Have We Forgotten The Real Meaning of Christmas

Posted on December 8, 2011 by savi0043

Have We Forgotten The Real Meaning of Christmas
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Caroline_Bourke]Caroline Bourke

Christmas is usually the time which we spend with our family, friends and loved ones. As some songs go, it is the season to be jolly and to be full of good cheer. The holiday season has so many icons and symbols that these can fill up and entire Christmas tree as ornaments and decorations. Some people literally cover their homes and surrounding with lights and decorations to celebrate the holidays.

Due to the immense marketing and advertising during the season, the true meaning of Christmas is often lost. People nowadays equate the holidays as a time of gift giving and receiving. Although this is not a bad thing, it is also a very materialistic point of view which is magnified by the recurrent advertising that shows the holidays as a time when the tree is full of presents and people are happy to receive boxes left, right and center.

The meaning of Christmas is actually how a person understands the season. Some people who only understand that the holidays is a time in which one spends money to buy gifts will always be stuck in this rut for as long as he believes in it. For those who view Christmas as an exclusively Christian celebration and does not celebrate it, then he would have missed the true meaning of Christmas as well.

Season of Love

Christmas is actually a representation of the love we universally feel for mankind. Christians have always believed that it is a celebration of the birth of Christ and the renewal of our belief in God and Christianity. However, the love we have for our fellow man is not an exclusive Christian trait and can be felt by many other religions and cultures. It just so happens that the season is widely celebrated by Christians that it is believed to be for Christians only. In actuality, Christmas can belong to anyone as long as we express our love for our loved ones and show them that we care for them.

Even if this holiday is generally celebrated by Christians, it is symbolized by many other cultures beliefs and we will be united for as long as we realize that Christmas is a gift given to us by our ancestors to celebrate life and happiness. It should be taken as it is and no malice or prejudice should stain the purity of the season.

Caroline Bourke is a full time beauty therapist in Florida. Check out these great Christmas Ideas resources and articles or the more specific Christmas Gift Ideas articles and advice. http://www.christmasideasnow.com/

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Posted on December 3, 2011 by savi0043
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Should You Workout If You Are Sick?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by savi0043

I was wondering if workouts (cardio, weightlifting or both) should be halted during a common cold or if you should “sweat it out” as some say. Common sense tells me that the body should fully recover before engaging in an intense workout, but is a light day or a less intense cardio day okay?

Should You Workout If You Are Sick?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_David]Marc David

Who doesn’t catch a little cold right in the middle of the week when your workouts were going so great? There’s been many times that my workouts were 100% the best I’ve ever had and right when I was on top of my game – I caught some cold bug and it frustrated me to no end!

How many times have you asked yourself this question or been asked yourself?

“I was wondering if workouts (cardio, weightlifting or both) should be halted during a common cold or if you should “sweat it out” as some say.

Common sense tells me that the body should fully recover before engaging in an intense workout, but is a light day or a less intense cardio day okay?

On one hand you don’t want to break progress by waiting too long between workouts, yet on the other hand, you don’t want to remain sick because the body will have to allocate nutrition in building muscle tissue as opposed to building an immune response.”

– Sick and Wanting to Workout

This was a timely question. I’ve been in many public places this week and almost everybody I’ve been around at some point is sneezing and coughing and looks like they have a horrible cold!

You can workout when you have a cold BUT only under certain conditions. Let me elaborate before I ramble on.

Do Not Workout If:

* You have a fever * You feel nauseous * You are highly contagious and in a public gym

Workout If:

* You just have a mild cold * It’s been a couple of days and you are over the worst of it

Many people that I know of, including myself at one time, did some pretty intense workouts while sick. And not just everyday common cold sick but flu-like sick.

Not only was it irresponsible of me to bring my funk into the gym but Karma was paid back when my body couldn’t recover and I ended up prolonging my illness an extra week or so.

You see, working out when you have a mild cold is not a big deal. In fact, if you engage in light cardio, you’ll feel better. It will help to open up your nasal passages and let you breathe easier. Recovery will not be hampered because it’s a mild cold and you are doing a light workout. Just to keep moving really. Nothing intense at all.

What I don’t recommend is that you workout with weights unless it’s following the same principles.

Light. Keep that in mind. You are not there to get stronger, more fit or build muscle. You are there to feel better, to keep moving and get the added benefits that working out will help you do.

Believe me…

When I’ve done a light cardio workout a couple of days after the worst of the cold is over, I feel a lot better.

Why cardio?

Seems to me that working out with weights does not give you that cardiovascular benefit (except circuit training). I’ve never felt that great when I have a cold and hit the iron. I’ve always felt better when I just do light cardio for about 20 minutes or so. Nothing intense mind you. Strictly warm-up to pace levels.

Frankly…

The research has shown that doing cardio when you have a cold has the greatest benefits. Working out with weights has not had the same effect.

Let’s face it…

Being sick is no fun! But if you over do it, you will just prolong your illness. So keep that in mind when I say light. You are there to feel better not improve or break a personal record.

