It is a total misconception to think that cardio is going to melt away belly fat. If you want to significantly lose fat around your belly, then you need to do strength training to see results. Not to say that you should stop cardio, but do it in combination with strength training. This is the best way to reduce body fat – aerobic with anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic training stimulates muscle growth to help burn more calories while aerobic training allows you to metabolize fat.

It is especially important for men to lose belly fat because of the health risks. Men who have waist sizes larger than 40 inches have an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes, just to name a few. It can also cause severe sleep apnea.

Moreover, as you age, you lose muscle which can slow the rate at which your body burns calories. This is why it is so important to exercise regularly and limit your calorie intake. As you get older, you need to slim down your portion sizes while increasing physical activity if you want to melt away that belly fat.

Some exercises that can help in this area are sprinting and interval type exercises. These help you burn the most fat. Jump rope or do intervals on a treadmill for a more challenging workout. Drink at least 64 oz of water throughout the day as well.

To really melt away that fat, you need to eat right and exercise daily. It takes consistency and real effort to lose those pounds. It’s no easy task to get rid of that spare tire once that fat takes over your belly, but it can be done with the right attitude going forward. There are many types of exercises you can do so that if you get bored with the same routine, you can try something else. Remember, strength training is the key to burning fat. Push yourself harder each time if you want to see results. Doing the same exercises each day that do not challenge you will not get you those results.

Squats and lunges are a couple of others that are also great exercises for strength training. Start with whatever you are most comfortable with and work harder each day from there. Once you begin seeing the results, you will be motivated to continue pushing yourself further each time and melting away that fat.

You cannot work only one specific area to achieve these results either. Sit-ups seem to be what most men resort to when trying to lose weight in their abdominal region. However, fat-burning occurs throughout your entire body, not just in one area so do not be disappointed when it doesn’t disappear overnight. You will lose in other areas as well and it takes time to really burn the fat from problem areas.

As long as you are committed to losing the fat and try different strength training exercises that are designed to burn the fat, you will see results. There are plenty of exercises you can do and if you are not familiar with specific ones, then google them to see how they are done so that you get started on the right foot and on your way to melting away that fat!

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Being a man is hard enough these days.  Since the day a boy is born, it is all about the family jewels. When that important muscle in between your legs is not working the right way, the first thing a man will do is panic. It is almost as if there life is coming to an end. You are not alone. Studies show that an estimated 18-30 million men are affected by ED or Erectile Dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction is when a man has consistent and repeated problems sustaining an erection. This obviously make intercourse very difficult and frustrating for all parties involved.  This does not just happen to old men, it can start in men as young as 40 years old.

There are several different forms of male sexual dysfunction, including problems with ejaculation and poor libido. In more cases than not, there is a physical basis for the problem of not achieving or maintaining an erection, referring to erectile dysfunction.

The symptoms to look at for in the case you may have erectile dysfunction are erections that are too soft for sexual intercours. You may feel, like you are ready and able to perform, but it can not actually happen. Another symptom is an erection that only lasts a short time and/or not being able to achieve an erection at all. Keep in mind that men who cannot get or maintain an erection at least 75% o the time they attempt to have sex are considered to have erectile dysfunction.

Unfortunately for all of us, as we age things do not work as well. Studies show that for men, 40% of them experience some degree of erectile dysfunction at the age of 40 compared to 70% at the age of 70. That is quite the increase. This does not mean that just because you are aging, your sex life is over. Erectile dysfunction can by treated by your doctor at any age.

There are several health issues that are linked to erectile dysfunction. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and multiple sclerosis are all closely linked to erectile dysfunction. Men that do have any of these conditions are more likely to experiece erectile dysfunction.

Again keep in mind, this can be controlled by your doctor, who will ask you questions about your symptoms a medical history. A complete physical exam to uncover signs  such as poor circulation or nerve trouble will be done. Your doctor will also look for abnormalities of the genital area that could cause problems with erections.

Erectile dysfunction is not the end of your sex life and can be treated. A few lifestyle changes can be made to improve sexual function such as giving up smoking, losing weight, and excercising more often can help by improving blood flow.  So with the help of your doctor and some lifestyle changes, you can begin to live your life the way you have always been.  It is only natural to feel embarrassed or angry when dealing with erectile dysfunction, but don’t forget that your partner is also affected.  Keep the lines of communication open and together everything will work out.

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The Brazilian butt lift videos are designed for women, but that doesn’t mean that men can’t benefit from the workouts. The videos are geared for the hips, thighs and butt and there are plenty of men who have big thighs and butts that can use this workout and see great results.

There are several videos that come in the set. What has worked for a lot of people with these videos is the constant change in the type of exercise from day to day so that you get a full-body workout. The routine changes daily so that you never get bored and you feel like you are working many muscles throughout your body.

