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Health and NutritionHow Effective are Your Nutritional Supplements?

(ARA) Excessive weight gain is a big problem in America. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly two thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Most people want to do something about it, but dont always make good decisions.

This year alone, fifty million people will go on some of form of weight-loss program, spending some $33 billion on weight loss products and services that are fad diets, unsafe or ineffective nutritional supplements. Countless others who have tried to lose weight and failed will give up altogether.

What people need to realize is that there is no magic bullet when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, says Jeff Zwiefel, vice president of the Nutritional Products Division of Life Time Fitness, a national health, fitness, and nutrition company. For many people, losing weight can feel like a daunting task. It takes a balanced approach that includes education, exercise and good nutrition, coupled with effective weight-loss supplementation.

A good beginning point is to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of weight gain. Do you ever wonder why some people can eat all the time and never gain weight while others seem to put on pounds at every sitting? Its all about metabolism, says Zwiefel.

Simply stated, your metabolism is the way your body burns up all of the calories from the food that you eat and regulates energy. The speed at which your body burns up calories is called your metabolic rate. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you'll burn, and the less likely that you'll be overweight. A small percentage of people naturally have a better metabolism than others, but for the most part, an individuals metabolism is determined by their lifestyle, says Zwiefel. So what can you do to place yourself in a better position to manage your weight?

Diet represents one of the primary ways to shed those unwanted pounds and keep them off. Although it might sound easy on paper to simply put less food in your mouth, the reality is that reducing calorie intake is a significant problem for most of us. It is more complex than just calories in and calories out. Factors such as stress and diet will dramatically impact how our bodies process the calories we consume. Thats why Life Time Fitness recommends you not only change what you eat, but your eating and lifestyle habits.

Instead of eating three meals a day --- breakfast, lunch and dinner --- eat five nutritionally balanced meals and two snacks per day. Spreading your food intake over the day is the best way keep your energy levels up and to burn calories for energy versus storing them.

You should also reduce the consumption of simple and refined carbohydrates that offer little nutritional value. Concentrate on eating foods that are high in fiber to reduce appetite and help reduce the risk of cancer. Look for good sources of protein throughout the day such as lean meats, fish, eggs, low fat dairy products, beans and nuts. Complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread, wild rice, whole-wheat pasta, multigrain cereal and potatoes are great ways to boost your energy level throughout the day. Eat 4-5 servings of fruits and vegetables; take a multivitamin with antioxidants each day to ensure you are getting the nutrients your body requires throughout the day.

Because our busy lifestyles can interfere with upholding the ideal dietary plan, proper supplementation can help fill in the gaps. However, there are dozens of supplements on the market today offering big promises. How do you know which brand is best for you?

If a product promises, effortless, weight loss, it doesnt have your long-term health and wellness in mind, says Dr. Bill Wheeler, Ph.D. and R.D., a former staff nutritionist to the President of the United States and independent consultant for Life Time Fitness. Supplements need to be worked into your overall plan.

Life Time Fitness LeanSource weight loss supplement is a patent-pending blend of four active ingredients shown in recent studies to help naturally speed up metabolism, burn body fat, and curb sugar cravings without the use of harmful stimulants. Unlike many other supplements on the market today that hype unbelievable before and after testimonials, LeanSource is based on real science and a proven safe and effective formulation. All Life Time Fitness nutritional products are regularly tested in independent lab settings to assure consumers they really contain whats on the label.

Now available at Target, RiteAid, Kroeger, Kmart and Meijer stores, as well as Life Time Fitness locations nationwide and via www.lifetimefitness.com, LeanSource products are conveniently available in a gel cap form, bars, and ready-to-drink shakes in multiple flavors.

Good diet and the use of beneficial supplements are just part of the equation. Regular and balanced exercise is also a critical part of the process. Just going to the gym once in a while isnt going to cut it. You need to make a commitment, and stick with it, says Zweifel.

Life Time Fitness recommends that people who are serious about shedding the pounds and keeping them off participate in aerobic training exercise regimens a minimum of three times per week for at least 30 minutes at a time. Aerobic exercises include brisk walking, biking, jogging, swimming, aerobic classes and dancing. Dieters are also urged to take part in resistance training exercises, such as weight lifting, at least twice a week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session.

For more information about weight loss and exercise programs offered through Life Time Fitness, visit www.lifetimefitness.com.

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Give Your Children the Gift of Health ARA(ARA) - Studies by the United States Center for Disease Control indicate that more than 15 percent of children aged 6 to19 are overweight. Television is no longer the main roadblock to healthy children -- the advent of the Internet, e-mail, instant messaging and video games has created a society of inactive children. Obesity rates continue to grow despite our increased awareness of its harmful health implications, including obesitys connection to heart disease and diabetes. Furthermore, a recent Norwegian study found that overweight teenagers have a greater chance of dying before reaching 60.

