. . .FIREBERT

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Winter in Holland.

My Koi-pond, still open cos of airpump.

Frozen love...

Frozen streets, can't walk and wheels have no grip.

The homeless build their own Iglo..

See winter album

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Your own gym at home, easy to realize.

The best way to burn calories is to work-out. Not only to burn calories, but you're building and shaping your body at the same time. Your heart will get an exercise and your lungs will do double time, your muscles grow. And last but not least: you will feel fit and healthy.

When you have serious back, neck or joint problems you should go for basic stretching and bending first, to repair your intervertebral discs.!!!

Pls. read: The importance of exercise

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This is my Total Gym 1000.

I use it for many years already, it's really a multi-functional device.

Torture-table on the background.

The spring I use is from an old Aprilla motorbike ( shock-absorber), so are the bars. Have it welded together and you get yourself a nice piece to bend. When you buy one in the store, be sure it's a thick spring, you're gonna need it....

The exercise is to bend the spring,:
1. Hold your hands in front of you and bend.
2. Do the same with straight arms.
3. Hold your hands up (like a hold-up) and bend the spring above your head.
4. Same as 3, but try to get your elbows and fists together
5. Hold the spring behind your back and bend

..This one is made in just minutes:

This is a 5 ltr jerry can and a piece a rope (1mtr) and a round stick.

1. Put 2 ltr of water (or less when it's your first time) in the can, arms straight forward and wind up the rope, back 'nd forth. At least 3 times, but try more...(don't hold breath)

2. Hold the container with both hands in front of you and shake it, 4 times/sec or faster,
a. from left to right ( try with, [almost] , straight arms)
b. shake it up 'n down vertically, ( try with, [almost], straight arms )
c. shake it horizontally towards you,

After a few weeks/months you can add water to the can...

The next exercise needs 2 jerrycans or 2 bottles, (half filled with water, it's the moving water that creates the 'G-powers' ).More effective than iron weights.!

1. Spread your arm sideways and pretend y're a small bird making rapid wing moves, vertically and horizontally.

Important:

Do NOT hold your breath during the shaking...!!!

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The stepping machines, that'll burn some fat..works great and you don't have to leave the house....

A 10 minutes brisk walk will give a satisfying result and gives you a cardio-vasculair training.

Play your favorite music, find a beat that fits your routine. Singing out loud ( while training !) is a very pleasant extra, but it's a damn breathing exercise as well, be sure not to get filmed and exposed on YouTube...;-)

Remember:

..always keep your air pipe open, don't put any pressure on your throat, your abdomen should do the job !!!

.Workout a TotalGym

The Total gym is adjustable to your wishes, I prefer the highest and heaviest position. Sometimes I even put the gym on a chair to make it heavier..

But when you are starter, or you've been sick for a while, go for a lower inclination. Check your pulse after every exercise.

Just look at those exercises and you'll see it's good, it really works. You are working with your own weight. The slope of the 'seat ' stipulates the resistance you create.

Chuck Norris is the big promoter for this Gym, but this guy is giving such an enthusiastic and easy to understand work-out. Watch this:

And push-ups of course.....

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Lose weight while you eat !!!

If you have gained weight, you are getting more calories than you burn in a day.

Each time you feel the urge to eat something, drink a glass of water......!!!!

When we look at food as filler or a snack, we tend to eat more than we need. However, if we look at food as energy or fuel (which is what it is), we can learn to eat only the amount we need. Let's look at the basic types of food you will need to eat to lose weight.

* Proteins: Everyone needs protein of some sort. Although meat is the most common form of protein, even vegetarians and vegans need protein. Beef is a great protein, but it should only be eaten in moderation if you are trying to lose pounds. This is because it tends to be higher in fat than other meats. Poultry and fish are both excellent foods to eat when you want to lose weight.

* Nuts ( not peanuts !!)also provide protein, in a tasty package. They are actually good for you and can give you the healthy fats that you will still need to consume. Eggs and beans are also full of protein.

* Fiber: This helps your colon remain clean and keeps food moving along. If you are seriously looking for foods to eat in order to lose weight, here are some crucial suggestions. Vegetables are often high in fiber; broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, celery, and many other veggies are prime examples. If you get bored with the same vegetables every night, shake things up by making them into a casserole or stuffing peppers.

* Do not bother with processed grains or white rice; these have next to zero nutritional value. Instead, go for whole grain foods (but not if you are counting carbohydrates). A sprinkling of bran would add an extra boost of fiber to those veggie muffins, as well.

* Fruits can also provide fiber. Strawberries, apples, and oranges are well known for being rich in fiber. Fruits are some of the easiest foods to eat to lose weight - they are luscious and there are plenty of choices. If you choose to eat oranges, don't peel off all that white membrane surrounding the fruit. That part has the highest fiber content of all. If you are counting carbohydrates, go for low carbohydrate fruits such as berries.