Next time you are sick, go do some light cardio. Heck, even just walking around the block will feel pretty good.

Your recovery will not be compromised as long as you go light.

I urge you to take care of yourself first but after that, see if some light cardio helps you feel even better and recover faster.

This question is a great bridge to another topic that is a favorite of mine called Taking a Training Break. Should you or shouldn’t you take one?

Fact is, the training break is an overlooked, often under utilized concept that not only will have you in the gym for longer periods of time but you’ll recover faster and get stronger by NOT hitting the weights and doing cardio.

You see, after doing your workouts over and over, your body is always in a constant state of breakdown. At some point, even your immune system is compromised and you get sick. I’ve actually pinpointed my own rhythms.

After 9 weeks of training if I do not take a training break, I always get sick. A mild cold mind you but like clockwork, it happens. I’ve found that by working out continually, that 9 week hump is when my body is taxed to the point where I’m not at my optimal recovery.

By simply taking a break for 7 days, no weight and no cardio, I come back to the gym stronger and more recovered then before.

It’s also very important to just let your joints heal during this time from lifting. So not only is a break good for the immune system but it’s good for joint recovery as well.

If you take a training break every 8-12 weeks, you’ll come back stronger and feeling more to working out then before and contrary to popular belief, you will not lose muscle during a 7 day break. You won’t get smaller and all the gains you made will not be lost. That is a big myth.

During this break I still supplement the same, I just don’t ‘train’ but I am active.

To sum up, taking a training break is a good thing. Every 8-12 weeks just let your body and mind recovery and get ready for the next round of training. It also helps to avoid the working out when sick as described above. By using this process, I’ve been able to avoid being sick for some time and when I am sick, I’m able to recovery a bit faster by using the principles described above.

Copyright 2005 Marc David

Marc David is a bodybuilder and author of the, Beginner’s Guide to Fitness and Bodybuilding. You can get info on Marc’s e-book at: [http://www.Beginning-Bodybuilding.com]http://www.Beginning-Bodybuilding.com. To get Marc’s free e-zine, visit http://www.JustAskMarc.com

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HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PIE RECIPE

Posted on November 17, 2011 by savi0043

Homemade Pumpkin Pie From Scratch
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Melinda_Stanfield]Melinda Stanfield

I have used my own cooked pumpkin puree in pumpkin recipes for years and it gives it a wonderful fresh taste that is totally different than a pie made with canned pumpkin puree. Pumpkins come in all sorts of sizes and shapes as well as varieties. You can use pumpkins grown for carving for your pumpkin pie, but it is better to use a pumpkin that is grown for eating. Pie pumpkins are smaller, sweeter, less grainy textured pumpkins than the usual jack-o-lantern types.

Pie pumpkins are small, usually only 6 inches in diameter. You can usually obtain about 2 or 3 cups or puree per pumpkin. The puree can be frozen so that you can use it later in the season.

Wash the exterior of the pumpkin in cool or warm water, no soap.Cut the pumpkin in half. A serrated knife and a sawing motion works best. Scrape the insides with a heavy ice cream scoop or large spoon.

Steam the pumpkin in a large pan with a steamer basket on the bottom.Cook until the pumpkin is soft. Let cool a bit so you don’t get burned. Use a large broad spoon to lift and scoop the cooked pumpkin out of the skin. It should separate easily an in fairly large chucks, if the pumpkin is cooked enough.

Some pumpkins are more watery than others. If your pumpkin is watery, strain pureed pumpkin through a cloth for a few hours. If I use frozen pumpkin I do the same again as it thaws out.

Blend the cooked pumpkin in a blender to get a smooth puree. It is now ready to use in any recipe calling for pureed pumpkin.

Pumpkin Pie from Homemade Pumpkin Puree

INGREDIENTS

1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust

3/4 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

2 eggs

2 cups pumpkin puree

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 F.

Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.

Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)

I have loved to cook all of my life and collected many recipes from all over the world as well as good old fashioned American recipes from my mother, aunts, cousins and other friends and relatives. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

To see more of my recipes please visit The Great Recipe Site at http://www.greatrecipesite.com

I also have a blog with apple recipes at http://apple-recipes.net

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The 5-Minute Guide to Picking a Training Program

Posted on November 15, 2011 by savi0043

The 5-Minute Guide to Picking a Training Program
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_David]Marc David

In order to pick the best training program for you, several factors need to be considered. Is the program specific to your goals? Does it take into consideration your body’s individual differences? Warning: Don’t buy a weightlifting program until you’ve answered the following seven questions…

Far too many people just randomly pick program in hopes it will work for them. Or they see a program working for a group of people and assume it will work for them too..

Before you pick any bodybuilding program, all you need to do is run through this quick list of seven questions and make sure the program address each one in some capacity or at least the majority of them.

Question #1: Individual Differences

David Q. Thomas, Ph.D. stated, “We all will have similar responses and adaptations to the stimulus of exercise, but the ate and magnitude of these changes will be limited by our differing genetics.”

