Washboard Abs of Steel

‘Abs Of Stone – Core Of Steel’

Joey Atlas demonstrates excellent form and technique in this DVD to a private group he is training. It is a 3 DVD, 4 level training system: (also includes a 4th bonus Upper Body Training DVD).

PROS: No glitz here just straight flab melting, stomach flattening exercises for men and women.

Also includes:

• Fitness Insider Training & Nutrition Secrets e-book – A 60 page ebook.
• Ultimate Stair Exercises For Total Conditioning e-book – A 99 page fitness/workout e-book.
• The Awesome Eight DVD (dvd # 4) – 8 Unique Bodyweight, Upper Body Exercises you can do anywhere.
• The Seven Absolute Best Ab, Core & Lower Back Stretches DVD Bonus – for an athletic, flexible and pain free body.

CONS: Video quality is not professional and still it gets the job done.

PRICE:$38.97

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‘Combat Core Strength’

Jim Smith created Combat Core and e-book and 2-set DVDs that demonstrates 140 abdominal building exercises used by professional athletes.

PROS: Quality video and exercises.

Also includes:

• Boxingperformance.com Jim Smith Interview – 15-page interview by Rob Pilger.
• Membership to Boxingperformance.com – $1 2-month trial membership.
• Deadlift 101 – Deadlift fundamental instructional video 20min. & manual
• Several Interviews of World Professional/Athletes – 21 interviews 147-pages.

CONS: Too much emphasis on other things beside abdominal training.

PRICE:$47

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‘Six-Pack Abs’

Todd Scott of Men’s Fitness Magazine shares the three things he believes you must know in order to carve out rock solid six pack abs for men and women. (126-page ebook).

PROS: Packed with great tips and exercises.

Also includes:

• Jayson Hunter’s 100 Calorie Snack Report.
• Kevin Gianni’s 10-minute Full Body Stretch Routine ebook
• “Mighty” Joe Stankowski Ultimate Home Gym Guide.
• Stability Ball Killer Abs Workouts ebook
• 3-month membership to Beyond Six Pack Abs

CONS: Too much emphasis on other things beside abdominal training.

PRICE:$39.95

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Chantix and Weight Gain

A common concern among those who read my blog is the use of Chantix (varenicline tartrate) and the potential for weight gain. Chantix is in fact associated with weight gain and increased appetite. On average people who take Chantix gain about 2.37 kg (or 5.31 pounds).

Frankly, the weight gain is insignificant in comparison to the huge benefit derived from quitting smoking.

Quitting Smoking Strategy

Smokers trying to quit may have a better chance of success if they let the clock tell them when to have a cigarette.

The strategy proved twice as successful in the long term as quitting cold turkey or allotting a certain number of cigarettes per day, according to a study reported in The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

The clock strategy assigns smokers specific times of day for lighting up. The schedule gradually lengthens the intervals between cigarettes until a smoker quits altogether.

Quit Smoking New York

Help to quit smoking or nicotine addiction available through programs throughout New York City. New Yorkers who want help quitting should call 311 today.

Further help here (click this link).

Helping People Quit Smoking

It was about 1994 and I was sitting listening to a lecture during medical school. I which immediately put me to sleep. I was never good at listening to lectures.

But then the instructor made a statement that woke me up. She said that “the number one thing any person could do to improve their health is to quit smoking”. She repeated, “the number one thing anyone can do to immediately improve their health is to quit smoking.” Of all the things I learned during medical school and since THAT statement stayed with me. And every since then I have always been interested in helping people quit smoking.

So in 2006 I was thrilled when I heard about Chantix and immediately learned everything I could about this
drug and hence this report CLICK HERE. It is a compilation of questions, side effects and symptoms commonly experienced with Chantix.

It is based on the product insert provided by Pfizer, some reader provided testimonials and my personal experience with patients and other physicians who have used Chantix.

So believe me when I say that I wish you success in your attempt to quit smoking.

WHAT IS THE SECRET INGREDIENT “CARDIO” IN CENTRUM?

The makers of Centrum vitamins are joining the nutritional supplement/alternative medicine bandwagon with their new secret ingredient CARDIO.

Cardio is a serving of CoroWise® phytosterols (plant sterol), a natural ingredient mainly derived from soybeans that works by blocking cholesterol absorption and significantly lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Phytosterols work mainly by block absorption of cholesterol in the GI tract. The molecular arrangement of phystosterol is very similar to dietary cholesterol and blocks the usual receptors where cholesterol is absorbed.

In this manner physterols work to reduce cholesterol without the side effects of other drugs like Lipitor (statin drugs).

