TheAlieness

It is tempting to get by on less sleep, fuel up on caffeine and get on with our lives. Unfortunately when we are sleep deprived we can think we are doing a better job at things than we are. It is not until we are well rested that we notice how different things feel.

We need to re-learn how to switch off our minds and allow them to peacefully rest. The truth is modern insomnia is not our faults but rather a consequence of the society we live in and our inability to switch off or focus.

Office workers are interrupted every three minutes, so at best we have a three-minute attention span, and 62% of us are addicted to email.

A recent study at the University of California calculated that we are bombarded with 34 gigabytes of information a day, including roughly 100,000 words (a figure that has more than doubled in the past 30 years).

Sometime we fail to enjoy times we have free. We have lost the art of loafing or doing nothing, in the modern world not many people can do it without feeling guilty or at least like they should be doing something.

All nature loafs, while man alone works for a living. He works because he has to, because thanks to the progress of civilization life gets incredibly more complex, with duties, responsibilities, fears and ambitions, born not of nature but of human society…….. – Lin Yutang

When first reading this I was struck by the truth behind the words of the wise Lin Yutang much of the work we do and things we do are spurred out of fear from human society and go totally against our nature. We can all relate to this I have had countless a day off in which I have felt lazy or unproductive for lounging around and doing pretty much nothing, this feeling pushed me into running around and finding trivial things to do. While there is always “something” that needs to be done we can forget that sometimes that “something” is to rest, relax and re-cooperate the body initiating a healing process we all need to repair from the strains of everyday life…….

Kecko

Swiss Balls are amazing. I myself once put them aside as something wacky and a waste of time, more recently though especially after reading the work of Paul Chek they have really grown on me. Their versatility is unrivalled with potential for bodyweight exercises, stability, and stretching.

Here Are Some Of My Favourites

Single Leg Squat - this is especially good for those of us, who can’t do conventional single leg squats as the ball provides a bit of support and stability.

Tambako the Jaguar

There is a lot to be said about milk, It has long been a staple of our diets around the world and is really a food that has stood the test of time. Only recently has Milk been pasteurised before then it was used to nourish populations on a daily basis, not to mention Milk is the base upon which we have yoghurt and cheese.

Hippocrates, Pilany, Varro, Marcellus and Empiricus the leading physicians of their day all used raw milk in their treatment of diseases. Even today in Germany successful raw milk therapy is provided in many hospitals to cure and treat disease. The only difference is that todays milk is normally pasteurised or homogenised milk and getting Real Raw Milk is getting harder and harder.

Real Milk is not Pasteurised - This process destroys enzymes, denatures the anti-microbial properties and immune stimulating components, destroys the fragile milk protein, kills the beneficial bacteria and kills off all the vitamins and minerals.  Basically it turns a beautiful complete food into something nearly useless, the only thing that can withstand the heat processing is the fat content of the milk. Considering many people drink skimmed milk that leaves them with a pretty useless cup of milk.

doug88888

Unfortunately in the modern day environment with stress, intermittent eating and poor nutrient value of many processed foods, our bodies can get stuck in a mode of fat storage and starvation.

This can make us insulin resistant, mess with our blood sugars and make us feel downright horrible in spite of eating all the time. The core problem comes down to processed foods failing to nourish our bodies leaving us hungry and our bodies literally starving even if we think we eat enough or even too much, if the human body is significantly overweight it is likely to be starving of nutrients. So how can we solve this?

We need to shunt our bodies out of starvation mode, and this comes down to a few main factors:

1. Feeling safe


2. Knowing we have access to food


3. Moderate exercise


4. Not fasting for too long


5. A Nutrient Rich Diet

Sabrina Campagna

1. If you have time keep active everyday - Although you do not need to train everyday there is nothing wrong with doing something to stay active each day even if it is in the gym. On days I have some free time I enjoy going for a swim or breaking a sweat outdoors with a run or few sets of sprints. If the weather is bad or it is too cold outside heading to the gym is a great option. For me that is what cardio machines are good for. Throw in some stretching and mobility work and you have a great off day stress busting and relaxing workout.

2. Short and Intense workouts always win – After seeing many people try different things the best results always come from short and intense workouts. This does not necessarily mean CrossFit style metcons but rather anything that keeps rest times down and workouts flowing. Many of the people in the best shape will do this instinctively when training and it makes perfect sense, far more sense than taking 2-3 minutes rest between exercises and sets…

Ed Yourdon

Recently I came across two great videos with a variety of Bodyweight exercises that I had never seen before. To carry on from my recent posts on minimal fitness and frugal fitness, these fit in perfectly.

