Best Exercises for Losing Weight

Walk into any local gym and you’ll see that the majority of people are overweight – even the ones who have been faithfully “exercising” for years. Many people are quick to blame genetics or other factors but the fact of the matter is most people do not perform the right types of exercises that result in weight loss.

Many people go to the gym and spend 20-30 minutes jogging at a low intensity on a treadmill. That type of exercising may improve your cardiovascular health but it will do little to transform your body. The other segment of people spend their time lifting weights but never engage in cardiovascular exercise. This may result in increased strength but does little for body transformation. The key to losing weight is to focus on losing fat and building muscle at the same time.

The best exercises for losing weight all have these characteristics in common:

They combine strength and cardiovascular training
They utilize major muscle groups to increase calories burned
They build muscle which increases metabolism
This can be done by anyone regardless of current weight or genetics. Read on to find out the best exercises for losing weight.

Walking lunges – lunges are one of the best exercises for losing weight because they utilize the largest muscle groups in your body – your legs. You can perform lunges with or without weights depending on your fitness level.

To perform a lunge you simply step out with one leg to the point where you can feel it stretch then push up using the heel of your front leg. You should feel a deep burn in your hamstrings and quadriceps. Start out with doing a minimum of ten on each leg.

Squat Jumps – this is another great exercise that will burn fat and build muscle. To properly perform a squat jump stand with your feet shoulder width apart with your back straight. You should then get in the ready position with your arms bent at the elbows at a 90 degree angle.

Squat down where your thighs are parallel to the ground then immediately explode upward and put your arms straight in the air at the same time. This movement works your quadriceps, hamstrings, shoulders, arms, back and core. Perform at least ten resting only 1-2 seconds between reps.

Over the Back Toss – If you’ve ever seen a strongman competition on television, then you’ve probably seen the event where they throw kegs over their head backwards as high as they can. This is the same type of movement expect you utilize a medicine ball instead of a 150lb keg! This requires proper form to avoid injury as well as a adequate warm-up.

Take a medicine ball in both arms and stand with your feet should width apart. Move into a semi-squat position and explode upward by extending your entire body while throwing the medicine ball over your head. This exercise utilizes your legs, back, shoulders, biceps, and core. Make sure you have plenty of room to perform this exercise to avoid putting others at risk. You will be sweating up a storm after just a few reps.

Plyometric Pushups – these pushups are great for your chest, back, and provide an awesome cardiovascular workout that will burn fat as well. To do a plyometric push up start in the push up position. Lower yourself to the ground then explode up so your hands come off of the ground. Catch yourself with your hands while immediately doing a push up. This can be done in traditional push up form or with your knees on the ground. Start out with 3 sets of ten with 60 seconds rest between sets.

Madrid seeks place in knockout stage with a win at Lyon

Real Madrid can secure a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with a victory at Lyon on Wednesday.

The 2002 champion tops Group D with nine points, five clear of Ajax Amsterdam and Lyon. Dinamo Zagreb is in last place without a point.

Madrid routed Lyon 4-0 last month and hopes to repeat the feat when they meet for the 10th time in Europe's top competition.

The Spanish league leader will be looking to continue its impressive run of form. Madrid has won its last eight matches in all competitions, including six clean sheets, and is the only team that has yet to concede a goal in the group stage of the Champions League.

Lyon used to create a lot of problems for Madrid, winning three and drawing four of their first seven matches. But the momentum has swung in Madrid's favor lately.

Madrid beat Lyon by a wide margin in their last two encounters. Besides the 4-0 rout two weeks ago, Madrid also thrashed Lyon 3-0 last season.

Yet, Madrid coach Jose Mourinho won't underestimate the French club.

Lyon is ''many things, but not an easy side, and they defeated Real Madrid in recent seasons,'' Mourinho said. ''I don't think we have an easy group. We're doing our job very well, and that's why we have nine points.''

In four home games against Madrid, Lyon is still undefeated with three wins and a draw.

''They are much stronger at home and play with better confidence and more aggressively,'' Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil said. ''Our advantage is how we handle the ball and our individual talent (...) We want to score a lot of goals and come back with three points.''

Madrid will rely on Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain to crack the Lyon defense. They have scored 10 goals each in the Spanish league.

Madrid will play without injured center back Ricardo Carvalho (back), fullbacks Marcelo (thigh) and Alvaro Arbeloa (thigh), and midfielders Nuri Sahin (knee) and Kaka (calf). Arbeloa and Kaka picked up knocks in Saturday's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, Lyon wants at least a point from the game, hoping to prove the 4-0 loss was just a one-off.