Overall, I have heard nothing but positive feedback from many women I know who have tried the Brazilian Butt lift. I actually recommend it to men as well who have problem areas because it does work and the exercises are effective in trimming those areas.

The workout begins with an instructive type workout to show you all the moves and then outlines specific workouts from day to day depending on your body type. Depending on the category you fit into, you follow the daily workouts for a 30-day period and then begin to really see results. You can continue with the routine or just use the videos that you enjoy most after you have achieved your goal weight.

I know women who have done this workout for months and continued with the workouts because they enjoyed them so much and feel that it really keeps them in shape. The videos range in workouts from abs to cardio to sculpting so that anyone can do them – men or women.

So, if you are a man who is on the fence about the Brazilian Butt Lift and hesitant to try a “women’s video”, don’t be. Give it a try and I’m sure you will be glad you did. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to try it, especially if you find yourself pleasantly surprised with the results.

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Remember when carbohydrates were nothing to worry about? We ate jsut about anything we wanted.  You simply could not go wrong by eating carbs and they were the staple of most of our diets. Thanks to the wild popularity of the Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, and other low carbohydrate diets, we have been brain washed and led to believe that carbohydrates are “bad”.

What exaclty are carbohydrates, also known as carbs? Carbohydrates are any large group of compounds(include sugars, starch,and cellulose) which contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are made up of sugars and starches, which provide energy for humans and animals, and cellulose which make up many plant structures.

Carbohydrates are claimed to be the culprit of unflattering flab and a large cause of the obesity epidemic. White bread, white rice, pastries, sugared sodas, and other highly processed foods, may definitely increase weight gain and cause you not to loose the unwanted pounds.

On the other hand, not all carbohydrates are bad. Whole grains, beans, fruit, vegetables, and other sources of intact carbohydrates just to the opposite. They promote good health and keep our bodies on track to shed those unwanted pounds.  Do not be misled by the dangers of carbohydrates. They are an important part of a healthy diet.

When trying to diet, which we all have tried at least once in our lives, choose good carbs, not no carbs. Many popular diets treat carbs as if they are just plain evil and the root of all body fat and excess weight. This was true for the original Atkins diet, which became widely popular in promoting the no-carb approach to dieting. There is evidence that shows that a low-carbohydrate diet may help people lose weight more quickly than just an ordinary low fat diet. Unfortunately, that this diet is short lived. Once you cut out all carbs completely, you will drop weight. It is something you can not do forever. Once you start to bring back carbs to your diet, you will gain weight back.  Carbs are needed in your diet, so add good carbs to your diet.

Adding good carbs is not hard to do and is very satisfying. Get your grains intact from foods such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, and other types that a lot of people are not very familiar with like quinoa, whole oats, and bulgur. Your mainstream grocery stores are all carrying these products to help promote good healthy eating. You do not have to shop at a fancy organice supermarket and pay double the price.

To make a lifestyle change, we all have to make changes. It is so much easier to buy products that are heart healthy and good for your whole body. There really is no excuse of why you can not add whole grains and good carbs to your diet. In the long run, you will feel better, look better, and be glad you did. So remember, choose wisely. Carbs are not bad, if you choose the right ones.

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The bottom line is, the more protein you eat, the more protein your body stores in order for larger muscles to grow.

There are many ways to gain a pound of muscle per week, but there are a few that I stick with that seem to work the best:

• Eat a lot of meat. You should consume about 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day. So basically, whatever you weigh is what you should be eating in grams of protein per day. Break this up over several meals per day.
• Eat every 2-3 hours because if you don’t eat frequently throughout the day, your body will be limited in building new proteins. I usually have about 6 meals per day. So eat more calories throughout the day and eat more frequently.
• Drink a protein shake 30 minutes before you workout. Shakes containing essential amino acids are the muscle building blocks of protein.
• Have carbs after your workout because this will increase your insulin levels which slows the rate of protein breakdown.
• Drink milk before bed and eat a combination of carbs and proteins at least 30 minutes before bedtime. This will reduce protein breakdown in your muscles as the calories will stick with you during sleep.
• Eat a lot of protein as soon as you wake up or at least have a protein shake if you are on the go. I usually have about 7 egg whites and some turkey bacon, but if I don’t have time, I have a protein shake.
• Last, but not least, lift every other day rather than every day because your muscles grow when you are resting. Also, focus on the large muscle groups like the chest and legs. Do lots of squats and deadlifts or even pullups and bench presses. Make sure to rest between sets. You will build the most muscle in the quickest amount of time by focusing on the larger muscles.

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First, sleeping pills should never be used for long periods of time in order to avoid dependence to them. Sleeping pills taken for long periods can cause even greater problems to your health because they do not cure the underlying cause of insomnia, they only help in the short-term. They work best and are most effective when used for short-term situations.

