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'Desperate Housewives syndrome'
Australian women are succumbing to "Desperate Housewives Syndrome," an eating disorder in middle-age, driven by the desire to look as thin as the celebrity stars of shows such as Desperate Housewives.
Everywhere we look, from the fictional character of Bree Van De Kamp, the perfectionist homemaker in Desperate Housewives and the identikit women of the Real Housewives series to Hollywood celebrities, the message seems to be thin is successful. Experts agree that the way celebrities portray themselves on our screens is piling on the pressure for ordinary older women to look just as good.
There's been an increase in the number of women experiencing eating disorders in middle age according to Professor Phillipa Hay, Foundation Chair of Mental Health at the University of Western Sydney. Hay says a rise in body image and weight and shape concerns is to blame. "There may be more pressures on older women to retain the appearance of youth," she says and "there may be more pressures to be a 'super woman' successful in the workplace and at home and 'looking good' as well."
Celebrities, such as Angelina Jolie, "appear to 'prove' that thinness in midlife bestows many real-life benefits, for example, sexual desirability, happiness, and wealth that may be particularly persuasive," said a recent study in Psychology of Women Quarterly co-authored by Professor Marika Tiggemann, a psychologist and body image expert at Flinders University. The research, which looked at the influence of television shows such as Desperate Housewives on women aged between 35 and 55 concluded that "exposure to thin idealised images in media content may have an adverse impact on body image and eating practices in midlife."
"It used to be that older women were not depicted in the media," says Tiggemann. "Real older women were able to get off the body image and appearance treadmill. But now this depiction of beautiful older women make it seem like everyone should look like that, and that women should keep up their appearance no matter what their age."
Dr Chris Basten, a clinical psychologist at Basten & Associates in Sydney, who treats women with eating disorders agrees. "I do think that television shows and movies have an impact on how women see themselves," he says. "There's nothing quite like Desperate Housewives." Basten believes that the pressure to look good is no longer just for those in their teens or twenties. "There is greater pressure than ever for women in their thirties to fifties to confirm to certain body ideals. This pressure has always been there but most would agree that it is increasing."
But while the majority of women diet at some stage in their lives and many women may feel dissatisfied by seeing images of slim and attractive women on television only a minority will go on to develop a serious eating disorder. "Generally, eating disorders develop when external triggers coincide with internal vulnerability factors says Basten. "An external trigger could be a comment from someone about weight or seeing oneself in a photo and judging that badly. The internal vulnerabilities are anything that makes the person more likely to focus excessively on weight, shape and physical appearance. Classic examples include a person having a low opinion of themselves or having profound doubts that anyone will like them as they are. Women who internalise strong beliefs about the special importance of attractiveness also find it harder. Finally, we also know that personality traits like perfectionism and competitiveness are a part of the vulnerability state for many people who end up with an eating disorder."
Of the women Basten sees who are over 35, he says nearly all developed an eating disorder in early adulthood and either still have the problems or are experiencing a relapse after years of being well. An eating disorder usually develops because of a series of very reinforcing feedback loops, says Basten. He says the story of Jude, a 40 year old mother of three, is typical of someone with an eating disorder who developed the illness as a teenager.
Jude became depressed when she was about 17 to 19 but never got treatment. Instead, she started to jog every morning and restricted her dinner. She became fitter and dropped about five kilograms. She got comments from others about how much better she looked. She lost more weight and then had a few years of never feeling quite thin enough and obsessing about calorie-counting. This gradually subsided as she got into her career and met the man she would later marry. She relearned how to feel strong and content from other sources. Now, though, her third child has recently started school, she has moved suburbs and knows nobody there, and is thinking about returning to the workforce after eight years. Jude is feeling unhappy and lost. She suddenly feels dissatisfied about her body shape and a desperate desire to lose weight quickly. Her mind tells her that she will be accepted by other women in the area if she looks slimmer. She also craves the sense of certainty and progress that comes from seeing the kilograms coming down on the scales each week. She has started running each morning again and eating only salad at dinner and getting irritable and anxious if she can't stick to this routine.
Thankfully, says Basten, "most women get wise to the ploys and techniques of the media, as they get older." They know that the celebrities we see on television have hours of make-up, hair and special lighting to look as good as they do but "what they don't always realise is that the actors on television who seem thin are probably unable to enjoy themselves day-to-day socialising with friends because of their unhealthy dieting. Who knows how unhappy and osteoporotic most female actors are in Hollywood these days?"
