Fitness Hunks

Fitness Man Christophe Garrigues

Why So Many People Are Going On The Self Discovery Journey

By Emily Tanner - Author of 'My Self Journey'

Did you know that more people than ever are investing in themselves these days? That means that in comparison to years gone by, more people are spending money on self improvement, whether in the form of burning essential oils, attending yoga classes, visiting spiritualists or simply having personal counselling.

So, the biggest question that we all want answered is why now? Why all of a sudden?

Well, firstly, this explosion in self development has not happened overnight; in fact, the self improvement markets have been servicing many individuals for many years. Having said that, there has been a marked upturn in book sales for self improvement, a widespread increase in those having complimentary surgeries and a huge growth reported in expenditure in the holistic product markets. People are simply not happy with going to work, spending the weekend with the kids and playing the occasional game of golf as relaxation. These days we are all striving for some deeper meaning in our lives and wanting to add a spiritual string to our personal bows.

It's hard to know specifically what the cause of this explosion in the holistic markets are, though there seem to be a few major attributes that could explain this rapid growth.

The first reason is that there seems to be a great deal of illness and terminal disease. This means that there are many patients striving to self heal themselves and do not wish to follow the traditional allopathic paths of surgery and typical treatment. And, there is overwhelming research that many people have been cured of many life threatening diseases as a result of self treatment.

A second reason could be that so many of us have access to such a wide arena of knowledge. The birth of the internet allows the mere mortal to develop their awareness of even the most obscure topics and it's true that many internet searches are for those venturing into the self development markets.

A further reason for this reported growth and interest in the mind and the effects of the mind on the body are from celebrities and those in the media. When a topic such as Reiki healing is suggested by a film star or a popular singer talks about the benefits of guided meditation, it increases the awareness for these areas amongst the general public. This then increases internet searches in these topics thus leading to greater sales for books, publications and products to develop skills in these key areas.

Lastly, it seems that more and more people are finding peace, comfort and satisfaction through a holistic approach to their once disharmonious lives previously filled with discord and unhappiness. And, this probably is the biggest reason why so many of us are trying to reach a deeper level within ourselves. After years of worrying too much about our physical appearance, we are finding that our true happiness can often lie within. And if you still haven't found whatever it is you are looking for, perhaps you should take heed from millions of other individuals who have stopped pinning their happiness on external factors and are focusing much more on themselves to master their own happiness.

If you're not living the life you've always dreamed of having, then it's time to make a change. It's now your time to create a life filled with love, joy and harmony. Visit Emily's website today at: http://bit.ly/9PaJDW and release the power within you.

Emily has a BA (Hons) in Psychology and is the Author and Founder of 'My Self Journey'.

Upper Back Pain Causes And Solutions

Anybody suffering from pain in this area is likely to want to know about upper back pain causes. Why do you have this pain and what might have brought it on? Of course, we cannot know about your individual case, and you should certainly consult with a doctor, especially if the pain is severe or if it does not resolve by itself in a few days.

In this article we will consider some possible upper back pain causes and what you might be able to do to solve the problem. First let's look at what exactly is meant by the upper back, because this can confuse some people.

What Is The Upper Back?

The upper back is generally referred to medically as the area between the bottom of the neck and the bottom of the rib cage where the lumbar spine begins. Some people might call the lower part of this area the 'middle back', but anatomically it all makes up one area called the thoracic spine.

Thoracic refers to the chest, so you can think of it as the part of the back that is roughly equivalent to the full extent of the chest at the front.

This part of the spine is very strong. It supports the whole weight of the upper body and gives vital support to the rib cage which protects the heart and lungs. Each of the ribs is joined to one of the thoracic vertebrae of the spine.

What Causes Pain In The Upper Back?

The most common upper back pain causes are irritation or inflammation of the muscles or ligaments that surround the spine. This in turn may be caused by various factors:

- poor posture, especially while seated or using a computer

- repetitive strain in people who are constantly moving their arms or upper back in a certain way, often due to their work (e.g. some construction workers or factory workers)

- strain of the muscles due to weakness, especially in old age or in people who have been bedridden and unable to exercise

Other upper back pain causes include problems with the joints in the spine or a compression fracture of the vertebra. The latter is a break in the bone which may be caused by an injury such as a car accident, fall or sports injury, or may be due to osteoporosis, especially in post menopausal women.

