Skin Savvy, Part II

Saturday finally felt like summer here in Maine so we made the most of the day from an early morning walk,  to a round of golf and then two hour bike ride.  A day outdoors is great for the body and the mind but it can take its toll on the skin.  Fortunately, we remained skin savvy by wearing UPF clothing, hats and kept the sunscreen handy.  Another great way to save your skin this summer is to protect it from the inside out. Some of the best summer foods also happen to be great skin savers.  

Skin Savvy

I was a very lucky kid growing up on a lake.  When my parents bought their lake home, they said “We aren’t buying a house, we’re investing in a way of life.”  There is nothing like lake-​​living.  My winters were spent skating, ice fishing and cross country skiing, and it was always a goal to have the first boat in the water in the spring and last out in the fall.  When summertime came along, my siblings and I spent countless hours in the water swimming, sailing, or just floating around.  That meant that we also spent a lot of time in the sun.  No matter where you live, chances are you’re going to be spending time in the sun this summer.  Before you hit the beach, lake, pond or pool, it’s time to get savvy about your skin.

A Salute to Support

Each year, it is estimated that the military discharges nearly 300,000 Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard members.  For those of us who have been in the military or are members of military families, the transition to the civilian word can be challenging.   My husband, Mark, worked tirelessly to develop an initiative here in Maine called the High Tech Patriot Program (HTPP) helping guardsmen and women attain high tech jobs.  It was a win-​​win for the employer and the military member.  Here are some of my other favorite organizations that may provide support to you and your family. 

Concussions and Brain Damage: What do the Military and NFL Have in Common?

One thing that the NFL and the military have, besides “love of the game” is the potential for brain trauma. This is certainly not the pretty side of military service, or of playing football, but it happens none-​​the-​​less.

The good news is that because of the budgets, resources, research, science, and investment in gear (and sharing of knowledge) by both industries, soldiers and players may get the tools and care they need to keep healthy long after they hang up their uniforms.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the issues from the standpoint of the NFL because what we are seeing in the sports arena is spilling onto the battlefield and vice-​​versa.

Five Not-​​So Forbidden Foods

Although I’m fascinated with ancient history and artifacts — I could totally be Indiana Jones, whip and all — I’m not a huge fan of museums.  Everywhere you go, there are signs saying “Do Not Touch.”  Truthfully, doesn’t it make you want to touch everything that much more?  The same may be true when it comes to off-​​limits food.  The more forbidden it is, the more we want it, right?  If you’ve hung in there with me all month through the litany of what-not-to-eat’s for weight loss, you may be wondering if there is anything left to eat!   The good news is there are some fun foods you can enjoy this summer guilt-​​free. 

5 Keys to Recovery Supplements for Military Training

Hard-​​core training needs a strategy, recovery supplements for military training…and some testicular fortitude.

Recovery is where you replace what you’ve used, but also where you build up and fortify the muscles so they remain healthy, strong and ready rather than fatigued, depleted and damaged. The latter will lead to injury which can put you out of commission.

ASVAB Test: Working Out Your Brain

Before military training comes the ASVAB test. The better prepared you are, the more opportunities you’re going to have. It’s that simple.
Some people naturally do well on tests. Others struggle. Not so much because they’re not capable of answering the questions, but because it may be hard to focus or they just get nervous at the thought of a written test.

Luckily, the same thing that help you prepare for physically for military training can help you prepare mentally for the ASVAB.

Beach Buff, Part II

Now that I’ve conquered the mini scooter world, I’m upgrading this summer to a Vespa (thanks Mom!).  For an Italian girl, it just doesn’t get any better than that!  Because it has more power than my little Bajaj, I had to go to scooter school — otherwise known as a mandatory motorcycle safety course.  Of course, with more power comes more responsibility so I’m going to have to learn how to handle my classic Italian dream machine from starting, accelerating, maneuvering, avoiding obstacles and stopping safely.  If your desire is to upgrade to a better, more powerful body this summer, you’ll need to know the rules of the “ripped” road. 

Beach Buff

Last summer my dad gave us a scooter he’d had in storage for quite a while.  It’s a little bitty thing — think motorized bicycle versus high powered rocket — but man is it fun to ride.  We did some basic maintenance on it over the weekend, checking tire pressure, replacing gear box fluid, etc..  You could tell it had been idle for years by the black, sticky fluid that drained off.  Now it’s running like a champ.  It is amazing what the right fuel will do for a simple engine to help it perform at its peak.  If you’re looking for leaner abs and a carved physique this summer, maybe it’s time to give your muscles a tune up too.

Competitive Sports Military Training: Can Cross Training Improve your Skills?

Competitive sports training whether it’s on a military sports team or for recreation requires ability and skill. Some argue that skills can be learned; but, ability is something more innate.

This may or may not be true. After all, there are plenty of zero to hero stories out there that tell how someone with little skill or ability was able to overcome the odds and win an event as a results of their desire and passion.

There is no doubt that cross training can build muscle and endurance. But does that transfer to making you better at your sport? In fact, some studies suggest that training programs like the use of weighted objects (such as wearing a weighted vest when you run to make you run faster once the vest is removed) actually do little more than provide the perception that you’re running faster once you’re lighter.