TOTAL GYM EXERCISE – ARM PULLOVER (WIDE STANCE)

Arm Pullover (Wide Stance)

Muscle Groups Exercised

• Quadriceps
• Buttocks
• Calves
• Shoulders
• Upper back

Chantix Question About Depression

I reader responds -

“You should try to see your doctor for the depression.”

You mean the same quack who prescibed the Chantix? Do you really want EVERYONE hooked on your perscriptions?

My “doc” put me on Lexapro for depression after my father died. 3 years later I have the WORST physical withdrawal symptons. So bad, I’m basically stuck taking this drug in order to feel “normal”.

Thanks big pharma, for making a drug addict out of me.

Dear Anonymous:

I am sorry that you feel trapped by “big pharma”.

There exist other ways to treat depression, relying less on medication and more on psychoanalysis and behavior modification.

There exist a stigma in our society surrounding psychiatric diseases and at times depressed patients hate the fact that they need to rely on antidepressants.

You hardly hear about patients with high blood pressure complaining (“they are hooked”) because they need to take anti-hypertension meds all the time, or patients with broken bones complain they need a cast.

I wish you the best of luck.

A Reader’s Question Regarding Chantix

(8/04/2007 10:29:00 PM)

I have been on chantix since may 28th. I have not smoked since June 3rd, 2007. I swear by this stuff, and believe it definatly “helps” for those who want to quit. I also realize that it is NOT for everyone.

My concern is that I went to the doctor because the past few days I have been experiencing urinating issues. I would urinate, and then feel like I had to urinate again, 2 minutes later! Then this morning, it was accomponied by burning.

I have had 2 moderate pains (2 seperate occasions) the past month, with what I would describe as pains in my right lower back, or kidney area. As I said, I went to the doctor thinking it was a bladder infection, and after a urine examine, it was determined that I had a blood in my urine! Wow, shocker! He prescribed Cipro and I am to return in a week to retest.

I am 36, smoked for 15 years, but otherwise, I would consider myself healthy. I also had a prostate exam during this visit, to make sure that I wasnt having any issues there. Have there been any other complaints like this, that you know of?
-BPS

Dear BPS:

First of all allow me to congratulate you on your six weeks success in quitting the nicotine addiction. Even with the use of Chantix I know it is not an easy thing to do.

The symptoms you describe of feeling like urinating frequently, burning during urination accompanied by pain in the back, are classic symptoms of urinary tract infections.

Most people are alarmed when they see blood in their urine. You did the right thing by going to the doctor and getting your self checked out by an health care provider.

You doctor prescribed you an antibiotic to fight the infection and wants to follow-up with you to see if the symptoms improve. I would do as he says and see what the follow-up shows. More than likely you have a case of urinary tract infection that will clear up with the antibiotics.
Your symptoms probably have nothing to do with you taking Chantix. However there does exist an infrequent association between Chantix and kidney stones. Kidney stones may cause some of your symptoms and can cause blood in the urine too. Kidney stones may provide a “nesting” point for bacteria to grow. (http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2006/021928lbl.pdf)

Medicine is an art and although sometimes things seem straight forward often they are not.

“Common things are common” a refrain doctors use to remind themselves to think of the most common things first. You may just had a urinary tract infection and your doctor is treating you for that.

Thanks for your question. And let us know how it turns out please.

Chantix Question About Safety

“Chantix was tested in rats and rabbits at oral doses of up to 50-times the maximum recommended dose for humans”

Well, how’s their psychological profile, huh?

-Samantha.

Dear Samantha:

Chantix was tested in rats and rabbits at oral doses of up to 50-times the maximum recommended dose for humans and found not to cause birth defects in rats or rabbits. Although Chantix did, cause reduced fetal weight in the offspring of pregnant rabbits. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, the potential effects of Chantix on labor and delivery are not known.

Current Categories for Drug Use in Pregnancy
Category
A: Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women have not shown an increased risk of fetal abnormalities.
B: Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women or animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.
C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women or no animal studies conducted and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
D: Studies, adequate well-controlled or observational, in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy may outweigh the potential risk.
X: Studies, adequate well-controlled or observational, in animals or pregnant women have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities. The use of the product is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant.

Chantix (varenicline) is classified as a pregnancy category C drug.

If you asked me if I would want my mother taking Chantix, while pregnant with me.  My answer would be NO but then again I would not want her smoking either.

Clearly, there is a knowledge gap about Chantix’s use during pregnancy, so there is no way to know with total certainty that your miscarriage was cause by Chantix.

Your Chantix Experience, Tell Dr. Howell

Have you used Chantix (varenicline) and found that it worked well for you? Or have you used Chantix and found that if was not so good for you?

If you or someone you know used Chantix and would like to be heard on whether the drug is safe to use please contact me ASAP at drhowell@drhowell.net.