In rare cases there could be a herniated disc or problems related to disease of the spine or the discs. However, these problems are more common in the lower back.

Upper Back Pain Treatment

If a muscle is inflamed due to straining without any serious injury, it will often resolve within 3-7 days. In the meantime, anti inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs may be prescribed. Massage of the area can be very helpful too.

However, in the case of repetitive strain, the pain may return when you repeat the same movements. So if your pain is associated with your work, you may need to investigate other options.

A chiropractor may be able to help by manipulating affected joints. This is more likely to be helpful where the pain has been caused by a specific injury or trauma.

You may also want to try other pain relieving measures such as acupuncture, ice or heat treatments.

If the problem is not solved in this way, it is important to consult with a doctor. You could have suffered an injury without realizing how serious it was, or you could have osteoporosis (brittle bones) or another disease. Upper back pain causes are not always obvious so it is important to have medical attention.

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Sometimes There Is Such Thing As Too Much Muscle Mass

By Doberman Dan

Just the other day I took my 9 month old Doberman puppy, Donner the Devil Dog, for a walk in the park. After peeing on every tree within sight for a half a mile (the dog, not me) we stumbled upon two very attractive young ladies who had a two-year-old 130 pound male Rottweiller.

There seemed to be some chemistry between me and the girls (who were sisters) and the Rottweiller and Donner seemed to be getting along, too.

The sisters explained that Zane, the Rottweiller, hadn't had much exercise lately. Donner was pretty excited to have another dog to play with, so the girls suggested that we let them run loose and play. Donner loves to run and play with other dogs and has never been aggressive towards other dogs, so it seemed like a good idea.

The dogs were well behaved and ran around and played. Zane had the weight advantage since he weighed about double what Donner weighs, so Donner got knocked down once. But Donner definitely had the speed and agility advantage, and Zane couldn't keep up.

After only a few minutes, the Rott plopped down all out of breath and tired. Donner was still ready to go and was leaping over Zane trying to get him to play. But Zane couldn't go any more.

Now both of these dogs still have all their "equipment", if you know what I mean, so testosterone came into play.

I guess the Rott decided that he wanted to be the dominant dog, and started to mount Donner, the Devil Dog. It only took a second for the Rott to realize that he made a big mistake.

Donner unleashed on him a fury like I've never seen! My 70 pound baby had this 130 pound bulky Rott backing up and fighting for his life. If I hadn't pulled my dog off the Rott, I'm thoroughly convinced that Donner would have cleaned his clock.

When I did get my dog pulled off, the Rott went under a picnic table and plopped down on his side, totally worn out. My devil dog was jumping all over the place still wanting a piece of the Rott!

What does this have to do with bodybuilding? Well after thinking about this whole incident, I realized that over the past few years I had transformed from a Doberman into a Rottweiller.

I had used the old, "I'm bulking up" excuse for so long that my eating habits had gotten sloppy.

Sure, I had reached an all time high body weight of 190. I had 17" arms and 16 1/2 " calves on a very light-boned 5'6" frame. I was the biggest I had ever been.

But I also had a 34" waist...OK, maybe 34 1/2". Well, OK...more like 35".

A little over a month ago, I realized that I was just too damn fat. I hadn't seen my abs in years.

I was tired of being a "bulk boy" that looked big in clothing but was afraid to take my shirt off at the beach.

It's Time To Get The Doberman Look!

Dobermans are beautiful dogs. Sleek, powerful, muscular, defined, elegant creatures. When they walk and run you can see the muscles rippling. They walk elegantly and proudly with an air of confidence.

Rottweillers (am I spelling that right?) are also powerful dogs. But they're stocky and saggy. They walk like the bulldog in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. You can almost feel the ground shake as their paws slam down on the ground. They remind me of big bulky powerlifters.

And that's not a bad thing either. If you want to be a "bulk boy" have at it! It's a great excuse to "consume mass quantities", as the Coneheads would say.

I've noticed that as I'm making the transition from Rottweiller to Doberman, I'm starting to get a lot of compliments. People at the gym are saying my calves and thighs are getting bigger.

No, actually they're getting smaller. Smaller because of less fat. Now they're getting defined and therefore look bigger.

