Another weight loss product has been taken off the market due to the possibility it may bring about your untimely death.

A number of Hydroxycut products have been pulled off shelves and users are being encouraged to return their purchases. Among the concerns are that an as-yet-to-be-determined ingredient in the supplements may cause serious liver damage. It has been reported that a few people have even required liver transplants. If that’s not bad enough, the death of a 19-year-old man in 2007 was linked to a Hydroxycut product.

I know some of you are going to have an argument that goes something like this. “But all pharmaceuticals come with risks and side-effects. Considering that millions of people have taken Hydroxycut the risk is actually very small.” I get what those people are saying but I think there is a big difference between taking a drug for a medical condition and taking a drug (no matter how natural it may be) to get rid of love handles.

Maybe I’d feel differently if this was a wonder-drug that allowed people to overcome obesity and the serious health risks that come with being overweight but let’s face it, these supplements are for two kinds of people. Those who are already dieting and exercising and want to get to the next level of leanness, and those who hop from one diet or diet pill to the next in the hopes of finally beating the battle of the bulge. The first group will likely achieve what they want with these supplements, while the second will probably see some success. But both groups will gain the weight back after they stop taking the supplement. The fact is there are much healthier ways for both groups to go about losing weight and keeping it off.

I have been browsing forums about user experiences with Hydroxycut products and this is a sampling of what people have experienced while taking them. Numbness and tingling in their arms and legs, nausea and vomiting, headaches, feeling hot all the time, withdrawal symptoms similar to going off antidepressants, irregular heart beat and trouble sleeping. And those are just the non life threatening ones. More serious health problems that have been reported include seizures, cardiovascular disorders and rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems like kidney failure).
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather eat healthy and exercise than deal with those kinds of side effects.

crystals Uncategorized, nutrition and health, women's fitness supplements, weight loss

I’ve only had a few professional massages in my lifetime and I can say with certainty that there’s nothing better than having a sore, achy body manipulated by an expert. And after discovering self-myofascial release I haven’t changed my mind. What can I say, I love being pampered. But that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize the benefits of this type of self-massage or that I don’t employ it.

Basically self-myofascial release involves the use of a pretty inconspicuous piece of equipment known as a foam roller. Just think of yourself as the dough. With the foam roller in an open space on the floor you position your body so that the target muscle lays directly on top of it. As you roll back and forth your body weight presses muscle and fascia into the roller. Going back to the dough analogy it can be pretty uncomfortable when you roll over a knot, especially when instructions dictate that you focus the roller in these places for up to 45 seconds. Then it can be downright painful. A word of advice for beginners – just do as much as you can stand and work up to the recommended length of time. And you might not want to put all of your body weight into it right away.

A few of the reasons you should use self-myofascial release:

• It can help fix muscle imbalances

• You’ll increase range of motion in joints

• Muscles won’t be as sore in the days following a workout

• It can protect your body from injury

• Scar tissue that is already present can be broken down

Truthfully, the best part of self- myofascial release is when it’s over. But whatever you have to go through to get there, there’s no denying that a little TLC on a tight IT band or hamstring can have a beneficial effect on your comfort level. Sometimes when my muscles have been through a hard day, a few minutes of rolling is the best way I know to settle them down and get some sleep.

I won’t go into all the specifics, mostly because I’m not completely familiar with all of them myself, but I will encourage you to do something good for your body beyond resistance training, cardio and simple static stretching. Many sites offer complete descriptions of how it works and the best way to employ it so it’s easy to find instructions.

I guess this is one case where gains really do come from a least a little pain.

crystals Uncategorized, working out myofascial release