CHANTIX TESTIMONIAL WITH A QUESTION

An anonymous Chantix user asks:(Originally Posted: 23 Sep 2007 12:04 AM CDT)

I started taking Chantix on Tuesday, and per the instructions doubled the dose on Friday. Saturday (around 2:00am) I woke with sever vertigo. I took no more of the medication and contacted my doctor. Seven full days later I still have moderate vertigo. (I have an appointment with a neurologist on Tuesday of next week.)

I am wondering if others have experienced this as well?

Anybody want to share their symptoms? Please comment.

alli for Weight Loss – What has been you “alli” experience?

drhowell

alli was introduced by GlaxoSmithKline three years ago as a diet and exercise aid. In reality “alli” is an old drug Orlistat previously know as Xenical launched by Roche in 1997. Xenical was well received and was safe but the side effects (primarily diarrhea) was not so well received by patients.

Ten years later Orlistat is decreased from 120mg to 60mg pills and now is known as “alli” and sold over the counter (no doctor prescription needed). Alli is the same exact drug as Xenical but the idea is that the decreased dose would limit the un-wanted side effects.

According to their website – It is the first clinically-proven over-the-counter weight loss product to be combined with a comprehensive support program (www.myalli.com).

Chantix Pay It Forward

If you have attempted to use quit smoking using Chantix and would like to help others quit by sharing your experience please comment below.

The Chantix Blog Interest

This is the blog article that first linked to my site:

http://heehawmarketing.typepad.com/hee_haw_marketing/2007/09/a-sad-day-in-da.html

After that I got like six other sites who also mentioned my blog and a reporter from People magazine emailed me wanting to do a story on Chantix.

After that my site was high on the search engines for Chantix and many people visited my blog looking for information about Chantix.

Lap-Band Surgery: Do YOU Qualify?

Here is a quick way to know if you qualify to have lap-band surgery in the US.

1) Go to this site: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ find out your BMI and return to this page.

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2) Welcome back! Now write down your BMI on a piece of paper so you don’t lose it.

2) If your BMI is 40 or more you DO qualify for lap-band surgery.

3) If your BMI is less than 35 you do NOT qualify for lap band surgery.

4) If your BMI is between 39 and 35 you MAY qualify under certain conditions. (click here to learn more about lapband)

How To Double Your Chance of Success When Quitting?

“No man is an island” wrote John Donne. We are social creatures and in general we do much better when we are part of a society.mAs a matter of fact smoking is as much a social activity as it is a habit or addiction.

Social support helps us in whatever we do. So it is no suprise to learn that “individual counseling” from a smoking cessation specialist increases a smokers’ chances to successfully stop smoking.

But if you do not have a counselor find a friend or a quit buddy to help you quit once and for all.

SOURCE:
Lancaster, T et. al.Individual behavioural counselling for smoking cessation.Cochrane Rev Abstract. 2007

H1N1 Super Crossword

(VVVV click image below VVVVV)

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LEMONADE

Eliminate Your Weight Loss Confusion

Excess fat is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. But that does not mean we need to eliminate fats from our diets.
Let me repeat that statement again: Excess fat is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. But that does NOT mean we need to eliminate fats from our diets.
What we need to learn is how to make our bodies burn fat more efficiently. Read Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition

Dr Atkins had it right!

Conventional diets have it all wrong. The way to burn fat is to turn your bodies own metabolic switch to FAT! It is as simple as that. Learn how to teach your body to burn fat naturally. Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, Revised Edition

ERCP?

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the most accurate diagnostic test for stones in the biliary system and an excellent tool for direct visualization of the biliary tract.

ERCP is both diagnostic and therapeutic because you can remove stones with the procedure.

Asplenia?

Condition of not having a spleen. Either due to trauma or some other disease.

People without a spleen (asplenic people) are at risk for certain types of infections (overwhelming post-splenectomy infection (OPSI)) that can become very serious.

Asplenic individuals should always recieve pneumococcus, haemophilus influenzae, and meningococcus vaccines.

Smoking, Medical School and Chantix

It was about 1994 and I was sitting listening to
another lecture during medical school. I was
immediately put to sleep as the instructor
talked and talked for what seemed like an
eternity. (I was never good a listening to lectures.)

But then he made a statement that the number
one thing any person can do to improve their health
is to quit smoking. I immediately perked-up. He
repeated the statement: “The number one thing
anyone can do to immediately improve their health
is to quit smoking.”

That stayed with me of all the things I learned during
medical school and since then I have always been
interested in helping people quit smoking.

So I was thrilled when I heard about Chantix and
immediately learned everything I could about this
drug and hence this report CLICK HERE.

It is a compilation of questions, side effects and
symptoms commonly experienced with Chantix.

It is based on the product insert provided by
Pfizer, some reader provided testimonials and
my personal experience with patients and other
physicians who have used Chantix.