I've discovered that the only person who was keeping track of my measurements and weight was me. It doesn't matter that my arm is smaller now. It looks bigger cuz it ain't covered with so much blubber!

Measurements don't matter...it's how you look. A well-defined 15" arm looks better than a bulky, blubbery 17" arm.

Build Muscle Mass With The "Hyper Growth Muscle Mass System" by Daniel Gallapoo known in bodybuilding circles as Doberman Dan. A step-by-step guide that teaches you the secrets, tips, and techniques you need to know to build a chiseled, muscular, ripped, head-turning physique...FAST! Visit http://bit.ly/cQcRo5

Cyber Safety

Computer Crimes: Are You Protected?

As hackers and identity thieves become more clever and adept at breaking into computers and networks, lawmakers have enforced regulations that crack down on cybercriminals and help protect users.

The FBI, for example, recently arrested a number of Russian cybercriminals responsible for stealing funds from various businesses. According to an October Time magazine story, members of the hacker ring managed to steal $70 million by lifting online banking information and setting up accounts with phony names to which the stolen money was then transferred.

The statistics are staggering: Agence-France Presse reported in September that hackers create 57,000 scam websites every week, intended to trap the average user. In addition, 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2008 alone, and the numbers continue to grow, highlighting the fact that many users' private, sensitive information is vulnerable online and can be tampered with. READ COMPLETE ARTICLE

Put your Mind & Body on "Autopilot" and reach your goals...automatically!

Did you know that habits are incredibly powerful tools for personal growth and success?

Think about the habits you have now and how they affect virtually every aspect of your life. Your weight and health are determined by your eating habits. Your relationships with people are determined by your social habits. Your success at work is determined by your work habits. You have sleeping habits that dictate how well you sleep. You have sexual habits. You even have buying habits; just take a look around your house and you will quickly see them. Our character, health and virtually every aspect of our lives are indeed determined by our habits.

If you ask ten people on the street what the word habit means, nine out of ten will tell you that a habit is a negative action that people do over and over again, like smoking, or procrastinating, or eating too much. Bad habits get all the press. Let’s look at the results of just one bad habit: smoking. Every year, over 400,000 people lose their lives to smoking-related illnesses in the United States. Imagine then, the negative power that exists in just that one bad habit. It is staggering.

Now I want you think about an even greater power, a power that can bring you success, health and happiness; a power for positive, permanent, and automatic personal growth: the power of positive habits. Let’s look a little closer at the meaning of the word habit. Random House dictionary defines habit in this way:

Habit: An acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.

The important words in this definition are acquired and almost involuntary. Let me ask you a question. When is the last time you sat down and said to yourself, "Today I am going to add a new habit to my life?" I would venture to guess that you have probably never said those words. As you read this article, you will see how easy it is to add positive habits to your life and the great power they have to change it. Think about the words almost involuntary. This means the habit is so powerful in your mind that it is almost unstoppable! With respect to bad habits like smoking, procrastination, and overeating, this is very bad. But with positive habits, this is very, very good.

What is a positive habit? A positive habit is simply a habit that produces positive benefits, actions and attitudes you want to acquire and make a part of your life. Why is there such great power in positive habits to effect change? Because habits, by their very nature, are automatic. After a period of time they can become permanent.

So how do we go about adding new positive habits to our life? It’s really quite easy. You simply begin repeating an action, attitude or thought process every day for at least 21 days. Research has shown that an action that is repeated for a minimum of 21 days is likely to become a permanent habit. Remember that positive habits have positive benefits and you will reap those benefits for as long as you maintain that habit. So now that we know what positive habits are, and how to acquire them, let’s look at some simple positive habits from the book that will help you reach your goals and have a healthier body.

Positive Habit #53 - Make it a habit to set goals

Since we are talking about goals, what better habit could you have then the habit of setting goals? Did you know that the most successful people all share the common positive habit of goal setting? A study was done to determine the importance of goal setting. College students who had gone on to achieve great success in business were asked to list their habits. The students who had made a habit of setting goals were in the top 3% of earnings in the population! It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of goal-setting as a positive habit. Goal setting is simple, yet 97% of the population never do it. By making goal setting a positive habit, you can start placing yourself in the top 3% of the population of successful people.

