City Cliffs: Academic Development Enriched Through Climbing

June 21st, 2010

City Cliffs is “an educational program that develops, through experiential and multi-cultural counseling, specific climbing skills that improve academic, physical, personal and social success.” Founded by Connie Hammis, this unique nonprofit strives to use rock climbing as a means to challenge and engage at-risk youths. The after-school program provides a complete package of services and requires a long-term commitment from its participants, with the aim of a high success rate in helping participants find and stay on the path to academic, social, athletic and personal success. Read the rest of this entry »

Weight Gain, Strength, Speed and Sports Performance. ll

May 25th, 2010

Special Concerns for Endurance Athletes

Endurance athletes face an uphill battle in gaining weight. Performance requirements restrict them from doing so to any great degree. They may want to weigh more, but their coaches and teammates depend on them to win. There is generally perceived to be an inverse relationship between weight and proficiency in endurance activities.

Can an endurance athlete gain weight and still perform well? That depends on the athlete’s current physical condition, bone structure and what type of weight is gained. Gaining excess fat clearly has negative consequences for endurance.

Aerobic capacity is expressed as oxygen consumption per kilogram of bodyweight. Gaining fat will increase the requirement for oxygen without increasing the ability to utilize it. Excess fat produces no increase in the force that can be generated, but increases the workload. Read the rest of this entry »

Weight Gain, Strength, Speed and Sports Performance. l

May 6th, 2010

While many people in this society are interested in losing weight for cosmetic reasons, improved sports performance and for health reasons, some people want to gain weight.

# They feel they would look better and feel better weighing more. Also, in some sports, being large is considered an advantage. However, most people instinctively feel there is an inverse proportion between weight and speed. How the change in weight affects performance depends on many factors. Which sport does the athlete practice?
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Leptin: A promise?

April 14th, 2010

From the Leptin view point, there are obesities with increased and with decreased Leptin levels.

First of all, obesity is not created equal. From the Leptin view point, there is obesity with increased and with decreased Leptin levels. The ones with increased Leptin level are associated with very low sensitivity to Leptin and they represent the majority of all cases. However, in 10 to 15% of all obesity, Leptin levels are below normal, for example, it is true for Pima Indians. So, no matter what the reason — low level or low sensitivity — when Leptin does not work properly, obesity occurs.
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Folk Medicine Remedies

March 19th, 2010

Here are some common “home remedies” that can help with minor aches and pains naturally. Some are plants commonly grown in the garden or found in the home.

Note: Always check with a physician before treating your own ailments.

Aloe Vera
This is a succulent with thick fronds and is filled with a gelatinous substance that has analgesic (pain soothing) qualities. It helps heal burns, bee stings, and fly bites by taking the irritation and pain away.
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Mortal Combats: School Stress

March 5th, 2010

We’ve all felt our “fight or flight” response go into action-our heart pumps, breathing, metabolism and blood sugar reacting to assignments, deadlines, a new part-time job, labs and exams. Eat your way to better stress management.
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Human rights, Moral Standards and Rights of Free Speech

February 18th, 2010

Outrage of the Week
There are human rights, privacy rights, civil rights, and cyber rights. The list goes on and on. Binghamton University in upstate New York, added genital rights to the tally.

Touted as the “hottest party” on BU’s campus, the Women’s Center got down and dirty with special guest Michele Carmody and her treasure chest of sex toys. What was the special occasion you ask? Why, come on—it was in celebration of “Masturbation Awareness Month!”
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Writing Small

February 2nd, 2010

I’ve started to become a public idea thief of sorts. I’m not stealing anyone’s writing ideas or topics. I’m not even plagiarizing. It’s probably not even technically borrowing, nor less stealing. However, I am gaining a good deal of writing skill by borrowing from some of my children’s school assignments.

Yes, I’ve started to do homework again.
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Amy’s Goose

January 14th, 2010

Once there was a little girl named Amy. She was an only child. She was lonely. Each harvest, Amy and her mom and dad would pick corn then they would store it for over the long snowy winter. Whenever winter was just around the corner Amy would see a huge flock of geese flying south to warmer places for the winter. But Amy knew they would be back next spring.
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Nutritional Status May be Worsened by Drugs in the Elderly

December 22nd, 2009

Decreased appetite can be an unwanted drug side effect. For those who take 5 or more different medications a day, the result could be disastrous, according to this recent study.
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