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'Desperate Housewives syndrome'
Johnson: Feed your body with a lifetime of healthy choices
How many times have you wondered "What should I be eating?"
I get offered a lot of unsolicited weight-loss foods, meal plans and supplements, and I'm going to be honest when I say that in my opinion, most of these are akin to the snake oil they duped our grandparents into buying from the back of a wooden wagon.
If you have to start taking a pill or swallowing a juice every day to lose weight, what's going to happen when you reach your goal and stop taking those supplements? You guessed it, right back to square one.
There are a few hard, fast rules for healthy eating that I try to stick to, but I give myself plenty of leeway, and you should, too.
For me, focusing on eating five servings of fruits and vegetables each day is a must. Get those veggies in at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you will find your hunger decrease as the amount of fiber you eat increases with the consumption of these types of foods.
I try to eat lean protein like fish, chicken or turkey, more often than not. There's nothing wrong with beef and pork, either, but you may want to stay away from fatty cuts of those meats and of course. Steer clear of those chicken-fried steaks (sigh).
Dairy is a must for me, even if it's a controversial choice that other people may eschew. I pick low-fat or nonfat milk, cheese and yogurt, but I try not to depend too much on cheese, which can become a downfall if I'm not careful.
Whole grains are the way to go, if you are going to eat bread, pasta or rice. That means "brown" grains can stick around, while "white" grains should take a hike. And if you are up for an adventure, try a new grain like quinoa, bulger or wild rice the next time you visit the grocery store. If you're fearful of the great grain unknown, the Internet abounds with healthy recipes to try using these types of grains.
And if you are looking to clean up your food habits, dump sugary soft drinks and sugar-laden foods as daily go-tos. These are for special occasions, perhaps once or twice a week, but not every day.
Within these rules, you can find a lot of room to eat healthy, delicious meals and snacks if you are willing to try a few new items and focus not on those "forbidden foods" you don't get to eat, but the delicious, satisfying foods you do get to eat.
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Johnson: Feed your body with a lifetime of healthy choices
Alyson Hannigan: I'm Not in "Bikini Shape" 4 Weeks After Baby
Baby weight blues.
As Us Weekly first reported, Alyson Hannigan and husband Alexis Denisof welcomed the birth of their second child, daughter Keeva Jane Denisof, on May 23. Since then, Hannigan, 38, has kept a low-profile and only revealed one image of her baby girl's tiny hand on Twitter June 12.
PHOTOS: Incredible post-baby bods
But late last week, the How I Met Your Mother star sounded off on her worries for not losing the baby weight quickly enough.
"I think by Hollywood standards I'm supposed to be in bikini shape now that my baby is 4 weeks old," she tweeted Thursday. Instead, Hannigan shared, "My workout goal: Food drops in lap, not on belly."
PHOTOS: Pregnant stars who bared it all
Fans of the American Pie actress, however, showed her support for "setting a good example" and not rushing to lose the baby weight. Hannigan replied, "I still haven't lost all the weight from my first daughter. Oh well."
PHOTOS: Celeb moms on the go
Little Keeva, now one-month-old, joins big sister Satyana, 3. The new mother-of-two also shared with her fans that she's not getting much sleep.
" 'Remember when we used to sleep together?' - - Me to my pillow," she joked.
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Alyson Hannigan: I'm Not in "Bikini Shape" 4 Weeks After Baby
Ask Matt: The Killing Post-Mortem, Bunheads, Longmire, More
Mireille Enos
Send questions and comments to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com and follow me on Twitter!
Question: I've been mulling over the ending of The Killing for a week now. Up until the series finale (which is what it should be), I was convinced that the writers hadn't known who the killer would be when they started the series. This was always a pet peeve of mine with soap operas. How can you plot a murder without a murderer? The main problem with this is that the actor playing the murderer doesn't have the background knowledge to act his or her scenes. Though using twice as many episodes as they needed, I could sort of see in the finale how they were setting things up. To truly see if that's the case, I'd have to re-watch the first couple of episodes, which I don't want to do.
