Kumis Kucing Untuk Keluhan Seputar Ginjal

Bagi para kaum workaholic, biasanya ditengah-tengah kesibukan melupakan makan dan minum bahkan istirahat. Sebanyak 8 liter air yang seharusnya dikonsumsi tubuh dilalaikan bahkan minuman softdrink seakan menjadi pilihan untuk mendapatkan stamina yang telah terkuras.
Bukan tidak mungkin hal tersebut membuat kondisi ginjal akan terganggu. Namun warisan nenek moyang meninggalkan sejumlah resep ramuan untuk meyembuhkan penyakit ginjal yang tak perlu diragukan lagi kemanjurannya.

KUMIS KUCING

Bahannya :
- 60 gr Kumis Kucing segar (daun dan batangnya)
- 30 gr daun Sendok segar
- 30 gr Rumput Mutiara segar
- 800 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci bersih semua bahan dan rebus hingga air tersisa 450 cc. Saring dan minum ramuan tersebut 3 kali sehari, masing-masing 150 cc. Atau ..

Bahannya :

-          30 gr daun Kumis Kucing

-          30 gr Meniran

-          3 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :

Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa 1 gelas. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum 2 kali sehari masing-masing ½ gelas.

MENIRAN

Bahannya :
- 30 gr Meniran segar (daun, batang dan akarnya)
- 60 gr akar alang-alang segar
- 30 gr Pegagan segar
- 800 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci bersih semua bahan, dan rebus hingga air tersisa 450 cc. Saring dan minum 3 kali sehari, masing-masing 150 cc.

SAMBILOTO

Bahannya :
- 20 gr Sambiloto segar (batang dan daunnya)
- 60 gr Krokot segar (berikut dengan akarnya)
- 60 gr rambut Jagung segar
- 800 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci bersih semua bahan dan rebus hingga air tersisa 450 cc. Saring dan minum 3 kali sehari masing-masing 150 cc.

Train your Serratus Muscles for a Finished Midsection Look

When working the midsection trainers usually thinks of abdominal training first. While abs are extremely important and are responsible for the "six pack" look, the serratus muscles should not be overlooked. They are a key components of a finished and professional looking midsection. If you are not familiar with the serratus muscles they are the long thin muscles on both sides of the abdominals. When fully developed they give the midsection a sleek yet powerful look. There are two excellent exercises you can do to work your serratus muscles: Dumbbell pullovers and rope pulldowns.

Dumbbell Pullovers:
You perform dumbbell pullovers with your upper back on the bench perpendicular to the bench with your feet on the floor. Hold the dumbbell with your arms slightly bent above your head and extend back with the dumbbell until you feel a good stretch with your lats and serratus. Slowly raise the dumbbell until it is again directly over your head while concentrating on flexing the serratus muscle during all phases of the rep. Do 3 sets of 8 - 12 reps.

Rope Pulldowns:
Use the triceps rope for this exercise. Grasp the rope in both hands and kneel down about two feet from where the rope would be if it was hanging straight down. Bend over as if you were doing a crunch. Next, bring the rope down in the pullover position with your arms directly overhead. To complete the rep return the rope to a stretched position at the top or beginning of the movement. Concentrate on contracting your abs and serratus throughout the movement for maximum benefit. This is not a power exercise so you should choose a weight that you can perform 3 sets of 20 - 25 reps. Do this routine immediately after abs and you will quickly see the results.

Feelings of Christmas

I have mixed emotions this holiday season. Christmas was absolutely wonderful! It was great

to have each of our children and their spouses and our grandchildren over and it felt so warm

and wonderful. All except Thomas, who is serving in Washington as a missionary But, he called

and just warmed our hearts even more! I was totally spoiled by everyone and it felt so good.

I'm used to it. ...it's true. Being sick has it's ups and down. One of the downs is that the food

that I serve usually isn't very good. I try to simplify and it's just not the same. Even with lots of

help in the kitchen somehow the homemade cooking is still missing. We had the huge tortillas

and beans and salsa and all the fixings. Many people helped. But, because the tortillas were a

couple of days old... for some reason we couldn't get them soft and they just weren't the best.

Maria worked hard in the kitchen and insisted on me opening her gift early Christmas morning

so as to use it in serving the meal. She said that I would love it. I did! It was a lazy susan with

ceramic gold containers with a center bowl. It was perfect to serve the food on Christmas day

and the food looked beautiful in it! We received special gifts from each of our children as well.

Each of the married children, which is all of them but Thomas, gave a gift to each couple.

