Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Image Treadmills - The Cheapest Treadmills in the Icon Range

Image treadmills are a well known brand, being made by the world recognized company, Icon Health and Fitness. Icon produce a number of high quality brands including Proform, Weslo and Healthrider as well as licenses to the popular Golds Gym and Reebok brands. However despite this proud family of fitness equipment I believe the Image treadmill range is the runt of the litter! Don't get me wro. . .

Seven Tips to Maximize Savings on Prescriptions

Seven Tips to Maximize Savings on Prescriptions 1. When you travel, bring a copy of your prescriptions with you. - In Mexico, only a few meds require a written prescription because most of them are over the counter there. Take your prescription with you though, just in case your medication is the one that requires a written prescription. - In Canada, a copy of your written prescription is man. . .

Wearing Contact Lenses

If you've never worn contact lenses, you may not appreciate the amazing selection available on today's market. Be glad: you have much more choice than in the past. With so many options, how do you choose the right type of contact lenses?Your doctor can probably help you figure out which contact lenses are best for you. Some contact lenses are suited to certain vision problems, like astigmatism.. . .

Nutrition and the Fats Myth

Looking at your belly you probably might have felt that the real enemy is the fat. Nope, there are two kinds of fats, the unsaturated fats and the saturated . It’s the saturated fat that is the real enemy and that we don’t want. We do not want the unwanted fat but we keep eating it. Want a definition of insanity, Keep doing the same things and you keep getting the same results. Instead of blami. . .

Home Gyms Analyzed –2

After having seen so many home gyms I thought I would put everything together and give you the best available opinion about each.Lets now see the Bowflex home gyms.Bowflex has many home gyms, they have the --Bowflex ultimate--Bowflex ultimate2--Bowflex extreme--Bowflex extreme 2--Bowflex sports--Bowflex motivatorLets see the Bowflex ultimate 2It helps you do over 95 exercises.Wow that’s great. . . .

Where To Find Accurate Treadmill Ratings & Treadmill Reviews

Let’s face it, buying a used treadmill is always going to be something of a gamble. For many people, the sticker price of new treadmills can be daunting. A very basic treadmill can start as little as $400, and the premium models with all the bells and whistles can be over $3000. So many people opt for a used or discount treadmill hoping to save some money.But how do you know that the treadmill . . .

White Teeth At Home

Do you find yourself staring enviously at the smiles of Hollywood stars radiating out of entertainment magazines? You too can have a smile so brilliant. With the growing trend of teeth whitening, costs have gone down and more products have become available, making the procedure easier than ever before.Teeth whitening, also called teeth bleeching, was once an expensive in-office procedure that o. . .

Used Home Gyms And Home Gym Equipment

Used Home gyms and home gym equipmentOne of the greatest consumer and dealer concerns pertaining to the used fitness equipment industry is that of quality.The only reason we buy new things or new home gyms to be precise in this context is that we do not want to compromise the quality for a few bucks.Dealers bid the used fitness equipment on and the highest bid wins.The used home gym equipment i. . .

What Causes Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a common problem faced by many people all around the world. There are various reasons behind hair loss. Let us look at some of the major causes and their remedies:Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is under active or overactive, you will suffer the problem of hair loss. This hair loss generally can be cured by treatment of the thyroid disorder. Hair l. . .

Home Gyms Analyzed 3

Home gyms analyzed 3After having seen so many home gyms I thought I would put everything together and give you the best available opinion about each. Lets now see the Bowflex home gyms.Bowflex has many home gyms, they have the --Bowflex ultimate--Bowflex ultimate2--Bowflex extreme--Bowflex extreme 2--Bowflex sports--Bowflex motivatorIn the last article we analyzed the Bowflex ultimate 2 and now. . .

Types of Schizophrenia

Catatonic type schizophrenia Patients with this subtype of Schizophrenia may exhibit extremes of behavior including catatonia. Some may allow their posture to be rearranged, holding the new position (catalepsy or waxy flexibility). Others may imitate sounds (echolalia) or movements (echopraxia) of others. At times, some patients may explode into an excited, activated state marked by purposel. . .

Healthy Chocolate?

It's great news that research found a food that lowers blood pressure and is healthy for the heart and maybe more. The problem is that the chocolate most Americans consume is not the same kind. The more popular kinds of chocolate have little or no positive effect on your health. Only certain chocolate may be healthy. Dark chocolate is the chocolate that was found to have positive effects on blo. . .