But I read this week that Jamie Anne Allman only learned she was the killer before the last episode. How can show runners do this? Is it just that they want to keep the actors guessing as well as the audience? If an actor plays a role and shows some nuances that might be guilt, is that so bad? Maybe that's why Columbo was so much fun years ago. Watching the actor play the role and trying not to show guilt was one of the reasons we watched! I liked The Killing, and watched it all, even though I hated the ending of the first season. The actors were good, but the characters left something to be desired. I think Linden and Holder should be allowed to move on. If they're back, I won't be watching. Just wanted to know your opinion. Myra
Matt Roush: We're definitely on the same page about being willing to let this one move on without us. (If it is renewed, which would surprise me, I'm sure I'd check in out of duty, but the thought doesn't thrill me.) There was some very good acting throughout the run of The Killing although the great Michelle Forbes was thoroughly wasted until the very end of the second season and the moodiness and atmosphere carried me a long way past the numerous red herrings, but I'm not sure this is an experiment I'm eager to see repeated again unless the story picked up in intensity without lapsing into such chronic mopeyness. (This would be a setting ripe for a serial killer, but let's not give them any ideas.)
Regarding Jamie Anne Allman as Poor Aunt Terry, whose motive for sending the car into the drink (regardless of who was in the trunk) seemed a bit of a stretch, she really nailed that scene of confession, didn't she? Thinking back on the series as a whole, her caretaking the family can be interpreted as expiating guilt, but like you, I'm not willing to relive any of this to see if there were embedded clues. Like most of the cast, her work was shrouded in an ambiguity on purpose, I would think that would allow us to both suspect and empathize with her, whichever way the story went. And I was OK with the fact that there were basically two killers: Jamie just being too inept to finish the deed. (The one twist I loathed was seeing now-Mayor Richmond go back to corrupt business as usual, a cheaply cynical and unearned transition; plus even with connections, Ames would have to be implicated by proximity with Rosie's death after Terry's confession, right? But let's not nitpick.) There was no way a finish after this long and polarizing a build-up would please everyone, and I guess I'd put myself in the intrigued but underwhelmed and unmoved column.
Question: I watched The Killing this year, and wasn't too concerned that we didn't know who Rosie's killer was at the end of last season as it appears many were, and the ending was truly a shocker at least for me! When will we know if it's been renewed for next year? The two main characters are extremely talented, and their chemistry has started to work (not that I think they should fall in love!) but their teamwork has fallen into an easy rhythm well worth watching. So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another season? Holly
Matt Roush: I haven't a clue when AMC will decide to pull the trigger one way or the other; could be soon, but since the show is clearly in limbo, with ratings down year to year amid a critical and fan backlash, they don't have to make the call until the contracts expire, which according to a Variety story isn't until later this year. My mail is split pretty much down the middle on this one, but for me, I'm satisfied they finally solved this case and would regard cancellation as something of a mercy Killing.
Question: What are the actual chances that Joel Kinnaman gets an Emmy nomination for The Killing? I think he's fantastic on that show. Chad [from Twitter]
Matt Roush: I agree; he and Mireille Enos (who was nominated last year) often rose above the material, and he was especially strong this season. But to be realistic, the show got such a bad rap in the second year it's hard to imagine even its best assets being considered very strongly. Kinnaman faces a particularly steep challenge, because the supporting actor drama field is so strong, with multiple contenders from shows including Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Good Wife and Justified, to name a very few.
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Ask Matt: The Killing Post-Mortem, Bunheads, Longmire, More
How to Invest in Gold
LONDON, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Gold has always been powerful stuff, ever since its discovery people have placed it in extremely high regard and have gone through extraordinary efforts to obtain it. Gold has been mined and traded for centuries and has historically been a symbol of affluence and prosperity, used to build religious sculptures, as a currency and more recently commercially. If you are interested in how to invest in Gold, please read on.
Gold has seen a meteoric rise over the last dozen years which has seen its price quintuple and popularity skyrocket.
It seemed everyone had joined the gold rush, wanting their own cut of the yellow metal, and nowadays it's become exceedingly expensive. So how can you get your stake without putting up a huge amount of capital?
There are a few ways people can invest in or trade the price of gold, and spread betting is one of them. As spread betting is a derivative, you do not actually own the physical underlying asset, but you can profit from rises and falls in the price of gold via a spread bet. Gold has become one of the most traded markets and is an attractive investment for many Capital Spreads clients.