James and Julie had brought a homemade bean salsa which was delicious. It was put into 4

different containers and Julie put it into the kitchen. For some reason, I thought it was for the

meal and so I dumped a couple of them into a container into the lazy susan for everyone to

enjoy. James and Julie have only been married since August and it was her first Christmas with

us. She didn't say anything at first....but later James told me that the bean salsa's were

intended to go to the other 4 couples for their gifts. I felt really bad. There were only two left,

so just two of the couples got to have their gifts. Oh well. I wish I could be perfect and not

make mistakes but somehow I just keep making them. James and Julie were nice about it and

overlooked it.

Then Christmas night, Larry got up with cramps in his legs and when he almost fell I braced

him with my body and helped him back onto the bed. In doing so I hurt my left knee. So, I

have a brace on it and it is injured. So, Larry is at church right now, and I am home alone again

with the same old conjestion and the knee problem. But, wonderful news is that my voice came

back and I was able to talk with Thomas on Christmas Day. That was the best Christmas gift

ever!

Oh, and I mustn't forget the very special Christmas Eve that Larry and I experienced. At first, it

wasn't so wonderful....as we were struggling to finish our homemade gifts for our children. We

were saying to ourselves, "how did we ever do it in the past....why are we so slow this

year....and how are we ever going to get all the pages stuffed into these plastic sheets to put into

the books...." When all of a sudden we heard someone knock on the door or ring the doorbell.

Larry went to the door and there was a heavy basket with a pink and white checkered cloth

over it. He brought it in and we looked inside. There was fresh citrus fruit and a big jar filled

with quarters and other coins in it which was labeled "Christmas Jar". Then we opened a gift

that was in the basket and it was a book entitled "Christmas Jars". We had never heard of this

book and thought this was pretty special for someone to think of us. We sat on the couch

together and our hearts melted. Here we were having a hard time and someone was out doing

something so wonderful for us. We wanted to read it Christmas night but were too busy...so we

decided to read it together after Christmas. (We are now about 3/4 through it and are enjoying

it so much together...it's our night time story!) It wasn't but 10 minutes later when there was

another knock at the door. I went to the door and didn't see anyone. Then I looked down and

saw a large container of cashews and 2 bank envelopes stuffed with money. I brought them in

and we sat on the couch together to count the money. We started crying together as we

counted out the 100-crisp dollar bills that someone had so carefully put into the envelopes for

us. People are so kind and thoughtful. It surely made our Christmas so special. Larry and I

worked faster and had renewed energy. By about 2 am we had finished our gifts and crashed!

Late Christmas morning, we were just getting up when the phone rang. Larry saw it was

Washington. He answered the phone and said, "Thomas?" I jumped up and grabbed the other

phone. What a wonderful Christmas morning. He couldn't talk long but wanted to tell us that

he was going to call a couple of hours earlier than expected. Our hearts felt so good and it was

certainly Christmas!

Ramuan Jagung Mengobati Masalah Ginjal

Selama ini banyak kalangan beranggapan bahwa jagung hanya dikenal sebagai panganan iseng, baik yang dibakar dengan berbagai rasa, sampai dengan popcorn. Dan berikut adalah beberapa keampuhan jagung.

BATU EMPEDU

Bahannya :
- 5 tongkol Jagung muda
- 5 gr daun Kumis Kucing segar
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah semua bahannya dicuci bersih, rebus sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum sekali dalam sehari selama 14 hari berturut-turut.

BATU GINJAL

Bahannya :
- 4 tongkol Jagung muda
- 1 genggam rambut Jagung
- 8 helai daun Keji Beling segar
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci semua bahandan rebus sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum selama 14 hari berturut-turut. Setelah batu keluar, apakah berupa butiran maupun buih, maka pengobatan harus dihentikan.

Dan dilanjutkan dengan membuat :
Bahannya :
- 30 gr daun Meniran segar
- 30 gr daun Kumis Kucing segar
- 1 gelas air mendidih

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, seduh kedua bahan tadi. Biarkan sampai dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan selama 5 hari berturut-turut

TEKANAN DARAH TINGGI

Bahannya :
- 7 tongkol Jagung muda
- 1 genggam rambut Jagung
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. LAkukan sampai badan benarbenar dirasakan fit.

Sebagai catatan : jangan menggunakan rambut Jagung terlalu banyak karena dapat menurunkan tekanan darah secara drastis dalam waktu singkat.