Some of the many concerns with taking sleeping pills for long periods of time are the side effects which can cause confusion and forgetfulness as well as developing a drug tolerance to them in which case you need to take more and more for it to work. Moreover, you will develop a drug dependency as this continues where if you were to stop, you will go through serious withdrawal symptoms and begin shaking, sweating and vomiting.
That being said, over 90% of sleeping pills do not work and finding one that is really effective can be quite difficult. Right now, the top sleeping pills that actually work are Somabien, Ambitropin and Somnavox.

Somabien is considered the best because it is safe and improves the overall quality of your sleep. It is an all-natural sleep aid that promotes a feeling of deep relaxation to help you sleep soundly.

Ambitropin is another great sleep aid that costs under $30! It is also an all-natural sleep aid with no harmful side effects that are associated with other sleeping pills. Most people report faster times getting to sleep with this brand as well as longer sleeping periods.

Somnavox is also on the top of the list when it comes to safe and effective all-natural sleep aids. People call this the “happy pill”. It well surpasses the effectiveness of other sleep aids and has extraordinary results.

So if you are looking for an all-natural, effective and relatively inexpensive sleep aid, then you can’t go wrong with one of the three listed above. They help you get to sleep faster with a better quality of sleep and allow you to wake up feeling refreshed and energized as opposed to sluggish and groggy. Most other sleep aids are not all-natural and do carry many side-effects, especially if taken for long periods of time.

These three sleep-aids can also be tried risk-free if ordered on the internet to allow you to try and see what will work best. In my opinion, there isn’t one I prefer over another. You will definitely see results with all of these so choose one that meets your budget and go from there. You will also sleep more soundly knowing that you will not have to endure any harmful side effects.

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Getting enough quality sleep is just as important if not more than getting enough exercise and nutrition. They are all essential for us to be at our optimal health. If we don’t get enough sleep, we lose mental focus, our productivity levels decline, we become less physical and can even see weight gain. Never underestimate the power of sleep as it is a huge factor in living a productive and healthy lifestyle.

If you are experiencing the following, then you may be sleep deprived:

• Have a hard time waking up in the morning
• Feel sluggish throughout the day
• Fall asleep while watching television or reading a book
• Need a nap after a heavy meal
• Feel drowsy when driving

Not getting enough sleep can have many negative effects on the body and can be directly linked to the following:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Reduced immunity
• Stress
• Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses
• The inability to focus or concentrate for extended periods of time

Insufficient sleep affects your whole being and can cause your body to release excessive amounts of stress hormones which keep you awake at night. Stress hormones such as cortisol signal your body to store fat as well. Furthermore, when you don’t get enough sleep, this signals your brain to want sugar. Then you spend your day getting jacked up on caffeine and sugar and this puts your nervous system into overdrive. This will further add to you staying awake at night and make you wake up sluggish in the morning. Hence, you have begun a horrible cycle becoming totally dependant on caffeine and sugar to get you through the day.

The most important thing you can do for your body is to get enough rest so that you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to have a productive day. It is also equally important to have the appropriate production of melatonin in order to get enough quality sleep that is undisrupted. The average adult needs between 7.5 – 9 hours of sleep to function at their best.

Increasing your sleep by as little as 15 minutes to a half an hour each night can drastically change the way you function throughout the day. Once you begin to make this change, you will see amazing results on how this can affect your overall well-being.

Last but not least, do not be fooled by the myth that you can make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on the weekends. This can affect your overall sleep cycle and can make it more difficult for you to stay on track by getting to sleep at the right time each night. Moreover, it will not completely make up for your lack of sleep.

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Pot bellies are not just for cute little pigs. More and more men can be seen with a pot belly, just on a much larger scale. Generally, you will not get a woman to stop and comment how cute your pot belly is, as they would to an adorable round pig.

The reality is that our bodies are constantly being measured and in mirrors at the gym and on our very own bathroom scale, we are measuring ourselves. It is a never ending battle. Not only is the way you feel and look not what you want, but your health is at risk.

Fat cells, every little one in your body, is filled with a greasy substance called lipids. The average American has roughly 30 billion fat cells in their body. We you intake that delicious doughnut, crunchy potatoe chips, or that much needed Twix bar, your fat cells can expand up to 1,000 times their original size.  The fat cells can only get so big, and then they duplicating, and so on.  The sad thing is, once your body has a fa cell, you are stuck with it. So as your cute little pot belly continues to grow, the  more fat cells your body produces. This makes getting it off that much harder.

Many of us, including women, tend to store  fat in our bellies. Women tend to get it in their thighs and buttox,  right along with the belly area.  Belly fat is not attractive and is where health dangers begin. Your belly fat does not just sit there and do nothing.  It releases substance that can be harmful to your body and functions like a seperate organ.  For example, it releases free fatty acis that actually impair your ability to break down insulin. Insulin is a hormone and if your body has too much can lead to diabetes.

