do you base it on how you feel?

For those of you who do not see improvements in your body after a few months in the gym, this is for you. Chances are you are not working out at the level that you should be. Instead of slowly improving, chances are you are maintaining a certain level of fitness. This means you aren't working out efficiently!

But never fear! All we have to do is to establish a base line!

Grab a small notebook and a pen, then head to the gym. Go through your usual work out (treadmill, weights, etc..) and mark down exactly what you did, and how you did them. Make sure you force yourself to go your max!

For example, write "Treadmill - 7.0 mph - 20 mins" or "Pushups - 50" or "Bench - 45 plates - 12 reps". This is your baseline! Meaning that for your workout, you should do 3-5 sets of about 70% of your max weight!

Examples: To maximize your bench work out, do 3-5 sets of 35 lbs plates! (This is assuming that you are lifting 45 lbs plates.)
or
Do 3-5 sets of 35 pushups if the most you can do is 50.

After about two-three weeks of consistent exercise, re-establish your baseline!

What do you guys think? Do you guys keep a log of what you do or do you wing it?