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlifts - Compound Glute Exercise

Almost every bodybuilder male and female wants attractive glutes. People really notice this muscle group in addition to it being a tremendous indicator of the condition you are in. Squats, leg curls, leg presses, and lunges are all staples of leg and glute exercises. They all work great but sometimes a new exercise with a slightly different feel or angle is necessary to ad the final touches to a solid routine. The Dumbbell Romanian deadlift is one such exercise. Try it and you will not only immediately feel it's effects but you will visually notice the results in a short time as well.

Performing the Exercise
You start this exercise by standing erect and holding the dumbbells in front of your thighs with an overhand grip. Your feet should be positioned shoulder width apart and your knees should be slightly bent. With your back naturally arched and abs tight lean forward from the hips and push them back until your torso is parallel to the floor. Avoid rounding your back. Keep your arms straight and slide the weights down your thighs until you can no longer stretch your hamstrings. Remember to maintain the arch in your back the entire time. At the bottom of the movement flex your hams and glutes then lift your torso while pushing your hips forward to return to the starting position.

Do 3 - 4 working sets for 8 - 12 reps per set. Do this exercise after squats and before the rest of your leg and glute workout as it is extremely taxing and requires a high level of energy to perform the movement effectively.

Don't Neglect Your Abs This Holiday Season

Every year around the holiday season, everyone seems to pack on a few extra pounds at parties and dinners. I am no exception to this. Remember that once the holiday festivities end, you'll need to log in some more time at the gym to burn off those extra pounds. This may prove a bit more difficult to accomplish during the cold winter months when getting around may be more difficult due to poor weather conditions which may translate into decreased physical activity. So keep this in mind before you overindulge yourself, and that midsection you worked so hard for in the warm summer months is covered by a layer of fat.

We've all witnessed the intense gym regular who sports well developed, showy body parts such as arms and chest, but has a sub-par and neglected midsection. When you look at them, it is almost impossible not to focus on their abs. They just seem to attract all the attention. Isn't it amazing how one area of the body can have such an overwhelming impact on a physique? I'll be the first to admit that ab work isn't always fun, but it is definitely a necessity. In addition to the obvious visual benefits, ab work is a integral part of the core training regiment, which is beneficial to your entire body.

Another example of how a poor midsection can ruin someone's look is evident in the massive, big-bellied bodybuilders of today. What does the audience notice when they walk out on stage? Their midsection of course. Their individual body parts may be extremely impressive and well-developed, but if their midsection is large and bloated it becomes a focal point. This ultimately draws all the attention away from the rest of their physique.

On the other hand, we've all seen the thin, lean type with minimal muscular development who has a well-defined or ripped 6-pack. People recognize that. Needless to say, this person looks like they are in tremendous shape. This is especially true in comparison to the aforementioned bodybuilder who is lacking in the stomach area. This way of thinking goes all the way back to ancient times where the stone statues from the Greek and Roman eras all had a well developed and an eye-catching midsection. The visual impact of great abs was definitely not lost to these sculptors from 20+ centuries ago!

It really doesn't take that much to give your abs a good, solid workout at the gym. 5 to 10 minutes a day, 6 to 8 total sets, and 200 to 300 repetitions should do the trick. Many regulars even work their abs first as a warm-up prior to their heavy lifting. Steady, consistent ab work coupled with a healthy diet high in protein, and a low to moderate intake of carbohydrates and fat will give you the six-pack you crave. You will then be able to enjoy those looks of envy from your peers at the gym.

Visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more training advise, tips, and equipment.

Daun Salam Sebagai Obat Asam Urat Dan Diabetes

Tak dapat dipungkiri bumi Nusantara adalah sejumput tanah surga yang jatuh ke bumi. Betapa tidak, keragaman flora dan fauna yang hidup dipangkuannya membuat bangsa ini tak pernah kekurangan suatu apa. Di dalam hal obat herbal, ternyata keragaman flora tadi telah dimanfaatkan sedemikian rupa oleh nenek moyang guna penyembuhan atau menjaga kesehatannya. Hal ini tersurat dengan jelas dalam kitab Usada Parwa yang mencatat ragam khasiat dari pohon Salam. Berikut beberapa manfaatnya.

ASAM URAT

Bahannya :
- 10 lembar daun Salam segar
- Air 700 cc

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan minum. Lakukan sampai sembuh.

RADANG LAMBUNG

Bahannya :
- 30 gr daun Salam segar
- 30 gr Sambiloto kering
- Gula batu secukupnya
- Air 600 cc

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci daun Salam, kemudian masukkan Sambiloto kering dan rebus hingga air tersisa 300 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan masukkan gula batu serta aduk sampai rata. Lalu minum dua kali dalam sehari, masing-masing 150 cc dan lakukan secara teratur sampai sembuh.