Wish you success in your attempt to quit smoking.

The (real) Cost of Smoking

A pianist and two other musicians played
in a number of local bars in Long Beach,
California for about $90 per week in
the 1930s.

The band, a hit with locals, was just
barely making it.

Occasionally, the piano player would sing to
the delight of his audience who loved his
baritone voice.

As customers demanded to hear more vocals
pieces, the piano player reluctantly sang to
accomodate his audience.

Soon the trio and the singing pianist where a
huge sensation and the band began having
greater success.

A few years later the band recorded a number
one hit, the pianist name was Nat King Cole and
the song “Mona Lisa”.

The 80/20 rule tell us the that 80 percent of
our success comes from 20 percent of what we do.

The trio and their music was were 80 percent but
Nat King Cole’s voice was the 20 percent that
made the difference and propelled the group into
stardom.

The point of the story is that we always try to just do
the 80 percent because it is what is easy, what we are
comfortable doing, what everybody else is doing at
the time. And we are reluctant to do the 20 percent
that would make a real difference.

If you watch what you eat, exercise regularly, and
otherwise take care of your health but you smoke
then you are ignoring the 20 percent that matters.

Quitting smoking is the number one thing anyone
can do to improve their health and the health of
those around them.

Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer
deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death
in both men and women.

According to the 2004 British Study in the Journal
of Epidemiology and Health a smoker’s life is
shorten by an average of 10 years.

Here is a partial list of people who would probably
still be with us if they had quit smoking:

*ABC anchorman Peter Jennings.

*Renaldo “Obie” Benson, member of the Four Tops.

*Comedian Alan King.

*Author Stephen Ambrose.

*Singer Rosemary Clooney.

*Baseball’s Cal Ripken Sr.

*Baseball’s Joe DiMaggio.

*Actor Vincent Price.

*Actor Chuck Connors.

*Jazz singer Sarah Vaughan.

*Big band performer and Actor Desi Arnaz.

*Actor Yul Brynner.

*Jesse Owens, Olympic gold medalist.

*Jazz great Duke Ellington.

*Nat King Cole.
The could have given society another
movie or another song, or read the news
for us one more time, etc but instead they
died of lung cancer (a preventable
disease).

Yes, smoking affects us all.

SOURCE:
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2004.
Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2004.

Smoking and ED (erectile dysfunction)

drhowell

Getting young people and teens to quit
smoking is a tough enough. But here is
some ammo for young men who smoke.

Studies provide strong indirect evidence
that smoking may affect penile erection.
The study results were inferred from
data gathered from a retrospective chart
check from 860 male patients aged
between 18 and 44 visited during the
period January 1999 to December 2002.

Knowledge if this information may make young
men think twice about lighting up.

SOURCE:
*Natali A., et al. Heavy smoking is an important risk
factor for erectile dysfunction in young men.
International Journal of Impotence Research (2005) 17, 227–230.

*He, J., et al. Cigarette Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction among Chinese Men without Clinical Vascular Disease. American Journal of Epidemiology. 166(7):803-809, October 1, 2007.

Support Disaster Relief in Haiti

Opportunities to help some one who really is in need does not come often. The opportunity to help an entire nation heal is even rarer.

Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated. You may give any amount safely and easily with Amazon.com.

Mercy Corps: Haiti Earthquake Relief

Atkins Diet Works Wonders

My initial weight loss attempt in the fall failed. I was trying the traditional weight loss method of calorie restriction and low-fat diet and I almost immediately stalled and could not lose weight.

I have since replaced my weight loss method with the Atkin’s diet and I can hardly believe how well it is working for me. I have lost 9 lbs in 4 days and it has been so easy to do.

Dr. Atkins’ Diet was considered controversial to say the least when it was immediately proposed by Dr Atkins in 1972 but it has since been validated by several clinical trials and found to be better than the traditional calorie-restriction low fat diet alternative.

Chantix (varenicline) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

drhowell

This case is especially alarming since many combat veterans have a high incidence of mental issues and therefore are very vulnerable to the very risks the drug is alleged to increase–suicidal tendency.

The Senator contacted the VA to better understand the timeline of events and the guidelines governing notifications to patients. The VA is currently undergoing reforms to enhance communication with its participants, and Senator Grassley will continue to monitor this issue in Congress. [...]

http://drantoniohowell.com/get-help-quitting-tobacco/

Oxytocin – The Love Hormone

drhowell

Oxytocin is released in large amounts after distension of the cervix and vagina during labor, and after stimulation of the nipples, as an aid in birth and breastfeeding.

During mating, oxytocin is released during orgasm in both sexes.

Oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and might be involved in the formation of trust between people.

Plasma concentrations of oxytocin have been reported to be higher amongst people who claim to be falling in love.