| Madonna's Fitness After 50 Mon 6th February 2012 | What it takes to be as fit as Madonna is at 53.
Madonna, 53, is always fabulously fit. How does she do it, and what does it take to be so fit after 50?
WebMD asked celebrity fitness trainer Gunnar Peterson. He hasn't trained Madonna, but he has worked with over-50 and under-50 stars, including Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Q: What does it take to be as fit as Madonna is, at Madonna's age?
A: A level of commitment that most people can't even imagine. It takes dedication to exercise and dedication to nutrition, [and] a dedication to sleep. And the minute you fall off in one of those categories, you will notice it in the physique when you are at that level.
Q: Is she just somehow blessed? Genetically predisposed to have a great, fit body?
A: No way. Madonna earned that.
Q: When you're training someone to do an act as demanding as Madonna's -- singing, dancing, entertaining millions -- what do you focus on? Cardio, strength, flexibility?
A: I focus on strength at a cardio pace. We move through a lot of strength movements at a steady, unforgiving pace.
Q: Can you give us some details? What kind of hours in the gym would it take to get ready?
A: It's going to depend on how physical her show is... It could be ridiculously demanding... It's a big demand for them to be doing what they are doing physically and holding a tune. So they have to be in great shape to be able to do that. Luckily, someone like Madonna doesn’t get out of shape.
Q: Based on her previous shows, which are always high energy, what would you guess her daily preparation for this one might be?
A: She could be doing anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes of strength training, 30 to 60 minutes of movement -- Pilates or yoga -- and then add on to that four to eight hours a day of rehearsal.
Q: Whew. What about rest days? One day a week?
A: I've done that and I know it can work. But everybody's different. Sometimes that doesn't work for everyone. I tell them to try to build in a rest day or at least a rest period. When you finish [a workout] one day early, try to start the next day late just to give yourself a little bit longer downtime.
Q: What about diet? What nutrition tips would you give? Other tips?
A: I tell people, try to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible: fruits and vegetables, high-quality protein.
They are going to need complex carbohydrates [such as whole-grain breads and cereals] for long-term energy.
I also tell them to be conscious of their daily sleep, as opposed to playing catch-up on a random Sunday. [It's not good] if your sleep is shortened and your nutrition [is] compromised.
Q: How much harder does it get to stay in shape when you're older, say 50-plus?
A: It's easier as you age if you did more in your youth. But the good news is you can still do it. It's never too late. That's not me being a cheerleader; it's scientific. [Studies] have shown gains in lean muscle tissue and production of new tissue in people... one study was in octogenarians. That should be a huge banner of encouragement.
Q: Are older people more capable of getting and staying fit than they think?
A: Not only are people more capable than they think they are, but your body is way more able than you think it is.
Q: How hard can older people push themselves?
A: The smarter you are about exercise, the harder you can push. It's a mindset.
Don't always go for a record. Don't neglect your warm-up. Remember that your warm-up is your friend. I'd rather have you shave 10 minutes off your workout time and put it toward the warm-up than for you to skip the warm-up and get a 10-minute longer workout, as you get older.
| | Workers in 1952 poorer but less stressed, says report Mon 6th February 2012 | Britons are richer and more stressed than when the Queen came to the throne, a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has found.
The CIPD report found the workforce in the UK has increased by six million, thanks to an influx of women since 1952.
However the total number of hours worked has stayed the same - driven by a big rise in part-time working.
Despite that reduction the CIPD claims work related stress has increased.
Workless homes
One cause for this, according to the report, is the increase in unemployment.
Measured by the number of people claiming the job-seekers allowance, unemployment has increased from 2.2% of the workforce in 1952, to 5.5% on the most recent figures.
More worryingly the report found that the number of households where nobody earned had increased dramatically from 4% to 18.8%.
"With the threat of unemployment an underlying concern even in good times, people do not seem much happier about their working lives and many exhibit the symptoms of work-related stress," said Dr John Philpott, chief economic advisor for the CIPD.