KOLESTEROL TINGGI

Bahannya :
- 7 lembar daun Salam segar
- 30 gr daun Ceremai segar
- Air 600 cc

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa 300 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan minum secara teratur. Lakukan dua kali sehari, masing-masing 150 cc.

DIABETES

Bahannya :
- 7 lembar daun Salam segar
- 30 gr Sambiloto segar
- Air 600 cc

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Setelah dingin, saring lalu diminum untuk dua kali sehari masing-masing 100 cc.

No voice

Today is Sunday, and I had to stay home from church. I've had a bad sore throat and laryngitis.

Not fun! I whisper and ring a bell when I need Larry to help with something. It's so funny!

It's wonderful to have the Priesthood in my home and that Larry could give me a blessing.

I just have to get better so that I can talk to our missionary son, Thomas, when he calls on

Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day...we don't know when he will be calling yet.

Our oldest daughter, Maria, made lunch for us today and it was so delicious.

She made whole wheat spaghetti and a fruit drink with spinach blended up in it.

It doesn't sound very good, but it was the best!

We enjoyed the two family Christmas parties last night. One was for Larry's side of the family

and was held at the church building. We enjoyed a lovely dinner, a great story, message from

Grandpa, and a hayride. The other was for my side of the family and was held at my sisters,

Martha's home. We arrived after dinner, as both parties were on the same evening. But,

we so much enjoyed visiting and hearing the musical performances. It was wonderful!!

Having two parties on one night was a little too much for me and by the end of the evening,

I had lost my voice. But, it was great to see family and just be together.

...Well, Larry is in bed and it is super late... so, I will hurry off to join him soon. He set up a

humidifier next to our bed to add a little moisture to the air and to help with my throat.

That was so nice of him. Larry is really good to me and is constantly serving and helping me

out. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful husband!

I just want to add, what a blessing it is to be alive and to get to enjoy this wonderful Christmas

season with family and friends!

Featured Exercise - One Arm Dumbbell Rows

The one arm dumbbell row is a great exercise for both isolation and mass. You can use a very heavy weight with this exercise which really focuses on building the lats and middle back. Start this exercise by positioning yourself parallel to a flat bench. Place one knee on the bench and grab the dumbbell with the hand furthest away from the bench. Use the other hand for the necessary support on the bench. Arch you back and lift the dumbbell slowly all the way up until your back reaches a full muscle contraction. Your arm should then be flexed and in the upright position close to your side and against your chest. Try and hold the dumbbell at the top of the movement for one count for a peak contraction. Lower the weight slowly and under control so the muscle is working to its fullest capacity on the way down. Repeat for 8 - 12 reps and 3 - 4 sets. To complete the set switch the weight to your other arm and remember to also change the side of the bench you are on as well as the knee on the bench.

Consider using a strap or grip for the dumbbell as your forearms most likely will fatigue more quickly than your back. If done properly you will really notice an improvement in your lat sweep as well as more carved out detail in your middle back.

Visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more fitness articles, events, and information as well as 1000's of name brand fitness equipment products.

Pegagan Mengandung Anti Racun

Jika diperhatikan secara farmakologis, tanaman yang satu ini memiliki sifat anti racun, anti infeksi serta penurun panas. Agaknya inilah yang menyebabkan kenapa nenek moyang telah menggunakan tanaman Pegagan untuk berbagai obat.

CAMPAK

Bahannya :
- 60-120 gr daun Pegagan segar
- 2 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa separuhnya. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan sehari 2 kali sampai penyakit sembuh.

WASIR

Bahannya :
- 2-3 pohon pegagan (akar, batang, daun)
- 2 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus sampai mendidih. Saring setelah dingin dan minum 2 kali sehari masing-masing segelas. Lakukan sampai penyakit benar-benar sembuh.

PEMBENGKAKAN HATI

Bahannya :
- 250-500 gr daun Pegagan segar
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus sampai mendidih. Saring setelah dingin dan minum sehari dua kali selama 7 hari berturut-turut. Dan ramuan diatas untuk sekali minum.

DARAH TINGGI

Bahannya :
- 20 lembar daun Pegagan segar
- 3 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus hingga air tersisa 2 gelas. Saring setelah dingin dan minum sehari 2 kali, masing-masing 1 gelas.

SUSAH BUANG AIR KECIL

Bahannya :
- 30 gr daun Pegagan segar

Cara membuatnya :
Lumatkan dan tempel di pusar.

Keeping a Journal of Your Workouts

Keep a daily journal of your workouts. Include the exercises you perform as well as sets, reps, and how you feel throughout the workout. There is no better way to analyze your routine and keep tabs of your progress and sticking points.