Trading with Capital Spreads you can bet on whether you think the price of gold will rise, or alternatively, that it will fall. If you are correct and the price moves in your favour, you will make a profit of your stake multiplied by the number of points that the market has moved. If you are wrong and the price of gold moves against your bet, you will make a loss of your stake multiplied by each point that the market has moved.
Some investors view gold as a so-called "safe haven" commodity and traders traditionally buy it for one of two reasons. Firstly it is seen as a hedge against inflation and it is also favoured during times of market volatility and economic turmoil.
Like most commodities gold is driven by supply and demand as well as speculation. However, unlike other commodities such as gas and oil, possession of gold is more significant than its consumption, and so many traders perceive gold to trade more like a currency than your traditional commodity. Although there's not enough of it in the world to function as a currency, gold trades in a very similar fashion. For example, when the Federal Reserve announced that it would keep interest rates low through 2014, gold rallied.
Traditionally gold is traded as a hedge against inflation due to its perceived ability to generate higher-than-inflation returns, despite downturns in the market. However this hasn't been the case recently. During the current slump in stock market prices gold has joined the party, recording its biggest May loss in three decades, which begs the question - is this the end of the historic gold rush?
The fall in gold over the last few months has told us that what goes up must come down, and it seems that bull markets can very quickly become bears. So make sure you do your research and get some practice by applying for a Capital Spreads demo account to try out gold trading with no risk. To learn more about spread betting visit the Capital Spreads Learn Centre.
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How to Invest in Gold
Newtown Township Parks and Recreation Department announces upcoming camps and programs
The following programs and camps are being offered by the NewtownTownship Parks and Recreation Department. Pre-registration for all programs is required by calling 215-968-2800 ext. 239 or visiting http://www.newtownfun.com
Youth Programs:
After Camp Art is open to everyone. Each week we will focus on a different subject. Sign up for one or all. (Find a detailed description on http://www.newtownfun.com.) No class on July 4. Painting: Monday to Thursday, July 912 from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. No. 123022. Instructor: Mary Walsh, A Room with a View. Location: Newtown Elementary School Art Room. Fee: $49; Resident Discount: $39
Fairy Tale Theater (ages 5 -8): This video/stage workshop is highly creative, and can help your child become fearless in front of the camera and on stage. We will be wearing costumes and using puppets and props every day. Everything comes together on the last day when we show our video presentation and live action to our family and friends. Children will delight in the comedy and excitement of these classes and learn the fundamentals of acting while using their voice, body, and imagination to create characters they will enchant their audience with! (Different characters each week! Families are invited back Fridays at 1 p.m. for the theater show.) Session: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 13, 9 to 10 a.m. No. 123140. Instructor: Lori Steel Naglack, Stage and Screen Express. Location: Richboro Middle School, auditorium. Fee: $70; resident discount, $56.
Alice in Wonderland Theater! (ages 8+) - Take in this classic and go with us on a childhood adventure, on stage! If you love to sing and dance, join the cast of fantastical characters as they have a mad tea party! Sing, act and dance while enjoying creative expression and imagination in this rabbit hole adventure! Parents are invited to see the show at 1 p.m. on Friday. Sessions: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No. 123143. Instructor: Lori Steel Naglack, Stage and Screen Express. Location: Richboro Middle School, auditorium. Fee: $249; resident discount, $199.
Junior Baking Camp (ages 6-9) - Do your kids love to help you bake in the kitchen? Then join me for a fun-filled week of baking cookies, cupcakes, sweet bread, pastry and more! In this class, they will learn proper measuring and baking techniques and leave with a love of baking! Recipe packets will be given to each child at the end of the week. A $25 materials fee is due to the instructor the first day of class. Session: Monday to Friday, July 9-13, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. No. 123044. Instructor: Linda Welles, Lulus Cakery. Location: Newtown Township Administration Building. Fee: $188; resident discount, $150.
Lil NAC Builders (ages 3-5) - Roll up your sleeves and get ready to do some work. Bob the Builder has got nothing on us! Campers will learn the basics of construction and build their own projects. Painting, planning and building will all be covered during this week in the construction zone. A one time $30 registration fee (per child per summer) is due at time of registration. Session: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 13, 9 to 11:30 a.m. No. 123048. Location: Newtown Athletic Club. Fee: $185; resident discount, $175.
