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Lose Weight By Lifting Weights

Lifting Weights for Weight Loss

It might be counter intuitive, but a great way to lose weight, especially fat, is to hit the gym and lift weights. Don’t get us wrong: Cardio work is great and burns calories, which is important. But when you build muscle by lifting weights, you are increasing the total calories your body burns at rest. The bigger the muscles you have, the more calories you burn when you are just sitting around. If you try some of our tips for weight lifting for beginners in this article, you’ll begin to lose weight when you lift weights.

First, when you weight lift, you are going to build muscle by overloading your muscles. To boost your muscle mass, you need to use more weight than your muscles like. The more you lift, the more you will be able to do, so it’s important to increase your weights and vary your sets over time or your body will get used to what you are doing. You always want to be challenging your muscles and doing things that make them hurt. That’s how you build muscle.

When you do a set, you should be able to just barely finish the last reps of a set, while still having good form. If you aren’t getting that sort of feeling, increase the weight. And if your form is a mess because it’s too heavy, lower the weight. Good weightlifting form is very important to get good results.

Every week or month, you will want to change up your weightlifting workout. You want it to get more challenging over time. Increase weight, change exercises or change your numbers of sets and reps. You might do a week of heavier weights and low reps, then a week of lighter weights and higher reps.

Next, you will want to select which weightlifting exercises you want to focus on at first. We generally recommend 8-10 exercises for a beginning weight lifter. Think about doing about 1 exercise per group of muscles per workout.

For your chest, you can do bench press, the pectoral machine, or a chest press piece of equipment. For the back, try rows, extensions for the back, or a machine with lateral pulldowns. For shoulders, you can try front raises and lateral raises.

For your biceps, the basic curl is great as is hammer curling. We also like to do power cleans and clean and jerk exercises with a barbell. These are fantastic exercises for your legs, back, arms, shoulders and more. A power clean or clean and jerk works many muscle groups in one exercise and they are a couple of our favorite weightlifting exercises. These exercises are strenuous, so you will find yourself getting winded and your pulse skyrocketing, which is great cardio work too.

You will want to do at least one exercise for every major group of muscles. We usually like to focus on the big muscle groups first, such as the legs, and then work down to the smaller groups of muscles.

Hopefully you will start lifting weights soon and you will find that you definitely lose weight and burn more fat.

Written in support of Best for Beginners

Marketing Your Business with Presentation Folders

Let’s start at this point: presentation folders are handed out at conferences, training programs, seminars including recruiting seminars, trade shows, new product demonstrations, and public presentations. The most likely scenario in which presentation folders are used is a company gathering at which workers are presented with the details of a new product or service.

In order to get that many people in the room, it is extremely likely that they are already interested in whatever it is in the folder. In other words, a presentation folder is given to those who are already partially sold on the product. They have already been invited to attend the presentation, and they have voluntarily arrived.

So, having a captive or at least an interested audience seated before you, the question then becomes: what should you give them in your folder that will best promote your business? Remember that when the conference is over, people will take that presentation folder with them. Thus, it has to contain everything they will need in the future. Here’s an approach which should work pretty well:

1)    Technical brochures. There are always going to be the guys who want to know all the nitty-gritty, the technical detail of how your product works. Not everybody cares, but for those that do, that information may best be kept separate.

2)    Sales tips. Your product or service needs to be sold a certain way. Include a flyer which goes over all the features and benefits of your product.

3)    Re-order information. If you are giving people something to sell, they are going to want to re-order. Your presentation folder is a great place to include forms for reordering supplies.

4)    Organizational matters. You’ll need a brochure or perhaps a booklet which goes into detail about your company: its organization, its structure, its various departments, its key employees, its policies and practices.

5)    Sample catalogs. You want to make sure that anyone associated with your business has the most up to date information on your product line. It’s always a great idea to include that in your folder.

At Conquest Graphics, we can print your flyer, your catalog, your booklet, your brochure and your presentation folder. We can do it all, and then some. Contact us today.

Safe Holiday Driving Tips

Spending the holidays at with family and friends can be a joyous time, but it often requires us to drive long hours, often in inclement weather. Before you pack up the car and hit the road, take the time to prepare for your safety. Don’t let your holiday turn into tragedy on the highway. Consider these tips to keep you safe this holiday season.

