Remember seeing those ridiculous vibration belt contraptions that was the dubious piece of “gym equipment” that may have been in a few seventies and eighties gyms across the nation? I rememember actually using one of these vibration belt machines and feeling absolutely ridiculous, and wondering how anyone could possibly think these things, which require no movement other than you just standing there, actually work to burn calories or trim the waistline.

I have seen these new shoes that look like normal flip flops, called “Fit Flops” on display over about the past year and a half at several department stores, and often wondered if they actually do anything besides make walking perhaps a bit harder, like tone the butt or thighs or lower legs any better than just walking in regular shoes, or flip flops for that matter. They have gained popularity though, and certainly a dedicated following in some circles, which is usually a giveaway that something works, at least for some people.

Well, it appears that southern folk are much more likely to weigh in at weights that are considered to be medically obese, according to new study results that show one southern state in particular, Mississippi, the ultimate tongue twister, as being the biggest culprit in obesity rates in the southern states. With an obesity rate here in the US of a staggering 25% (about one in four apparently are considered obese here in the US), the numbers are certainly nothing to scoff at, and deserve some real study if we are to have hope that we can pull the nation out of this upward trend in obesity.

Exercise helps us in so many countless and precious ways that it’s difficult to say in what cases would exercise NOT be recommended. In fact, there is not one thing I can think of that would prompt a doctor to persuade or recommend anyone to not exercise. Some form of exercise, no matter what your situation, is always recommended, and it’s no exception for those that are getting up there in years, to help prevent and slow the formation of alzheimers, the disease where your memory begins to slip away little by little.

Running can be an excellent way to burn calories and melt the fat right off, especially for those high intensity long distance runners. Rarely do you find a person who is heavy or overweight who is a regular habitual runner. However, there are some of us that find that running bulks up our legs, me included, and have opted for workouts that don’t tend to bulk up the quads and the calves, but rather create that longer look we want, especially if you’re short like me and don’t want to look bulky.

Pilates is a newer practice that women are falling in love with for it’s notoriety as a long, lean muscle builder. Women who want a “dancer’s body” are flocking to studios that teach pilates, and it’s become an overnight sensation, although admittedly years ago now, in Hollywood where the body is everything and people are obsessed with staying lean and mean.

So, what is this machine that can help you do pilates? I thought that you could do pilates on your own, on the floor, and the exercises were very simple and could be done anywhere, without any machinery or accessories? Well, that is true, but as with everything else, there was a machine made to help you through the exercises, the pilates machine. Let’s talk about what it is and what it does.

A friend of mine recently started working out with a personal trainer and brought up that since she informed her trainer that she really only wants to get long, lean muscle, and not bulk up, especially not through her legs or thighs, her trainer suggested that they work more on repetition of the exercises she gave to her and not on the actual weight being used.

When I saw this headline, it actually made perfect sense to me. There is gathering research, which the government is keen on continuing, and which I am in this case, willing to support (I usually think government spending is wasteful, but this would be worth it), that exercise can help prevent addiction to addictive substances such as alcohol and cigarettes.

I have discovered a new show that I love, and have DVR’d so that I can do it any time I want called Namaste Yoga, on the Fit network (I think it’s actually called Fit TV). The practices they do are very flowing and actually pretty quick, but I can keep up even though I’m nowhere near perfect with my yoga.

I will say that for a beginner, Namaste yoga is probably not good since you do have to constantly be changing positions and sometimes need to know what position they are talking about since you can’t see the TV in some of the positions and can only hear the calming, soothing voice of the narrator directing you what to do.

Viagra is the butt of many jokes. It is the epitome of the male enhancement market and the erectile dysfunction drug crop, since it was the first high profile male sexual enhancement drug offered and generated much buzz when first introduced to market. It’s also been the subject of a lot of controversy, some saying it can have potentially dangerous side effects, especially if those not carefully screened prior to taking it are popping the little blue pills, since pre existing health conditions such as heart problems are a deadly conjunction with many of these male enhancement drugs since the increase the pumping of the blood, which can overload the heart in some patients who may already have poorly performing hearts.