Mini Cheer, (ages 4-6) Push 'em back, shove 'em back, way back! Led by experienced college cheerleaders and gymnastics coaches, campers will learn routines and cheers throughout the week. You dont have to be a cheerleader to participate. Campers will work on stunts, sideline cheers, jumps, and tumbling that will develop strong cheerleading skills. Friday the cheerleaders will shake their stuff in a mini performance! A one time $30 registration fee (per child per summer) is due at time of registration. Session: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 13, 9 to 11:30 a.m. No. 123049. Location: Newtown Athletic Club. Fee: $185; resident discount, $175.
Full Day Broadway Summer Dance/Musical Theater Workshops (ages 6-18) $532. This fun and exciting intensive workshop for both boys and girls features jazz, Broadway theater dance, song and dance, voice, audition workshop, scene study and acting class. No prior performing experience is necessary. We will end the two-week session with a performance for friends and family. The performance will be on the last day (July 20). Learn new skills and make new friends at the same time! The program is centered around teaching skill progression, while encouraging each child to develop at their own pace in a safe, positive learning environment. The summer camp is designed to provide students with a foundation of the basics from which to build upon. Most importantly it is a camp where your child will have fun! A $15 donation towards costume supplies for making their take home costumes will be due first day of class. Session: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 20, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No. 123208. Instructor: PSPA Staff. Location: 2324 Second Street Pike, Newtown. Fee: $532; resident discount, $528.
Childrens Disney Song and Dance (ages 3-6) -This fun children's song and dance selections from Disney and Broadway is a imaginative creative theater arts camp for children 3-4 years and 5-6 years of age (must be toilet trained). The Song and Dance Camp is a fun filled camp for all children designed to introduce song and dance in an exciting way. In addition to song and dance, children will also have dance-related arts and crafts. Each fun-filled day will consist of music, song and dance class, a creative reading, snack break, then followed by their very own artwork. This is an inspiring fun summer camp for the young artist who loves to sing and dance! These camps sell out quickly, so sign up now. Each week concludes with a performance for friends and family. Join us for one or both weeks, as each week will be different! A $15 donation towards costume supplies for making their take home costumes will be due first day of class. Join us for one or both weeks, as each camp will be different! Session: Monday to Friday, July 9 to 13, 9 a.m. to noon. No. 123209. Instructor: PSPA staff. Location: 2324 Second Street Pike, Newtown. Fee: $186; resident discount, $181. Continued...
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Newtown Township Parks and Recreation Department announces upcoming camps and programs
SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: Under pressure to lose baby weight
Dietician Indra Balaratnam says no womans mid-section instantly goes back to normal immediately after childbirth
Personal trainer Boey Kim Mei says its important to remember the term nine months up, nine months down.
FAT Aunty, Chubby Gal, Mrs Double Chin and Fatbulous are only some of the names used to describe the once "most beautiful woman in the world" -- Aishwarya Rai.
Although the mother of six months is confident enough to walk the red carpet, bulimic youngsters, middle-aged men with pot-bellies and know-it-all mothers have taken it upon themselves to decide when they should get back to their original form, based on what's displayed in magazines and "photoshopped" billboards.
But consultant dietitian and president of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association Indra Balaratnam said women should not be fooled by what they see in celebrity magazines and tabloids.
"Many stories and pictures about extreme post pregnancy weight loss are not true and not reflective of a proper timeline.
"The media likes to splash headlines like 'so-and-so celeb loses X amount of weight after delivering baby last month', but can you really vouch if it's true?
"Even celebrities complain about what's in the tabloids, so go figure. Furthermore, when some celebrities lose weight in a rush, it's because they have a contract to film a movie where they have to look like what they did before pregnancy.
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SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: Under pressure to lose baby weight
Under pressure to lose baby weight
Dietician Indra Balaratnam says no womans mid-section instantly goes back to normal immediately after childbirth
Personal trainer Boey Kim Mei says its important to remember the term nine months up, nine months down.
FAT Aunty, Chubby Gal, Mrs Double Chin and Fatbulous are only some of the names used to describe the once "most beautiful woman in the world" -- Aishwarya Rai.