The Top 2 Fitness Concerns: Keeping it Simple

Every person has health concerns.

What concerns you most is going to depend on your current level of fitness, your personal goals, your family history, and all those vanity and virility issues that we obsess over.

So what did our readers say when we asked them: What are your top fitness concerns?

Being Too Big: Avoiding a Bodybuilder Heart Attack

Can you ever be too much?

Too fast, too big, too intense, too focused? The being too big bodybuilder heart attack debate is always brewing in the gym and in the lab. Some people wonder if it’s healthy, others wonder how they can get the same results.
However, when a bodybuilder or fitness enthusiast dies a few months after suffering from a massive heart attack…people start to wonder if all the muscle building is worth it.

Banish Belly Fat, Seriously?

Okay, I know exactly what you are thinking, “Here we go again, there’s something else I have to give up in order to lose weight.”  It’s no wonder the weight-​​loss industry is booming as fast as our collective bellies are growing — sucking you into the latest diet fad or weight-​​loss product promising to shrink your belly once and for all.  Gismos, gadgets, pills, and powders may have caused more harm than good.  They are that “something shiny” that distracts our attention away from a common sense approach to losing belly fat.  Let’s see if we can bust a few myths along with a few unwanted inches. 

Bikinis or Briefs

As a teenager, I had my share of traumatic moments…haven’t we all?  My most devastating moment came was when I asked my mom for my first 2-​​piece swimsuit.  My ultra-​​conservative father would only agree to it with his prior approval.  There I stood in the glare of fluorescent department store lighting awaiting a thumbs up or down.  Finally, my over-​​inflated teenaged humiliation was replaced with jubilation when I was approved for my first bikini.  Unfortunately, for most of us, men and women alike, the burgeoning summer season creates its own grown-​​up trauma when a slip into our swimsuits reveals more belly than brawn.  This week, we’ll explore some surprising ways to banish our bellies.

Techno-​​training for Military: Virtual Worlds and Computer Games

Military training is the key component for military readiness. It includes physical preparedness and being mentally fit, which you have complete control over through your workouts and nutritional choices.

The part of military training that you don’t control is that training provided by your military unit.

These are the training exercises you do – both “old school” and now with simulations using the latest technology. This advanced training using the most modern technology is something that many at the top of the food chain fight for when budgets are being decided.

But this is not a political blog, so we’re not going to go into what’s right or wrong with that whole system. While support for our front line soldiers is a priority for most, the ongoing investment in the military training of soldiers of the future is always under pressure.

Jump Start to Slim Down

Are you one of those perky morning people who wakes up refreshed and ready to take on the day with a smile on your face, a head full of ambition, and a can-​​do attitude?  If you had met me several years ago, you would have agreed that I was the polar opposite: grumpy, crabby, sleepy, sneezy…my own little version of the seven dwarfs!  My family and co-​​workers knew to keep their distance until I came to life, which was usually around 10am.  If you make more enemies than friends in the morning, maybe it’s time to look at better ways to fuel your day which may lead to a sunnier disposition and a slimmer you.

Finally! Proof that Soldier ARE Athletes

Before Columbus, the world was flat. But that crazy Italian just didn’t buy it. He went against “common” knowledge of his day and sailed unchartered waters…literally!

Well, just like any solid idea it sometimes takes a little bit of time for “common” knowledge to be overturned and then for it to rock established guidelines. It seems like the value of sports training being embraced by our military. In a recent news article it was reported that Joint Base Lewis-​​McChord and Madigan Healthcare System have begun setting up a clinic that will enhance the care of soldiers.

Fat Burners

I’ve always been a fan of clever marketing — you know those commercials that get your attention with funny lines, edgy graphics or memorable characters?  My favorite spot lately is the guy who goes around telling people to feed their lawns.  The hook is that he’s got a really cool, thick Scottish accent that gets your attention when he says, “Feed you’re lawn, Feed et!”  Now, instead of the mundane spring task of seeding and fertilizing your lawn, you feel like Braveheart rallying his troops to slay the enemy in an epic battle of grass versus dandelions.  With that image in mind and summer weather on its way, maybe it’s time we “burn the fat…burn et!” 

Swimming Intervals and Open Water Training

Running and swimming are great for cardiovascular improvement when training for the Navy Seals. We’ve talked in previous articles about the benefits of running so in this article we’re going to cover swim training with intervals.

Since you’re goal is to be prepared for duties as a Navy Seal then you want to create a fitness training program that uses the principle of “specificity of training.” This is just a fancy way to say workout and practice doing what you will actually be doing on the job. And when you’re training for the Navy Seals, you’ve got to swim.

Overtraining? Pissed Off? Military and Personal Sports Training Gone Wrong

Are you getting ready for military bootcamp? Navy Seal Buds Training? Or an endurance event like the Marine Marathon or Ironman event? Or are you simply trying to stay in shape so when you strap on that Kevlar vest you know you’re ready for anything that comes your way?

In any case, guys that try too hard, too fast with their personal sports training programs can end up tired, fatigued, burnt out, and actually have trouble concentrating when it matters the most.

These are just some of the signs that you might be overtraining.