Meaning if everybody performs the same exercise program, all of us will have slightly different results. Setting realistic expectations and eliminating frustration is the goal. We all ave different genetic blueprints. And while a program that recommends a certain number of set and repetitions maybe work or Joe, it might not work all that well for Betty.

We all have different abilities, weaknesses and bodies and we all respond differently to any given training system. These differences should be taken into account for a given program.

Does the program have you in mind?

Question #2: Overcompensation

Nothing more than a survival code, does the program have build-in training stress? Muscle fibers grow in size and strength in response to training.

To become stronger you have to overload relative to the last workout session. This means you have to work a bit harder either in intensity and/or in volume.

Does the program challenge you in some way?

Question #3: Overload

In order to make progress (strength, muscle size) you need do challenge your body and do more today than yesterday. You must exercise against a resistance greater than you normally encounter. If you use the same sets, reps and weight, there will be no further improvement beyond what your body has already

adapted. Some people refer to this as the training plateau.

You may even split your body parts up at this point because as you get more advanced, it’s nearly impossible to workout a particular body part in the time allotted and fully recover.

Does the program you want incorporate overload?

Question #4: Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands (SAID)

Your body is a highly adaptive system. If you want to train for strength, then pick a program that address limit strength. If you want to train aerobically, then choose one that is structured precisely for that.

If you are limited on time, look for programs that have you in and out of the gym in under 60 minutes.

Many people want to train for brute strength, muscle size and aerobic fitness. As you know by now, those three objectives are entirely different. Picking a single training objective is what you are looking for when picking a program.

Don’t buy a program that involves lifting heavy weights if your goal is simply to be fit, lean and mean, no training partner or spotter and you want to be in and out in 60 minutes. You might want to look for different programs based on your specific goals.

Does the program meet your needs?

Question #5: Use/Disuse

Nothing more than “use it or lose it.” Make sure whatever training program you pick trains all the major muscle groups in a time frame that you can achieve the expected results.

It’s enough to stress the muscle on a continued basis and keep it adapting and not regressing. But if a program doesn’t train a body part enough, you may not experience the change you’d like to see.

Does the program train all the major body parts?

Question #6: Specificity

It’s as simple as moving from general foundational training to more specific training as your objecting approaches.

For example… if you aren’t strong enough to do pull-ups, you may opt to use an assisted machine. But in order to eventually do pull ups, you’ll need to move from a general exercise to the specific which is doing pull ups.

The same can be said for squats.

At first you might do leg extensions and leg presses to build up general strength. At some point, if you want to get stronger in squats, it will be through doing squats and not the leg press. If you want to be better at running a marathon, you will need to run a marathon and not cycle your training.

Does the program train you for your specific goal?

Question #7: General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

In almost all training programs, people will experience the 3 stages of stress.

1 – Alarm. Your body will detect changes and must adapt quickly to adapt to the new demands imposed. Hormones are on the rise, and the stress hormone cortisol makes its appearance.

2 – Resistance. Here’s where the growth and change can occur. Your training program has increased your stress and your body’s reaction is to build up resistance. Bigger muscles, more oxygen capacity. But at some point, your reserves will run dry.

3 – Exhaustion. This is where overtraining comes into play, where motivation is questioned, and all kinds of nasty derailing training problems can occur.

If the program you are looking at is single sided (heavy heavy heavy) you’ll likely end up in an exhaustion phase. A good training program will go thru stages of heavy resistance followed by periods of lighter resistance to aid in recovery. Some body parts will be training frequently and others not as much depending on the recovery needed.

A good example of avoiding the General Adaptation Syndrome would be one that incorporates periods of heavier resistance and then lighter resistance for recovery. A lot of variety in whatever program you choose is a good thing.

Does the program have built-in periodization?

The important thing to learn is this: if you quickly evaluate a training program, you can decide if it’s something that might work for you. In many cases, people just pick programs randomly or thru web searches. Take the time to do some preliminary evaluation and ensure the program you are choosing will meet your needs.

Head to the gym today, but don’t just take any program with you. Take one that works for you. That’s your real secret weapon.

There’s actually a method to optimize your workouts with proper nutrition and training. You can gain more muscle and lose more fat while spending less time actually working out. Fitness expert and certified personal trainer Marc David cuts to the chase in his remarkable new ebook “The NoBull Bodybuilding Program.” While most people think you make gains in the gym,” the truth is actually a complex and fascinating system which you can OPTIMIZE in order to make more gains out of the gym and spend less time working out.

In this innovative new eBook, Marc David shares with you:

* How To Bypass All The Common Mistakes Beginners Make To Botch Their Diet And Training Programs And Burst Through Any Plateau

* The truth about how long it really takes to gain muscle mass and lose body fat (not the fairy tales you read about in the magazines and supplement ads)

To learn more about he NoBull Bodybuilding Program, visit NoBullBodybuilding at: http://www.NoBullBodybuilding.com

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