Discovering The Healing Properties Of Ganoderma

How long have you been suffering due to a specific illness like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart problem? If you are not at the moment, how do you know that you will not suffer from any disease like cancer or paralysis in the future? Indeed, the changing times has brought do many advances to people’s living. But, as it elevates the people’s living condition, it also brings a lot of new i. . .

Baloney And The Fountain Of Youth

Lately we've all been receiving a lot of spam emails. It's amazing how many of them are promising quick weight loss without any effort! One of them even promises that their new 'super tonic' is the new Fountain of Youth.....just take their product and watch the years fade away. If you'll excuse the expression, that's all just a bunch of baloney. The radio advertisements promise "weight loss wit. . .

It's So Easy!

Many of us know the truth about REAL fitness: exercise and proper nutrition is the only path to true lifelong fitness! Forget all the "get slim quick" schemes out there promising you quick results with zero effort! The truth is the same speech you heard from your doctor: Eat sensibly and exercise regularly.However, recently there have been two BREAKING NEWS stories that have an impact on health. . .

Have The Courage To Lose Weight

The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle once said "You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor."Does it take courage to lose weight? You bet it does! The question then becomes.....do we have the courage to lose weight?Let's take a look at some of the weight-loss pitfalls we may need courage to overcome. Although all of these won'. . .

The Joy of Soy: Health Benefits

My husband has MS, and I have Diabetes. Researching health issues has become a "hobby" of mine. I am always interested in health issues. I am especially interested in soy because I am constantly looking for protein to balance my diabetic meals. I am not a meat eater, although I am not a vegetarian either. I believe that knowledge is my best defense.Soy milk (also called soymilk, soya milk, s. . .

Live Longer By Exercising - Part 1

The goal of this article is answer the question "WHY DO WE EXERCISE?"Now, I know what you're all thinking: WE EXERCISE TO LOSE FAT SO WE CAN LOOK GOOD! To be honest, that's the reason why most of us exercise, and THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!But did you know that exercise gives us some MUCH more substantial benefits than just looking good? It's true! If you're working out at Pick Up The Pace. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 3

Papa Murphy's has a new low-carb pizza. Burger King has a low-carb hamburger. Applebee's has rolled out a new low-carb menu, as have dozens of other national restaurant chains. There are low-carb tortillas, breakfast cereals, breads, and just about anything else you'd care to eat! No doubt about it.....low-carb dieting is the biggest trend since deep-fryed turkeys!But as we've discussed in the . . .

The Many Branches Of Yoga

People have used yoga techniques for more than 2,000 years. Over these centuries, yoga has developed into a system of widely varied practices, much like an ancient tree with many branches. Each branch of yoga was developed to serve specific human needs. As a general rule, though, they all serve one primary purpose: to bring into equilibrium the human mind and body. Let's take a closer look at 5. . .

Reshaping Your Body with Body Building Equipment

Strength training is one of the most rigorous training workouts that you can experience. All the work that you put forth during a body building workout benefits you in several different ways. By performing body building exercises just a few days each week you can increase your stamina and metabolism, and build lean, strong muscles. The metabolic changes will happen naturally. To sculpt your mus. . .

The 7 Things To Look For When Joining A Gym

You’ve finally committed to getting fit and you want to join a gym, but which one? Unless you’ve been a regular at gyms in the past you really don’t know a good one from a bad one. A good fitness center has their members as their number one priority. They are customer service oriented. A bad fitness center is only looking at your dollar value. Once you join they will not want to know you.Tellin. . .

Body Building Equipment for the Rest of Us

Large, bulging muscles like those found on the models of body building magazine covers are often what people associate with strength training. Of course, building muscles is part of this type of training program. There are other benefits that even women who don’t want to “bulk up” can appreciate. Stronger muscles can reduce your risk of injury to your back and other parts of your body. Since yo. . .

Evaluating the Top Sunless Tanning Products

Unless you think wrinkled, leathery skin with brown spots is sexy you should limit your exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. In addition to adversely affecting the appearance of your skin, overexposure to the sun can result in skin cancer. Despite the widespread message that people should limit the amount of time they spend in the sun, many people still continue to do so. One of. . .

How Long Will You Live?