* If you make the changes suggested on this page, you will find that your menu is always exciting. The best part will be losing weight as you enjoy these healthy foods.

* Protein - it is a thermic food and it can actually help you get in shape quickly. Fiber/veggies - fibers are a very good food choice as they give minimal calories for good quantity of food. Therefore, you will have a filled feeling with fewer calories. Having some good carbs like wheat, oats in breakfast and after workout can help you replenish glycogen in muscle and keep you energetic for the workout and in turn you can burn more calories. But don't take much carbs in non-active hours.

* Eliminate refined (processed) carbohydrates). Eat a meal about every three waking hours (5 or 6 meals per day). You will not be eating more food; you will simply be spreading it throughout the day. Each of those five or six small feedings should contain at least 15 grams of unprocessed protein (from natural sources) for a female or at least 20 grams per feeding for a male. This will speed up your metabolism and help to curb any food cravings.

Consume things that have no calories. There are two things you eat and drink that contain no calories: water and fiber. The more of these you get into your diet, the better off you will be. For example, you can eat a pound of mixed salad greens with assorted raw vegetables (carrots, red cabbage, celery, broccoli, onion, etc.) with a low or no-calorie salad dressing and only have eaten 100-150 calories. This is because of the high water and fiber content of the salad and low calorie dressing.

Also, eat lots of celery. It has only 8 calories, but amazingly, it takes more than 8 calories to digest it. So, you actually BURN calories by eating celery! It's not much, about 2 calories per 8 inch stalk, but it sure doesn't hurt.

* Avoid sodas as much as possible. Instead, drink (flavored) water or unsweetened iced tea. Caffeine, when placed in a low-calorie beverage like black coffee or unsweetened tea, raises your metabolism and causes you to burn more calories. Too much caffeine has harmful health effects, though, so be reasonable in your consumption if you choose to have caffeine.

Each time you feel the urge to eat something, drink a glass of water......

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Monday, January 4, 2010

The healing power of : Juices (7)

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There is a unique combination of vitamins, minerals and other healthy substances in each juice. You just need to know what juice to choose to treat your health problems.

Apple juice helps with obesity and diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, liver and kidney diseases, rheumatism, atherosclerosis, gallstones and kidney stones, chronic colitis, gout and dysentery. It is very good for people with high mental activity.
Apricot juice strengthens the heart muscles. Drinking it regularly will help with heart arrhythmia.
Beet juice is great for constipation, anemia and heart and alimentary canal diseases. It cleanses your body and lowers blood pressure. Start taking it in small doses (1 table spoon) or mix it with carrot juice. Gradually decrease the amount of carrot juice in the mix. Keep beet juice in your refrigerator for a few hours before drinking.
Black currant juice is great for lack of vitamins, anemia, gastritis with low acidity, bronchitis, flu and angina. It fights viruses, strengthens your immune system and is very rich in vitamin C.
Cabbage juice is used for gastritis with low acidity, stomach ulcers and liver and spleen diseases. It strengthens blood vessels; stimulates cell regeneration of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal, returns fat metabolism back to normal and helps with healing sores.
Carrot juice improves vision, strengthens your body and helps you recover after severe disease or mental or physical exhaustion. It heals stomach ulcers and helps with anemia, cancer and tuberculosis. Carrot juice will increase your appetite and strengthen your teeth and your immune system.
Cherry juice helps with constipation, improves your metabolism, strengthens your immune system, increases your appetite and is used to clear your throat if you cough.
Cucumber juice returns blood pressure to normal and improves the health of your teeth, gums, nails and hair. It is used as a diuretic. A mix of cucumber juice and carrot juice will help with rheumatism and will prevent atherosclerosis and parodontosis. The mix will also improve your memory. More on Cucumbers, click here.

Grape juice helps with fatigue and stress. It cleanses kidneys and the liver and lowers cholesterol.
Grapefruit juice is a natural remedy for insomnia. It lowers cholesterol and returns your blood pressure to normal.
Orange juice is a powerful natural anti carcinogenic and anti cancerous remedy.
Peach juice strengthens heart muscles and cures heart arrhythmia. It helps with anemia and gastritis intensification.
Pear juice has anti inflammatory effect and helps with kidney stones.
Pineapple juice is good for the kidney and liver function and has bromelain that is a natural fat burner and helps to rejuvenate your body. Also, pineapple juice is recommended for treating angina.
Pomegranate juice is great for recovering after serious disease or surgery and helps with anemia.
Red currant juice is recommended for the cardiovascular system, ulcer, skin diseases, rheumatism, a cold, and gout and gravel disease.
Tomato juice is great for dieting and strengthens your immune system. It has minerals, micro elements and natural antioxidants vitamins A and C.
Watermelon juice is great with treating edemas connected to cardiovascular and kidney problems.

1. List of health problems ( and what to do !)