''I don't think the gulf is as wide as it seemed over there,'' Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis told the UEFA website. ''So now it's up to us to show our pride and belief.

''I don't think it was a decisive game, it hasn't jeopardized our chances of qualifying. Now we need to be competitive and try and get at least one point, in order to keep on moving toward qualification.''

Ten-man Lyon beat Saint-Etienne 2-0 Saturday to climb to fourth place in the French league.

Lyon will miss through injury Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez (ankle), Brazilian winger Michel Bastos (hamstring), playmaker Clement Grenier (thigh), forward Jeremy Pied (ankle) and back-up goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre (Achilles tendon).

Fullback Aly Cissokho is doubtful after straining his hamstring against Saint-Etienne.

In the other Group D match, Ajax hosts Dinamo. The Dutch side won 2-0 in Zagreb two weeks ago.

Ajax is in fifth place in the Dutch league after beating Roda 4-0 last weekend. Dinamo tops the Croatian league with a seven-point lead over Hajduk Split. But it is struggling in the Champions League as Dinamo and Genk are the only teams that have yet to score in the group stage.

Seven Unbelievable things ever sold on Ebay

Article Source

1. Slightly Used Nuclear Missile Silo

EBay has some weird things being sold, but this time a strange one nuclear missile silo for sale here. Located in Central Washington Larsen Air Force Base, this place has 57 acres on the ground and has a large area consisting of 16 buildings and thousands of feet are connected to an underground tunnel. Now the offer to $ 1.5 million.

a Nuclear Missile for sale?

2. Belgian State on sale on eBay

Belgium is one country that had become one of the items being sold on eBay. but in the end state is not to be sold after bids reached 10 million Euros ($ 14 million). Belgium eBay PR Manager, pepper Burin, saying, 'That was one of history's really fun made ​​by Belgium. This man, in a very funny, reminiscent of the Belgian state is due to be sold and it is one thing to be ashamed of.

Belgium area for sale?

3. Diamonds Made of Beethoven's Hair Worth $ 1M

Diamond Beethoven made ​​of carbon obtained from several strands of Beethoven's hair. It's one of the three diamonds were created, but the only thing that will be available to the public at a price of one million dollars

Diamonds of Beethoven's Hair

4. Colani Luxury villas on the island of Majorca for sale on eBay

Known as Villa Colani, inspired by the legendary designer Luigi Colani, a luxury area completed in 2009.
More than 1230 square feet made ​​of 24 carat gold, gold weighed 60 pounds and at times cost more than $ 1 million, is used in swimming pools and homes. Colani exclusive door, and entrance door with five others, all adorned with swarovski crystals genuine artistic inset into the panel so that they sparkle from both outside and inside the house. Villa Colan on sale $ 28,000,000

Colani Luxury villas

5. Wife For Sale By Her Husband
In an effort to get himself out of financial difficulties, there are people living in Brazil decided to sell his wife. He wrote the ad and posted on popular web sites, offering himself to the estimated price of $ 55. It took long enough, but the government finally learned the ad and immediately ordered the ad will be removed from the website eBay.

6. The book 340 years of William Shakespeare
copy 340 years from William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre has been sold on eBay in 2003 for £ 5m. This manuscript is one of only a few copies survived the Great Fire of London in 1666

The book 340 years of William Shakespeare

7. Yacht Deposit ($ 85 million)
The most expensive items sold on eBay is a yacht that was auctioned by Fort.Lauderdale, FL-based company, 4Yacht and designed by naval architect Frank Mulder of Mulder Design.
This yacht is offered for aution on eBay November 3, 2006 with a starting price of $ 85 million. The price paid your deposit 50% of the full purchase price of a total of $ 168,000,000.00.
Some remarkable features of the yacht include: various 16 000 NM, garage helicopters, and fourteen multi-level VIP suites with panoramic views.

Three Teacup Chicken

Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce for gluten-free version)
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
6 garlic cloves, smashed
8 1/4-inch-thick slices of peeled ginger
6 scallions, chopped
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns or 1 diced red chili pepper(optional)
2 lbs. chicken breast or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
2 star anise or pinch of anise seed (optional)
1/2 cup water
Method
1 Make the braising liquid: In a bowl combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and Shaoxing wine together and mix well. Set aside.