Its important to get your kid active from a young age, and in-line skating is a great way for children to stay fit and have fun. As one of the top aerobic activities, in-line skating burns approximately 350 calories in a 30-minute workout while producing less than half the shock and impact to joints when compared with other physical activities. However, children usually outgrow sports equipment quickly, which can get rather expensive. But, with the push of a button on the Rollerblade Microblade XT, children have a skate they can keep throughout their growing years, while developing healthy habits that will stay with them forever. Rollerblade's exclusive extendible design allows the skate size to be adjusted through four full sizes to grow with young feet.

In-line skating, like any sport, has basic elements that need to be learned. Once you've purchased a pair of in-line skates for your child, it's important that you take the time to teach her how to operate them properly and safely, so that she can enjoy the benefits of the sport.

Keep the following tips in mind to help your child get started:

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

Mastering a few important skating skills on grass or carpet helps kids get used to the feel of in-line skates before taking to the pavement: Have them walk around with both toes pointed slightly outward -- that is how they'll push off once they're rolling on the pavement. They should also practice balancing on one foot at a time. The better balance becomes, the easier stopping and striding will be.

2. Take a lesson

The best way to start in-line skating is to take a lesson with an instructor. Many shops that carry in-line skates offer instructional clinics, or a friend who skates may be able to teach the basics. Several community or adult educational centers and local retailers also offer lessons. You may even want to purchase instructional materials such as a book or video to introduce your child to the sport.

3. Protect Your Child

You wouldn't let your kid play football without a helmet and padding (ouch!), and you shouldnt let them in-line skate without wearing a helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads. Wearing full protective gear will greatly decrease the chances of injury while in-line skating and will provide more confidence.

4. Stopping Made Easy

Make sure your child has mastered a stopping technique before heading out to where the action is. Rollerblade's Active Brake Technology is the most technically advanced braking method available on the market today. Here are some tips on how to master braking:

Active Brake Technology ABT offers skaters greater speed control and stopping power. ABT allows skaters to brake while keeping all eight wheels on the ground -- skaters no longer have to lift one foot up to stop. The brake is activated by moving the brake skate forward, which applies pressure on the cuff causing the brake pad to lower. It's easy to use and provides a greater sense of balance and control.

Heel brake: Bend knees, hold arms slightly in front of body, tip the toe of the brake foot upward and apply pressure to the brake until stopped.

5. Balance

Progress to the pavement and practice balance before you start rolling: Stand with your feet even and about four to six inches apart, arms slightly in front of the body and knees bent so shins touch the tongue of skates. Weight should be balanced on the balls of the feet. A common mistake beginners make is standing up straight with their knees locked or balancing their weight on their heels.

6. Skate Alert

Kids should avoid hills and declines when starting out. They can build up speed on even a slight decline, so they need to feel confident in their braking ability before they head for the hills. Find a flat surface that's free of debris or cracks, such as an empty parking lot, tennis court or basketball court. If kids skate in the streets they are considered a vehicle and must obey traffic laws. They should skate on their right; pass on their left,.announce their intentions by saying, "passing on your left," and always yield to pedestrians.

7. Skate Maintenance

Check the owner's manual for information on rotating wheels and care of bearings, or have skates tuned up at a service center in a local sporting goods store. Remember, skating in water or sand can damage bearings and hurt skate performance. Stick to dry pavement.

For more information on beginners tips or to locate a dealer for the Microblade XT, please contact Rollerblade at (800) 232-ROLL or log on to www.rollerblade.com.

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A Test Can Reveal What You Cant Always Feel ARA(ARA) - When it comes to many breathing problems, symptoms tell only part of the story. You cant always tell whats happening inside your lungs based on how you feel. You could feel fine and not really notice any symptoms -- but still have lung problems that prevent you from breathing your best.

Just like with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you need a test to help tell if you have a hidden breathing problem or poor control of a condition like asthma.

Two reliable and objective tests for measuring how well the lungs are working include spirometers and peak flow meters. A spirometer is a simple, and often computerized, device that measures how well air can flow in and out of the lungs. A doctor or a respiratory therapist typically performs a spirometry test. A peak flow meter is a hand-held device that measures how fast air can be blown out of the lungs. If recommended by a doctor, asthma patients should use a peak flow meter at home on a daily basis and monitor the results.

Both tests are simple, noninvasive, and easy to use -- patients simply blow as hard and as fast as possible into the devices (as directed) and, in the case of peak flow meters, record their results.

"Spirometry often reveals that lung function is far worse than many patients and their physicians perceive it to be, says Homer Boushey, M.D., president-elect of the American Thoracic Society. Without the benefit of this test, the severity of a condition like asthma might be under-diagnosed and patients would not get the most effective treatment."

Without a lung function test, you may not know if your asthma is being managed as well as it could be. Poorly managed or undiagnosed asthma can put you at risk for severe symptoms, asthma attacks and lasting lung damage. Properly managed asthma means that you have fewer asthma symptoms and can do more of the things you enjoy.

Ask your doctor or health care provider about whether you should get a lung function test. Experts recommend that people with asthma get tested at least once per year or more often if asthma is severe.

Remember . . . check your lungs, and breathe your best!

For more information on asthma and lung function testing, please log onto www.respiratoryinstitute.com.

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