Here are some simple steps to help you start making goal setting a positive habit:

Step 1 - Define your goals, write them down, and be very specific; capture your goals on paper. It is amazing how many people never take the time to write down exactly what it is they want in life. Remember, you can’t hit a target if you don’t have one.

Step 2 - Determine what the time line is for reaching your goals; set specific deadlines for each goal.

Step 3 - Identify any obstacles that may stand in your way, list them, and state how you plan to overcome them.

Step 4 - Make a list of the people and/or organizations who will help you reach your goals.

Positive Habit #3 - Take Flax Every Day for a Healthy, Trim Body and Lower Cholesterol!

What is flax?

Flax is a blue-flowering plant known for its oil-rich seed. People have been eating flaxseed since ancient times, it has a pleasant, nutty flavor. The health benefits of flaxseed and flaxseed oil are significant and for that reason this habit is recommended as a primary habit for health and a trim and fit body. Here are some of the benefits of flaxseed and flaxseed oil:

Flaxseed contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Several studies have shown that flaxseed can help to lower cholesterol in the same way that other soluble fiber foods like oat bran and fruit pectin do. A study at the University of Toronto showed that total cholesterol levels dropped 9% and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) decreased 18% among a group of women who ate milled flaxseed cooked into bread every day for a period of 4 weeks.

Flaxseed is one of the richest sources of lignans and alpha-linolenic acid. Studies suggest that lignans may help to prevent certain cancers. Flaxseed is one of the few plants in the plant kingdom that provide a high ratio of alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) to linoleic (omega-6 fatty acids), it is an excellent source of healthy polyunsaturated fat.

A new study has confirmed that the positive habit of taking flax seed daily can help you get a trim and fit body. I interviewed Dr. Sam Bhathena, a researcher at the Phytonutrients Laboratory of the US department of Agriculture, he said, "we have observed that flax seed meal is much more effective in lowering cholesterol then soy. Several other studies have shown that in general, omega-3 fatty acids,lower lipid deposition, and help in reducing body weight."

Omega-3 fatty acids — More than half the fat contained in flaxseed is omega-3 fatty acid type, an essential fatty acid. There have been numerous studies reporting the health benefits of consuming omega-3 fats. Recent studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids which are abundant in flax seed can help protect you from coronary artery disease, stroke, high blood pressure, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Studies on the effects of flax seed on breast cancer are now under way. Omega-3s can also help boost your metabolism, helping your body to burn calories faster.

Flax is available as raw seed, ground seed and also as an oil which is made by cold pressing flax seeds. You can purchase raw flax seed, ground flax seed and flax seed oil at most health food stores. The easiest way to incorporate flax seed into your diet is to buy ground flax seed meal and add it to your food.

· Substitute for cooking oil or shortening in baked goods.
· Add ground flax seed to pancakes, waffles and cereals.
· Put ground flax seed on salads.

Here is a great recipe for a super health shake. Make a protein shake with 8 ounces of your favorite juice such as apple or orange, add 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil, 2 tablespoons of soy powder, 1 tablespoon of lecithin, fresh fruit such as bananas, papayas or blueberries. Blend with a hand blender or an electric blender. This power shake will provide you with the health benefits of soy; omega-3’s, fiber, antioxidants, and enzymes from the fruit, and the fat loss benefits of lecithin.

Imagine how your life would change if you could put it on AUTOPILOT and reach all of your goals automatically!Now you can with "The Power of Positive Habits," the new book that #1 NY Times best-selling authors Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, John Gray Ph.D. are all raving about!

As you read this book you will discover:

. How you can "Reach Your Goals" Automatically!
. How you can "Achieve Greater Success" Automatically!
. How you can "Lower your Cholesterol" Automatically!
. How you can "Reduce Cancer Risks" Automatically!
. How you can "Improve your Health" Automatically and more!

"The Power of Positive Habits" e-book is filled with dozens of positive habits based on the latest scientific and medical research. Order your copy today and get over $450 worth of Fr*ee "Life Changing" bonus gifts!! Click on the link below to see a complete list of all of these incredible bonus products!

Your Life is about to Change! Click on the link below and put your Mind and Body on "Autopilot" for success today!

http://bit.ly/d4LhXw