Women workers
The report argued that the increase in the number of workless homes was linked to changes in the way we work, with fewer men in the workforce and more households with two earners.
However, with just 75% of men employed compared to 96% in 1952, this increased the number of households with no breadwinner.
On the other hand the female working age employment rate has risen from 46% to 66%.
Rising productivity
However the report accepted that people have become more productive over the last 60 years.
Despite the same number of hours being worked the value of the goods and services produced by the economy has quadrupled.
However this increase has come with increased pay inequality and a significant shift in the kind of work being carried out, the CIPD said.
The number of people in manufacturing jobs fell from 8.7 million in 1952 to just 2.5 million today while the number in managerial, professional and technical jobs has nearly doubled to 44% of the workforce.
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Source: BBC | | Dubious docs push herbal impotency cures Mon 6th February 2012 | They allegedly mix chemical substances used in allopathic medicines to treat patients
Some doctors who claim to practice traditional medicine to treat chronic diseases including impotency and evectional dysfunction without any side effects are discovered to be cheating patients. They allegedly mix chemical compositions used in allopathic medicines to the herbal products to 'treat' clients.
Sharjah Police sources revealed to 'Emirates24|7' that some doctors from Asian countries have been luring patients to their 'unofficial' clinics located in Sharjah Rolla area and other parts of the UAE. They offer herbal treatment for serious ailments including sexual disorders. The herbal medicines are sourced from their home country, they claim.
They also lure customers through websites. One such doctor charges as high as $4,000 for a course of herbal sexual enhancement treatment.
Most victims of this 'scam' do not file complaints or speak out, say police sources.
“We have received some complaints from patients about some dubious Asian doctors who are cheating patients. In the first two or three meetings, the doctors brainwash patients about the merits of using traditional herbal medicines and once they gain their confidence, they start selling them costly herbal products. These are not pure herbal medicines, but some herbs mixed with chemical substances that can cure such diseases,” a Sharjah Police source revealed to this website.
“A few such clinics operate out of the heritage area in Sharjah. The treatment is expensive, starting at Dh500. This is a clear case of cheating and public should be aware of such fraudulent medical practitioners,” the source warned.
Forensic tests conducted earlier on such 'herbal medicines' were found to possess chemical elements, Sharjah Police source said.
These 'doctors' not only offer sexual enhancement drugs but also offer expert advise on how to gain stamina and sexual powers and satisfy the opposite sex.
One such doctor whose website claims to have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and other places offer solutions for better ejaculation, more satisfying erections and enhanced pleasure with the help of traditional herbal medicines from Pakistan. The one-month course of herbal medicines cost $800 and a two-month course only $400.
There are also treatment costing $1,550 and $3,880 even. It says while most prescription medicines cause side effects, herbal medicines create only an addiction for more sex.
Such doctors claim to keep the personal details confidential and all prescriptions and treatments are done without much publicity or propaganda. A 'refresh tablet' sold online promises to fill users with energy, where they can 'perform' for hours without continuously.
Customers can buy these herbal medicines through online payment system of four leading banks. The drugs are shipped to customers in discrete and confidential packages, with a title 'herbal medicines'.
Meanwhile, there are several herbal medicine for sexual disorders available online. There are pills available for breast enhancement, too, apart from natural Viagra.
A classified advertisement by an Asian doctor in a UAE classified website claims to cure all ailments with the help of herbal medicines. He claims offer traditional herbal medicines, eastern herbal products and supplements at low prices.
“These herbal medicine courses can maximise 'organ' size and produce longer, harder erections. Key herbal ingredients help restore and maintain healthy libido, improve overall immunity, stimulate growth and increase sexual stamina (staying power). Your partner will notice a dramatic difference and you'll enjoy the confidence you've always wanted by pleasing her like never before,” says the internet posting by the herbal clinic.
The company sells a pack of herbal pills and creams to enhance breast size for $239.5.
Source: Emirates247 |
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