Heart attacks and strokes are also at an increased risk when you are carrying the excess fat. The fat secretes substances that increase your risk, as well as the stress hormone cortisol. Unfortunately, for all of you out there with a big belly, your abdominal fat is the blame for many health problems. This fat resides very close to your heart, liver, and other major organs. As your belly grows (almost looking like your are 7 months pregnant), it presses on the organs, feeds them poisons, and messes with their daily functions.  Who would have known that a fat belly could do so much harm?

The easy part was putting the weight on. It infuriates me when I see a thin person eating whatever they want. For most of us, we are not that lucky. I don’t say not to eat what you like, but be concious of what goes into your mouth. Be sure to excersise. Not only is it great for your body, but your mind as well. There are so many free online tools and support groups to help you along the way. Take control of your health before it is too late. You and your body will be glad you did.

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Most people who are advocates of health and fitness understand that potassium is essential for optimal health. Potassium is a major macronutrient. This nutrient helps carry oxygen to the brain and is essential for healthy brain function. There is also a positive association between potassium and bone mineral density. Intake of high potassium fruits and vegetables has a direct beneficial effect on bone mass.

Moreover, potassium can also help our kidneys by preventing kidney stones from developing. Kidney stones form from calcium in the kidneys and the potassium keeps the calcium from forming those stones. Last, but not least, daily intake of potassium can lower your blood pressure. Those who suffer from hypertension will directly benefit from this.

Potassium and sodium have a direct correlation to one another in that in order for the body to use this nutrient appropriately, an adequate amount of sodium needs to be in check. They work together to regulate our water balance in the cells of the body. It is important to note, however, that diets that are too high in sodium may contribute to potassium deficiency. Eating a lot of processed foods can also lead you to become deficient in potassium.

If you experience the following, then you are deficient in potassium – irritability, excessive sweating, chronic fatigue, earaches, muscle weakness or poor circulation, heart palpitations, insomnia, intestinal pain, swollen glands, water retention and a fast heartbeat. Intake more potassium in your diet and you will see these signs disappear. You will find many natural sources of potassium in orange juice, bananas, spinach, almonds, prunes, peaches, pineapples, cantaloupe, sunflower seeds, potatoes and tomato juice just to name a few.

Essentially, your daily intake of potassium should be about 3,500 mg. There is a small amount in multivitamins so you need to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables in addition to that daily. Remember, however, that potassium can throw off your electrolyte balance if taken in excess and this will ultimately slow down your heart. This is extremely dangerous.

Overall, scientists have linked low levels of potassium to many common diseases such as diabetes and heart disease as well as disorders such as hypertension. It is imperative to increase your consumption of potassium rich foods to avoid these from ever developing. Luckily, it is one of the easiest nutrients to get and is found in many fruits and vegetables as discussed. If you want to feel better and stay healthy, it is recommended that you include potassium rich foods in your diet!

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Watch the following video and read the excerpt from NBC News about an uncommon epilepsy treatment that is having great success with a patient:

FORT MYERS -

About 3-million Americans live with epilepsy. And for them, medication is the first line of defense. But doctors say there’s a drug-free treatment that’s underutilized, and a local patient says she’s been seizure-free for a year since she’s been having the treatment.

Jeni Young arrived at a Fort Myers clinic Friday morning. Undiagnosed for years, she started having epileptic seizures when she was 19.

“It slowly progressed and slowly progressed and I was having three to 400 a day,” said Young.

She says they can range from grand mals to smaller tremors.

“Like when you get a cold chill and you shake,” said Young, describing the smaller tremors.

She says the seizures grew debilitating and that she was asked to leave college, quit driving and then lost her job.

But she said it was the side effects from the medications that were most difficult on the single mother.

“I wasn’t sleeping and the weight gain and the memory loss is just horrible. It literally erases years of your life,” she said.

Then she learned about a non-medication treatment – Vagus Nerve Stimulation, or VNS, Therapy.

It involves a small device that is implanted in the chest and a cord sends impulses to the vagus nerve.

Those impulses prevent electrical irregularities that cause seizures.

“It does reduce the frequency of seizures, the duration of seizures and also it makes it so our recovery time after the seizure is better – is less,” explained Dr. Jose Colon, with Lee Memorial Health System.

Young says while she did have breakthrough seizures after the device was implanted in June 2010, she hasn’t had one since last November.

Dr. Colon says the treatment is not used often enough.

“I think that the demographics will say that a lot more patients could benefit from it than actually have it,” he said.

Young says it’s changed her life.

“Now I’m completely independent, you know? I’ve got my independence back,” she said.

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