2 Heat a wok or large saute pan on high heat until a drop of water will evaporate within 1-2 seconds. Place the oil in the wok and swirl. Add the garlic, ginger, scallions, and Sichuan peppercorns/chili pepper if using and stir-fry for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

3 Add the chicken and stir-fry until no pink on the surface remains (you just want to sear the outside nicely).

4 Add the braising liquid and star anise or anise seed if using and cook for 1 minute ensuring that the chicken is well coated in the braising liquid. Add the water and cover and cook for 4 more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no pink remains. Serve immediately over rice with hearty amounts of the broth. Garnish with a little extra chopped scallion

Kim Kardashian Admits: I Married For Love, But Shouldn’t Have Tied The Knot!

Kim Kardashian may have put the brakes on her marriage, but she still wants a happily ever after! Kim apologizes to her fans, writing she is a hopeless romantic who was caught up in the moment.

Kim Kardashian’s fantasy wedding may not have panned out like she hoped, but the reality starlet says she isn’t giving up on her dream to one day be a mother and doting wife. In a heartfelt written apology to her fans Nov. 1, she said the sole driving force behind her decision to get married was love, but by the time she realized her relationship wasn’t what she wanted, she felt like there were too many people to let down.

“First and foremost, I married for love. I can’t believe I even have to defend this. I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show! I share so much of my life on a reality show, that contemplating whether to even film my wedding was a tough decision to make, and maybe it turned out to not be the smartest decision,” Kim wrote on her blog.

For a girl who has built her career around making her private like public, planning intimate events and cultivating relationships must be difficult beyond reason. Kim admits exchanging vows with Kris Humphries wasn’t the smartest decision, but that her divorce had nothing to do with her feelings being insincere.

Kim’s apology seems sincere, and we’re glad that she can shed some light on her unfortunate situation. It takes a big person to admit they made a mistake, especially one that is so public. We can imagine it was easy for her to get swept up in planning such an extravagant wedding and can understand how the pressures from the network, businesses involved, and people she loved made it hard for her to pump the brakes when she realized she was making a mistake. She also admitted what we reported earlier that she didn’t make the millions of dollars from the wedding special.

Read the entire post below and tell us what YOU think about Kim’s apology. Do you think it was sincere?

A Message To My Fans
“This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. I see all of the support and I am so thankful for my fans, friends and family who are helping me through this difficult time.

I am trying not to read all the different media reports but it’s hard not to see all the negative ones. First and foremost, I married for love. I can’t believe I even have to defend this. I would not have spent so much time on something just for a TV show! I share so much of my life on a reality show, that contemplating whether to even film my wedding was a tough decision to make, and maybe it turned out to not be the smartest decision. But it’s who I am! We filmed Kourtney giving birth, Khloe getting married, break ups, make ups, our best moments and our worst moments. These were all real moments. That’s what makes us who we are. We share, we give, we love and we are open!

Everyone that knows me knows that I’m a hopeless romantic! I love with all of my heart and soul. I want a family and babies and a real life so badly that maybe I rushed in to something too soon. I believed in love and the dream of what I wanted so badly. I felt like I was on a fast roller coaster and couldn’t get off when now I know I probably should have. I got caught up with the hoopla and the filming of the TV show that when I probably should have ended my relationship, I didn’t know how to and didn’t want to disappoint a lot of people.

I’m being honest here and I hope you respect my courage because this isn’t easy to go through. But I do know that I have to follow my heart. I never had the intention of hurting anybody and I accept full responsibility for my actions and decisions, and for taking everyone on this journey with me. It just didn’t turn out to be the fairy tale I had so badly hoped for.

There are also reports that I made millions of dollars off of the wedding. These reports are simply not true and it makes me so sad to have to even clarify this. I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to come to my wedding and I’ll be donating the money for all the gifts to the Dream Foundation.

I’m sorry if I have hurt anyone, but my dad always told me to follow my heart I believe now that I really am.”

Sectional Couches

By Michelle Radcliff

Sectional couches are versatile because they allow you to arrange your furniture in a number of different ways.

Arrangement
Building a conversation area becomes easier when you have a sectional couch. All you have to do is imagine a person sitting in each seat. This includes any recliners, love seats or chairs you may have in your living room arrangement. Position the furniture so that everyone can easily see each other and carry on a conversation while making eye contact.

Remember to utilize the mobility of a sectional sofa. Depending on the number of pieces included in your couch, most are designed to include up to ten different configurations. You can refer to a catalog or owner's manual that may show each configuration or you can use your own imagination to come up with a seating arrangement that makes you happy.

