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Keys to longevity

July 20th, 2009 Sparky No comments

Accoring to a reknown blog, scientists might have discovered a key to longevity in a form of an antibiotic called rapamycin. Rapamycin is usually used in organ transplant patients to reduce the risk of rejection. However, recent  studies and tests on mice revelaed that rapamycin increses the lifespan of female mice by 14% and male mice by 9%.

The interesting fact is that the antibiotic was administered to adult/old mice, so that you do not have to take the antibiotic from a small age!!

Until the tests are confirmed and the new medicament elaborated into a longevity-pill several years will pass, for sure. Until then, the four keys to longevity stay the same:

  1. no smoking
  2. daily vaggies and fruits intake
  3. healthy weight/height ratio and
  4. at least 3 hours of sports weekly

Live long!

Sleepy after eating

July 18th, 2009 Sparky No comments

It’s completely normal to feel sleepy after eating a big meal because your blood flows to your stomach in order to digest all the food you have eaten. That is why you are not in mood to do anything after a huge meal. It is even advisable an hour of rest before doing anything else.

From my point of view that’s exactly the problem with big meals. After eating hundreds of fat, carb and protein calories, your body’s “warehouses” (your fat) will be filled even more because these calories have not been used for anything productive while you are resting after the big meal. That’s why it is far better to eat 5, 6, 7 tiny meals a day because (1) you will burn those calories straight off and (2) you will be more energized and productive throughout the day without those huge energy drops.

By eating 7 small meals you could even eat 20-30% more calories a day without getting fatter. A rule of thumb to calculate a small meal is that after eating a small meal you still feel just a bit hungry. This tiny hunger is like a primate trigger (to search for food) that will keep you going throughout the day.

Less is sometimes more. Think about it and don’t fall asleep!

Running motivation

July 16th, 2009 Sparky No comments

You know, a person that is motivated 24/7 is a myth. It doesn’t exist. Motivation is a spark that gives us a powerful explosion of will in a given moment to do something, but goes out very quickly. In order to in achieve the results  you have set in your fitness/workouts or any other project in your life you cannot rely just on your motivation. When motivation fades, you gotta have have a few tricks in your sleeve to keep you “running” towards your goal. Here are a few tips you might find useful:

1. Acknowledge the rule of least resistance.
By default, your subconscious-mind, the ruler of your body, is a lazy entity. It follows a simple universal rule that is found in chemistry, physics and other natural phenomena: the path of least resistance. That is, your sub-mind will seek the path of least energy. If it can avoid doing something, you bet it will. It won’t get off its ass in the morning to go jogging. No. It has to be trained over a very long period of time (to build an habit), but until then you must make it do what you will.

2. Ignore your inner dialogue.
Now this one is very important. We all had those inner dialogues when you know you have to do something like to go running in the morning and start looking for excuses: “It’s cold outside you’ll get sick”, “You look awful when running, what will the people say”, “I am too tired today, I went to sleep very late last night. If I go now, I’ll be very tired all day.”, etc., etc., etc. In most cases (like 99%) these statements are false excuses. Even if your inner self was right 1% and you DO get cold after running: the positive build-up of your will is far more valauble than having cold for a day or two.

I have found a solution that works for me like a charm: I just ignore these dialogues. You cannot stop them: at least, in the beginning (when you build an habit they will disappear gradually. But YOU CAN ignore them). Just listen to your inner whining while starting what you have set to do. Mostly, the dialogue will disappear within the first 5 minutes as your sub-conscious realizes that you are un-bribable and cannot be talked out of your goal. This is really amazing. Who would have thought that you are NOT in control of your own body, by default. You have to take the control by power. Power of will by ignoring excuses.

3. Set goals and make them public.
The Runner’s Magazine suggests signing up for a competition regularly and making it public (among your family and friends). It doesn’t matter whether it’s a small or big one. This will kill two rabbits with one stone: First, you will be more motivated to go out and train since you have a definite goal and date to train for. Secondly, your submind will be more cooperative because it does care whothers will say should you flunk the competition after promising (publicly) to participate.

Don’t let anyone, incluiding your inner self, to talk you out of your goals!