Perhaps you've seen the latest health news.....scientists are concerned that our overweight and obese population will not live as long as previous generations. USA Today recently reported that "Obesity could shorten the average lifespan of an entire generation - today's children - by two to five years, according to a controversial new life-expectancy analysis" (Source: Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY. . .

Olive Oil, The Healthy Choice

Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such as butter, palm and coconut oils because olive oil is a monounsaturated fat that does not increase levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.Dr. Sears' Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an exquisite tasting imported oil from select regions of Umbria and Sicily, Italy. The environmental conditions, weather, exposure to the sun and nature of the soil in t. . .

Relaxation Techniques to Revitalize Body and Mind

We all get to a stage where we’ve just had it. We need a break. Well if a holiday is out of the question, try these relaxation techniques to revitalize your body and mind. MeditationJoin a local meditation group or buy one of the many instructional CD’s on the market. Be sure to meditate in an environment which is comfortable and with minimal noise and distractions. You may find yourself fallin. . .

Exercise Clothing: The Secret To Success!

When you first start exercising finding the right clothes to wear is important for both comfort and safety. Should you wear the latest Nike joggers or are sandals ok? Should you wear lycra or track pants? Fashion may be important to some but the most important thing is to get through each session so that you can follow up with more exercise tomorrow. The key to success in weight loss is consist. . .

Is Chocolate That Healthy?

It is great news that research has found a food that lowers blood pressure and is healthy for the heart and maybe more. The problem is that the chocolate Americans consume most is not the kind that was studied. The more popular kinds of chocolate have little or no positive effect on your health. Only certain chocolate may be healthy. Dark chocolate is the chocolate that was found to have posi. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 2

In our last article we talked about the low-carb diet, and whether or not we can stick with it for life. In this installment we're still going to talk about carb control, but from a slightly different perspective. Let's take a look at WHO is endorsing which diet plan, and what is their motivation?Without a doubt, the most popular low-carb plan is the Atkins diet. Atkins is the fuel in the rocke. . .

Fats, Good Bad

Fats, The Good…The Bad and Omega 3.This has become a hot topic lately. There is so much talk of fats, the healthy fats, the bad fats, the trans fats. I have done some research on fats, trying to keep it simple for us. Here is some important information I have come up with. Omega 3 has become a favorite topic of mine. It has such amazing health improvement qualities. Remember, this is for your i. . .

Green Tea and Polyphenols

What are Polyphenols?Polyphenols are compounds found in nature. More specifically they are found in plants and provide coloring for some. Their purpose appears to be a potent, natural antioxidant. There are many plants that we consume that contain polyphenols. Concentrations are high in Olive oil and Green Tea and have been the subject of many health articles and promoted to enhance your hea. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 6

In this series of articles we have focused on low-carb dieting. Is it right for YOU? We have looked at some of the concerns with low-carbing, we've examined the diets of bodybuilders, and we've explained exactly how carbohydrates react in the body. In this final article on the topic of carbs, we will attempt to answer the million dollar question: should YOU start a low-carb diet?* THE EXPERTSFi. . .

Add 8+ Years To Your Life!

Most of us know that losing that excess bodyfat for good will bring us a LONG list of benefits. Lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decreased risk of some cancers, and so on. Besides just helping us look and feel better, achieving true fitness also prevents bone loss, improves memory, eases the symptoms of menopause, and more! In short, regular exercise and bodyfat reduction will all years. . .

Trim The Gas Budget And Your Waistline

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, gasoline prices appear to be on automatic pilot to the moon. As reported by www.cnn.com on 9-5-05, "Drivers paid an average of about $3.20 a gallon for unleaded regular on Monday, up $1.35 from a year ago, and 75 cents more than they did before the hurricane".Higher gas prices are putting a big dent in the budget of the average citizen, leaving many with l. . .

Consistency Is The Key

Okay, so we already know that exercise is good for us. We try to work out on a regular basis, reminding ourselves that the payoff is well worth the effort.Still, we all have times when we 'fall off the wagon' and somehow miss those exercise sessions. We get sick, there's a big deadline at work, relatives come for a visit, or the kids are out of school.....there's no end to the reasons why we ta. . .

