June 4 , 2007

WHAT'S THE BEST AB EXERCISE EVER? The bicycle maneuver is number one. Biomechanics researchers at San Diego State University hooked up exercisers to an electromyograph machine and determined that the bicycle maneuver worked the rectus abdominis muscles 150 percent harder than a crunch. Lie on your back, hands behind your head, and crunch your left knee to your right elbow; using a pedaling motion, alternate sides. If your abs are covered by a layer of fat, cut 250 to 500 calories a day from your diet (or 10 to 20 percent of the calories it takes to maintain your current weight). Focus on eliminating refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and pasta. Don't bother working your abs more often. It takes 250,000 crunches to burn 1 pound of fat -- that's about 100 crunches a day for 7 years. (Men's Health)

Good news! The bran cereal you eat every morning may protect you from what scientists now think may be a leading risk factor for heart disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sign of inflamed tissues, and high blood levels of CRP may signify that the vessel-blocking process called atherosclerosis is underway in your arteries. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that eating lots of foods high in total fiber (soluble and insoluble combined) reduces your CRP levels, possibly lowering your heart attack risk as well. (Prevention)

Listen To Your Feet. To be a better runner, you need quiet feet. If you hear them hitting the ground, you're not running well. You don't want to be pounding the pavement. That's too hard on your joints. Keep your feet close to the ground, using a quick, shuffling stride.
(Men's Health)

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