Although the mother of six months is confident enough to walk the red carpet, bulimic youngsters, middle-aged men with pot-bellies and know-it-all mothers have taken it upon themselves to decide when they should get back to their original form, based on what's displayed in magazines and "photoshopped" billboards.
But consultant dietitian and president of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association Indra Balaratnam said women should not be fooled by what they see in celebrity magazines and tabloids.
"Many stories and pictures about extreme post pregnancy weight loss are not true and not reflective of a proper timeline.
"The media likes to splash headlines like 'so-and-so celeb loses X amount of weight after delivering baby last month', but can you really vouch if it's true?
"Even celebrities complain about what's in the tabloids, so go figure. Furthermore, when some celebrities lose weight in a rush, it's because they have a contract to film a movie where they have to look like what they did before pregnancy.
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Under pressure to lose baby weight
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Swimming is good exercise (thats obvious). Swimming is a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person! But what is it that makes swimming good, specifically? That depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Swimming is a healthy activity that can be continued for a lifetime. The health benefits swimming offers are worth the effort it takes to get to the swimming pool, get into your swimsuit, and then get into the pool and swim. If you do not know how to swim, taking swimming lessons or teaching yourself how to swim better are great ways to help you to enjoy fitness swimming. Swimming works practically all of the muscles in the body (if you do a variety of strokes). It can develop a swimmers general strength, cardiovascular fitness and endurance. It does not help with bone densityyou need to weight bearing exercise for thatbut that is about all that is missing from what swimming could do for your fitness.
Why do you swim? For the health benefits to your heart and lungs? For the chance to be with some of your friends at the pool? Because, in your case, running every day hurts? Because you like the feeling of floating and sliding through the water? Or is it something else? If you are looking for a break from the heat of the summer, then a dip in the water is exactly what you need; swimming is a way for you to cool off. It fills a wonderful recreational need for individuals and families, from beach and pool fun to water parks. Maybe you are a runner, training on a regular basis, and want to find an activity that keeps your heart rate up but takes some of the impact stress off of your body. Perhaps you have been doing some other form of land exercise, and now an injury prevents you from putting weight on a knee or ankle. Swimming can help you. Kicking workouts, water aerobics, pool running, or a regular swimming workout can all give you a great exercise session without the weight of your body pounding you with each move.
Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. It can serve as a cross-training element to your regular workouts. Before a dryland workout, you can use the pool for a warm-up session. Swimming with increasing effort to gradually increase your heart rate and stimulate your muscle activity is easily accomplished in the water. After a land workout, swimming a few laps can help you cool-down, move blood through your muscles to help them recover, and help you relax as you glide through the water. Spending time in a group workout, whether water aerobics or a masters swim practice, is a great social outlet. Exchanging stories, challenging each other, and sharing in the hard work make swimming with others a rewarding experience. There are other psychological benefit to swimming, if you allow it to occur. Relax and swim with a very low effort. Let your mind wander, focusing on nothing but the rhythm of your stroke. This form of meditation can help you gain a feeling of well-being, leaving your water session refreshed and ready to go on with the rest of your day.
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Finding your six pack: Strong, flat, firm abs
About exercise & health
Everybody has a six-pack hidden under their tummy fat. Eat & exercise & the world will see it.
Photo above of abdominal muscles on outside and below on the inside of the body (Source: Wikipedia).
Click button to listen to Six Pack Solution to download
IN THE MIRROR
21/06/2012 Dr Nantapat Supapannachart
Everyone ogles at the lovely bodies seen on TV, in movies and on billboards. Needless to say, this really puts pressure on how one thinks their body should look. A person with ripped abs is probably more satisfied with his or her body image than an individual who is stout, because of the attention one gets. The result of this is that everyone wants to have a six-pack of firm abs.
EVERYONE HAS A SIX-PACK. TRUE OR FALSE?
Most people find it difficult to believe they already have a six-pack. It is true. It's there - you just don't see it, because it's normally covered in fat. Six-packs are in the region below your chest and between your obliques. You need to be around a certain body fat percentage - approximately seven to 11% of fat - for your abdominal muscles to show properly.
ARE SIX-PACKS ONLY ABOUT SEX APPEAL OR DO THEY HAVE HEALTH BENEFITS?
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Finding your six pack: Strong, flat, firm abs