Monday, February 23, 2009

The Easiest Workout You'll Ever Do!

A friend of mine told me about an amazing website for the simplest, yet very effective, workout. Push ups!



Today, I decided to start the challenge . . . one hundred consecutive push ups within six weeks! You take an initial test to determine what level you're at and then you do push ups three non-consecutive days a week (i.e. Mon, Wed, Fri). It only takes 10 minutes so there's no excuse! The best part of it is that you can also log your scores on the website!

If you're up for another challenge (and have another 10 minutes to spare), you can also do the sit ups challenge . . . two hundred consecutive sit ups within six weeks!



It works the exact same way as the push ups challenge and you can also log your scores under the same account.

I decided to do both of these challenges (as my gym membership expired and I'm waiting for spring so I can start jogging outdoors again) and I'll be sure to let you know how it's going in a few weeks. After finishing the first day for each challenge, I'm definitely feeling it in the abs!

Go check the websites out and read about the programs and how effective they are! It only takes six weeks and by then, it'll be second hand and you can tell everyone about your new-found strength! Spring is creeping up on us and before you know it, it'll be summer. Let's get those sexy abs showing on the beach!

Let me know how it goes and good luck!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

White Wine Has The Same Benefits As Red Wine

Good news for white wine

Lisa Hannam

When picking a wine to drink for health, opt for a glass of red over white, right? Wrong. New research shows white wine also has cardioprotective benefits.

A study published in September in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry compared the antioxidant effects of resveratrol (from red) and tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol (from white) on rats. The results suggest that white wine is just as powerful as red in improving heart function and preventing artery blockage. “We tested a variety of wines,” says Dipak K. Das, a professor at the University of Connecticut school of medicine, who led the study. “We found that white wines are rich in a type of antioxidant composition that is similarly present in olive oil.”

But not all white wines pack the same antioxidant punch. Das has tested wines from all over the globe and recommends certain European white wines — those from Italy, France and Germany — as being rich in tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol. “In general, it can safely be said that some whites from Europe are as good as red wine from anywhere for heart health.”

One thing hasn’t changed: Stick to a glass a day.

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I was definitely happy to read this today as I prefer white wine over red. I'm especially a fan of Blue Nun Qualitatswein, which just happens to be from Germany. Mmm I think I need to go get myself a bottle . . . cheers!