Before making any long distance trip, tune up your car. Change the oil, fill the wiper fluid and be sure to check your tires. Correctly inflated tires will improve your car’s handling on the road and improve gas mileage. This is important every time you travel, but especially crucial when you encounter winter driving conditions. Be sure to check ahead for the weather forecast along your intended route.

Pack a car emergency kit in case you become stranded. Make sure that you have essential supplies in your vehicle in case your car breaks down or you are involved in a car wreck. Suggested items for a car emergency kit include bottled water, snacks, blanket, flashlight, road flares, first aid kit, jumper cables, shovel and a multi-purpose tool.

When packing your car, be sure to keep your sight-lines clear so you can easily see in your rear view mirror. Don’t stack packages and suitcases so high that it impedes your vision. If you are using a rooftop carrier on your car, double check to make sure that it is properly fastened and locked.

Allow plenty of time to arrive at your destination. Avoid peak traffic hours if you can. Make sure that everyone in the vehicle wears a safety belt. Don’t allow children to ride in the front of the car; the rear seats are the safest place for children of any age. Keep young children occupied with games and activities that will minimize driver distractions. If traveling with your family pet, make sure your furry friend is secured as well.

Get plenty of rest before making a long distance road trip, and stop frequently to take breaks and stretch your legs. Don’t rush to meet an unrealistic schedule. If you get tired, pull off the highway to a rest area and get out of the car for some fresh air. Don’t start driving again until you feel rested enough to travel. Do not use your cell phone while driving and never text and drive. Not only is this extremely dangerous, but it is illegal in many states.

Always drive the speed limit. Not only will it keep you safe, but it will improve your gas mileage. Don’t drive too closely behind other vehicles; give yourself plenty of time and distance to react to the traffic around you. Allow aggressive drivers to pass you. This will go a long way in preventing a car crash. Never drink and drive. If you are heading to an event where there will be drinking, make sure you choose a designated driver for the ride home.

Remember, a few extra safety measures along the way can help to avoid a disaster and will make your holiday a joyous one to remember.

Each member of the Allen & Allen law firm brings experience, knowledge and the skills needed to make a difference in your personal injury case. For a free consultation, contact us today. Visit http://www.allenandallen.com/

Finding the right Dog

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English: Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy (6week...I never had a dog as a child. I had three brothers and three sisters so my father was not to keen on another mouth to feed.

The first dogs I ever owned came with a seven acre horse farm we purchased in Virginia Beach. The owners moved out of state and “forgot” to take their two dogs.

Chessie was an aloft Chesapeake Bay Retriever who spent her days chasing ducks and birds, while Bobbi, the black Lab, spent his days swimming across Back Bay and hiking to the Ocean Beach at Sandbridge. Animal Control would arrest him for being a public nuisance and lock him up on a weekly basis.

Both dogs grew to love my ex-husband and tolerate me as I slowly learned the intricacies of dog ownership. Over the next several years we became a family and when we lost Chessie to Coon Dog fever I felt the empty space left in my heart.

A new baby and a move to a smaller lake house a hundred miles away meant that our Bobbie also made a move of his own to a friend’s farm where he would continue to have plenty of room to roam and new places to explore.

With a husband that constantly traveled and a new baby to care for, another dog was out of question. Besides, I missed Chessie and Bobbi and didn’t feel they could be replaced.

When my son was five, my ex-husband decided it was time to get him his first dog, of course I knew the dog wasn’t for my son but it was my ex’s way of getting a pet and having me take charge of caring for the pet. He chose a cute little German Sheppard puppy that quickly turned into a 100 lb rambunctious puppy. Samson was a sweet-heart, but it was obvious from the start, that he was not the right dog for a five year old. He found it amusing to tackle my son and his friends and treated them like toys. Even after some very expensive training, Samson had to be locked up in his pen whenever children were around.

Chasing the neighbor’s chickens, cars and anything that moved forced us to keep him penned up for his own safety. Somehow, Samson just didn’t seem to fit into our family.