This post was inspired by checking out some exercise videos on YouTube really making me realise how efficient and versatile our own body weight and movements can be in providing a great workout. Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination. Have a look…..

asibiri

Recently I have been doing some reading up on Blue Zones which are the spots of the world which contain the highest population of centenarians. In this series we will have a look into the secrets of these centenarians long and healthy lives. Starting with Sardinia in Italy.

What impressed me is that Sardinia is indeed a zone filled with centenarians, what is also intriguing is how Sardinians are very different to most Italians and are definitely not your typical Mediterranean’s….. Some of their secrets of longevity are unconventional whereas others are pretty straight forward but together it makes for a pretty intriguing lifestyle.

Drink and Eat Dairy - I know this goes against some of the stuff we read today, but their is no doubt the sardinians enjoyed their dairy products. We are talking real dairy here though stuff like raw milk and cheese. Pecorino being a favourite as the Ewe’s which produce the milk graze on lush parts of Italy’s hills making their produce even more nourishing and rich in Omega 3’s. Many Sardinian centenarians would start the day with some Pecorino cheese and goats milk.

Drink a Glass of Wine Daily – Preferably red wine. The men and women of Sardinia wo

jontunn

Thanks to desk jobs that most of us have these days, our posture can get pretty bad. Not only that our muscles can get tight and hunched over…..

While stretching can help to open up the tight muscles you really need to strengthen the key muscles which inlude:

• Hip Flexors


• Adductors and Abductors


• Rear Delts


• Lower Back

tillwe

Recently I have been using a load of thyme. You probably have some of this herb in your pantry, and use it for sauces or salads. The medicinal properties and balancing effect it can have on the body and mind are amazing.

I have found the best thyme at farmers markets.  Getting it fresh really makes a difference, so look for green fresh leaves and avoid dried looking sprigs. It is highly versatile and can be used for:

• Cooking (in pretty much anything)


• Making herbal tea


• Growing it in your garden acts as a natural pesticide

I am especially keen on the herbal teas.  I’ll give you some recipes/ideas at the end of the post, but for now lets check out the benefits of adding thyme to your diet.

Tambako the Jaguar

All too often we hear about ways to start the day, with habits and routines we should implement in order to have a good day. What is often missed out on is finishing the day which is a hugely important time to wind down and set yourself up for a good nights sleep and the day that will carry along from that.

1. Have a hot bath or shower

The best thing about a hot bath or shower is that it will relax your tensed muscles. No matter what kind of day I have had I will always try to have a hot shower about 30 minutes before sleeping. It helps calm my mind, plus soothe my head and shoulder muscles. You will also find it easier to nod off if you are warm.

thebittenword.com

When it is cold outside their is no better time to get cooking some Winter Comfort Foods. Warming and nourishing meals are a must to sustain us through the cold winters, let’s take a look at some of my favourites….

Warming Chili

A good old warming Chilli is an amazing way to warm up this winter. It is packed with good ingredients and warming herbs and spices. Here is my Reciepe:

CarbonNYC

I often get questions on the topic of health and fitness. Coming from friends family and of course the comments and e-mails I receive through this blog. Here are some of the most common ones I have heard. So hopefully you will enjoy the post.

What is the best way to do cardio in the gym?

Sometimes it is cold, miserable and or wet outside and we need to get to the gym for a workout. My preference for cardio in the gym is to mix it all up. Keep the intensity flowing and jump from machine to machine every 5 minutes. Not only does this benefit your body by working it in various different ways but it makes the time pass much quicker.

Seattle Miles

It’s easy to let January’s positive intentions slip. Here’s how to get things back on track and create some life changing habits…

Backtrack a few weeks. Bring yourself to the beginning of January, sucked in by all the excitement and hopes for a fresh start and a new you in 2010.

How much of that has faded? How much have you kept up? Are you:

• Still working out consitantly


• Eating a good real foods diet


• Practicing Relaxation and De-Stressing


• Journalling, and Being Efficient with your time


• Spending more time with loved ones

minor9th

Sometimes we just turn a blind eye to some great produce. Not because we don’t like them just because we are in the habit of buying the same groceries week after week and it becomes routine. Time for that to change and for you to start trying out some of these healthy often overlooked products….

1- Beets I love these for their versatility. Superb in salad or with some goats cheese, or nice to snack on. They pack a real anti-oxidant boost and are rich in Folate. Try to eat them raw or cook lightly to keep the nutrients in-tacked.