Also remember that you don't have to have every piece touching each other. Don't be afraid to add some space in between the pieces if needed. There really is no wrong way to arrange a sectional couch. It's all a matter of personal taste

Creating a Focal Point
If you don't know where to start when trying to decide on a seating arrangement, it might help to create a focal point. The focal point will depend on the room and the other objects in the room.

For instance, if your sectional sofa is in a formal living room, the focal point may be a fireplace or a large window with a scenic view. In this case, you would want to build a comfortable conversation area around the focal point. This means that everyone would be able to comfortably talk while having the focal point easily in view.

If your sectional couch is in a family room or game room, you would want to arrange the pieces so that everyone could easily be in view of the television or table where games are being played.

Perhaps the sectional sofa is in a music room. In this case, you would want to arrange the pieces so that everyone can comfortably watch the artist or band who is performing.

Using Sectional Couches as Room Dividers
In an open floor plan, you can arrange a sectional couch to be a room divider. The L-shaped design of a sectional sofa creates a pseudo wall that acts as a kind of hallway when arranged in the appropriate distance from an existing wall. The sectional couch itself can act as a dividing element in a large room.

Styles
Sectional couches are available in a variety of different styles. When choosing the style of couch you want, color will be a major factor.

If you are buying a new couch, pay careful attention to the room and the dominant colors. What color are the walls? Are they traditional drywall or do you live in a log home?

Obviously, if the walls in the room are white, almost any color of sectional sofa will work. The next choice will be texture. Do you want a sectional made out of leather or would you prefer something softer and considerably less expensive?

Another important consideration will be size. You may find a style of sectional couch you love, but will it fit in the space you have? You should take measurements of the area where you plan to put your sectional sofa to make sure you have the room for it.

Style, like the arrangement you will ultimately decide on for your sectional couch, is a matter of personal taste. However, you will want the style you choose to make sense with the overall style of the room. It might look funny to put a southwestern style sectional couch in a room with an Asian theme.

Best Exercise to Flatten the Tummy

By Laura Williams, M.S.Ed.
Masters in Exercise and Sports ScienceIf you're looking for the best exercise to flatten the tummy, then you need to consider your own fitness goals and exercise preferences before you spend money on the latest gadget or gimmick. Generally speaking, belly flattening occurs when you combine fat-blasting cardio routines with tummy-tightening strength training moves. You can choose the best exercise to flatten the tummy by choosing a form of exercise that you'll stick with and enjoy.

The Best Exercise to Flatten the Tummy for...

Cardio Kings and Queens
If you like to hit the road or the machine to do an extended cardio workout, then running is absolutely the best exercise to flatten the tummy. Not only does running burn off lots of calories, but it also works your core as you hold your body upright and engage your abdomen as you breathe. Even if you can't run for extended periods of time, consider including short bursts of running into your walking routine. These intervals will challenge your workout and help you target the spare tire sitting around your middle.

Strength Trainers
If you're a strength trainer carrying a little extra tummy fat on your frame, you may want to try a circuit training routine. Circuit training increases your heart rate and helps you burn more calories while still improving your muscular health. The trick to circuit training is to not allow much rest between exercises. You can achieve this goal by either alternating between cardio and strength training moves, or you can stick to strength training moves alone. Either way, you'll get a full-body strength training workout and a cardio kicker all at the same time, helping you flatten your belly.

Class Fanatics
If you plan your life schedule around your gym's fitness classes, then you must try a kickboxing class to help you trim your tummy. All the jabbing, kicking, squatting and twisting movements performed during a kickboxing class require constant engagement of the back and abs. Not only will you huff and puff your way to a leaner body, you'll begin to see muscles in places you never thought you'd see them including down the center of your stomach.

Abs-Only Routines
On days when you just aren't up for performing an all-out exercise routine, try a short abs-only routine that focuses on the plank exercise. The plank exercise engages the entire core, including the deep muscles of your abdomen, the transverse abdominis and the "six pack" muscles, the rectus abdominis. If you include a side-plank or a plank that adds twisting and movement to the exercise you can also target the muscles of your sides, the obliques.

Competition-Driven Athletes
To tone up your tummy while playing a competitive sport, look no further than your local basketball court. The game of basketball includes running, twisting, jumping, squatting, sliding and more. All these exercises target the core, build strength and burn calories. Over time, this will lead to a toned and tight midsection.

Any Exercise Will Do the Trick
Really and truly, a healthy diet combined with a consistent exercise plan will eventually help you reach your flat-belly goals, regardless of the exercise you choose to perform. Focus on improving your personal fitness while creating a calorie deficit with your exercise routine. These two things will help you lose weight and will allow you to see substantial changes in your midsection's appearance.