It was very different when we found Bonkers, a tiny bundle of Shih Tzu fluff, we knew from the moment we met that he belonged with us. My son was eleven by this time and ready to care for a pet. Bonkers is a tough little guy that can take all the rough housing that a herd of pre-teens can dish out and still smart enough to run to Mommy when he’s had enough. He has even won over the cat.

I can’t tell you what dog is right for you, but I can give you some basic guidelines and tell you to follow your heart.

  1. If you have children, make sure you choose a child-friendly, size appropriate pet.
  2.  Wait until your children are the right age to care for a pet
  3. Puppies are like babies, so if you’re not prepared to put in the extra time, get an older dog.
  4. When buying a puppy, watch how the puppy interacts with his litter mates. You want the one that is not the leader or the wimp. The leader can often be more aggressive and challenge you or your children’s authority. This was our problem with Samson. He wanted to be “lead dog, alpha male”. A puppy that is wimpy and easily frightened can react with aggression out of fear.

I love having pets and can no longer imagine life without a dog in the house, but I do recommend that you take the time to find the “right” dog for your home and give them plenty of dog treats

Say No To Pet Store Canines

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Photo of a dog behind a chain-link fence at th...

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They are cute, and to some people, irresistible. Pet store puppies are placed in areas that are easy to access so those with interest in adopting them can play with them. This is part of the sales process. It is designed to pull people in, introducing them to puppies that need a home. But hidden behind the bright lights and cute, playful dogs are potential problems that may not surface until later.

A lot of professional trainers recommend staying away from canines sold through pet stores. But the reasons may be unclear. Below, we’ll present several compelling arguments for resisting the urge to adopt one.

Potential Health Issues

Most of the canines in pet stores arrive from puppy mills. These are facilities that are designed specifically to breed dogs. Very little care or attention is given to the health of the animals in the mill’s care. They live in unsanitary conditions, and often suffer from problems affecting their digestive systems, hearts, lungs, and other organs. Nutrition and veterinary care is a low priority for those who operate the mills.

The result of this attitude is that the canines often suffer severe health problems that cannot be easily resolved. Unfortunately, these issues are usually hidden from customers. In many cases, the employees at the pet stores are unaware of them.

Many people adopt dogs from the stores only to discover later that a major health issue exists. Sadly, some owners abandon the animals to shelters due to the costs of treating the issues.

The Pursuit Of Profit Over Breed Quality

Pet stores and puppy mills are focused on breeding as many purebreds as possible. Little attention is given to preventing genetic diseases from contaminating the breed. Instead, the emphasis is placed on profit. The more purebred canines, the more money the mills and stores will make. This is the reason many purebred dogs suffer from serious genetic problems, such as hip dysplasia, deafness, and a variety of recurrent skin diseases.

By contrast, when professional breeders produce canines, they dedicate themselves to keeping the breed clean. If they discover signs of genetic problems in a dog, the animal is prevented from contributing to future offspring. Here, breed quality is prioritized over profit.

Potential Behavioral Problems

Many of the animals found in puppy mills – and eventually, pet stores – suffer from one or more behavioral issues. The reason is because they have never had the opportunity to learn social signals. Nor have they been exposed to other people and animals outside the mill. In many cases, these puppies are taken from their mothers and littermates too early, depriving them of the chance to learn their first socialization cues.

When these animals are introduced to a home environment, they often become frightened and shy. If they are approached in a way that seems threatening to them, they may react with aggression. Pet store dogs can be trained to accept others, and respond with friendliness, but the training may require substantial time and patience on the part of the owner.

One notable problem involves housetraining. Under normal circumstances, a canine will avoid urinating and defecating where he sleeps and eats. However, dogs found in mills and stores are usually forced to do so. This makes it more difficult for their new owners to teach them appropriate elimination.

Save A Shelter Dog’s Life

Shelters are overcrowded. Animals that are not adopted are euthanized. According to the Humane Society, millions of would-be pets meet this unfortunate fate each year. When you adopt a dog from a shelter, you essentially save his life. On the other hand, when people buy canines from pet stores, they support and perpetuate the puppy mills.

Is it possible to adopt a healthy, socialized, and pleasant canine companion from a pet store? Yes. But given the risks involved, most people would be better-served by working with a reputable breeder, or visiting a local animal shelter.