Live Longer By Exercising - Part 2

In our last article we examined the top ten ways that regular exercise can protect you from disease and add years to your life. In this article we're going to examine even MORE ways that you can benefit from exercise!Even though many of us exercise so we can look better, we shouldn't forget the many health benefits of training. So without further ado, here are some MORE reasons to exercise:11) . . .

Here Comes The Bride

In case you hadn't noticed, it's now officially spring! Kids are enjoying Spring Break from school, the birds are starting to sing, flowers are pushing up through the earth, and everything is wonderful.....unless you're one of the thousands of women planning a spring wedding!Spring / early summer is the most popular time for weddings. But no matter when you're planning your wedding, the stress . . .

Inspiration Or Desperation

+ First Of All, Forget About Regret!Katherine Mansfield once said "Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in." When talking about health and fitness, this quote is especially true.We may not be happy with the way we look, and many of us may not even be sure how we got this way! Where d. . .

Action = Results!

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action." - by Frank TiboltThis is a very important quote that we carefully selected because.....let's face it.....it's hard to find the motivation to exercise! The temperature is either too hot or too cold, and it's easy to just let the workout slide.But there's t. . .

An Insight Into PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

I was cruising the "net" just recently, when I came across "PCOS". I had never heard of this but I found it very interesting because for years I have suffered with blood sugar problems. So as soon as I come across an article that relates to blood sugar, I research it further. This is very interesting because so many women suffer with this condition. And, like many blood sugar conditions, it als. . .

How to Naturally Improve Your Vision

What is 2020 vision?20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance. If you have 20/100 vision, it means that you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet.20/20 do. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 1

Unless you've been living in a cave for the last year, you've probably noticed that low-carb mania is sweeping the nation. Food manufacturers are in a heated race to see who can get the most low-carb fare into the grocery stores, and every advertiser worth their salt is emphasizing the low-carb message. Popularized by the late Dr. Atkins, the low-carb diet has taken the nation by storm and prom. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 4

Since so many people in the United States are currently in the middle of a "carb-frenzy", this series of articles has focused on the pros and cons of the low-carb diet. Topics of discussion have been 1) Can you stick with a low-carb diet for the long term, 2) Conflicting messages about carbs and 3) bodybuilders and low-carb dieting.This article will define and describe carbohydrates and what ro. . .

Atkins & Low-Carb - Part 5

With the popularity of low-carb diets today, most of us have at one time or another considered cutting carbs. In this series of articles we have discussed 'low-carbing' and whether or not it's right for everyone.In this article we're going to talk about carbohydrates and how they are stored in the body. Does a large supply of excess carbs make us fat?Many people believe that only dietary fat wi. . .

How Cookie Monster Can Help You Lose Fat

When was the last time you watched Sesame Street? If you have a youngster at home, maybe it was this morning! For most of us, however, it's been years since we last viewed Big Bird and the gang. But, even now as adults, our friends from Sesame Street still have a lot to teach us.Everyone loves Cookie Monster, that blue fellow that can never seem to get enough cookies. Cookie Monster never worri. . .

Aren't all Multi Vitamins Basically the Same?

Multi vitamins can provide a convenient way to take a variety of supplemental nutrients from a single product to prevent vitamin or mineral deficiencies, as well as to achieve higher intakes of beneficial nutrients. In the current state of the vitamin and nutritional supplement industry it can be difficult to decide which supplements will provide real health protection and improvement benefits . . .

Menopause and Hair Loss

The onset of menopause can often lead to hair loss and has long been a part of aging that many women fear the most. These days many more women are also experiencing thinning and bald spots as they mature, and both men and women are reaching out for new solutions. Even though there is no real 'cure', there are many things that can be done to help. Some products claim to help revive weakened hair. . .

Use Cialis and Go With It!

After a series of successful medication approved for the erectile disfunction or the so-called impotence( we may take as an example Sildenafil, known as "viagra, sold since 1998 and Vardenafil, also called "Levitra", found in pharmacies since late August 2003), another medication was created so as to complete the variety of these products and allow people to choose: this latest medication is ta. . .

Weight Loss Surgery – The Benefits and Financial Cost

Generally, weight loss surgery such as the gastric bypass will cost between $20,000 to $30,000 – the clinics do make substantial profits, which is why some you see advertised offer free chauffeurs and even airplane flights to the city and clinic. As in all lines of ‘business’, some surgeries will do all it takes to coax you there, within the law of course.If you’ve opted for weight loss surgery. . .