When I started lifting I kept an extremely detailed journal of my workouts (sets and reps), diet (caloric, protein, carb and fat intake), and body weight and measurements. I was so excited to see almost weekly progress in my strength and size. This more than anything gave me the incentive to push myself above and beyond what I thought I could do. This was because I KNEW, and had actual physical proof of my progress. I learned that there was a direct correlation between the hard work I put in at the gym and my new found growth. I also learned to vary my routine when I analyzed my results and I saw that I was doing the same exercises for too long of a time period. I also had documented proof as to what worked and what did not when I tried a new exercise or varied an old one.

Keeping a weight training journal may sound a bit tedious to you but I am convinced that there is no better way for keeping close tabs on the entire bodybuilding lifestyle if you are a serious trainer.

Daun Pepaya : Sayuran Sebagai Obat

Pohon pepaya sudah terkenal sejak dahulu sebagai tanaman berkhasiat atau herbal yang dapat meyembuhkan berbagai macam penyakit. Setiap bagian pohon pepaya dapat dimanfaatkan, berikut beberapa manfaat daun Pepaya.

DEMAM BERDARAH (I)

Bahannya :
- 1 batang daun Pepaya
- 1 genggam (kurang lebih 6 batang) pohon Meniran
- 1 ibu jari orang dewasa Temu Ireng
- 1 ibu jari orang dewasa empu Kunyit
- 1 ujung sendok teh garam dapur
- 500 ml air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci semua bahan tersebut diatas sampai bersih, lalu tumbuk sampai halus dan tuangkan air ke dalamnya. Setelah itu saring, dan campurkan garam serta aduk sampai merata. Kemudian, bagi ramuan itu menjadi 3 gelas. Dan minum pada pagi, siang dan sore, masing-masing 1 gelas. Dan jangan lupa menyiapkan segelas air bersih saat meminum, karena ramuan itu amat pahit. Dan efek sampingnya adalah si penderita akan merasakan haus dan lapar sesaat setelah meminum ramuan.

DEMAM BERDARAH (II)

Bahannya :
- 1 batang daun Pepaya
- 2 sendok makan Angkak
- 1 ibu jari orang dewasa Temu Ireng
- 1 ibu jari orang dewasa empu Kunyit
- 1 ujung sendok teh garam dapur
- 2 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Selain Angkak, cuci bahan tersebut diatas sampai bersih dan rebus sampai air tersisa 1 gelas. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum secara teratur. Lakukan sampai benar-benar sembuh.

Kelapa Hijau Muda Menyembuhkan Demam Berdarah

Saat ini telah diketahui dengan hasil analisa kandungan nutrisi dari kelapa yang banyak mengandung giziesensial. Daging buah kelapa muda misalnya, kaya akan kalori terutama dari karbohidrat. Protein kelapa, dibandingkan dengan kacang-kacangan, lebih baik dalam hal asam amino isoleusin, leusin, lisin, threonin dan valin.

DEMAM BERDARAH

Bahannya :
1 buah Kelapa Hijau Muda
Air perasan Jeruk Nipis secukupnya

Cara membuatnya :
Kupas dan ambil air Kelapa Hijau dan campurkan dengan air Jeruk Nipis. Aduk sampai rata dan minum secara teratur.

Daun Sukun Untuk Penyakit Berat

Pohon Sukun yang berdaun lebar mirip tangan manusia dan banyak tumbuh dimana-mana itu, selain cita rasa buahnya yang manis ternyata daunnya juga memiliki khasiat yang menyembuhkan penyakit yang belakangan ini banyak diidap oleh sebagian orang yang tinggal di kota besar. Keampuhan daun Sukun adalah sebagai berikut.

ASAM URAT

Bahannya :
- 15 gr daun Sukun yang telah dikeringkan (ambil daun sukun segar, cuci sampai bersih, rajang dan angin-anginkan sampai kering)
- Segenggam daun Greges Otot
- Madu atau Gula Batu secukupnya
- 1 gelas air mendidih

Cara membuatnya :
Seduh daun Sukun, lalu saring. Setelah dingin, bila perlu, campurkan Madu atau Gula Batu. Minum ramuan ini dua kali sehari selama sepuluh hari.

PENURUN KOLESTEROL

Bahannya :
- 15 gr daun Sukun kering
- 15 gr bubuk Bangle
- Madu atau Gula Batu secukupnya
- 1 gelas air mendidih

Cara membuatnya :
Seduh kedua bahan tersebut diatas, saring, setelah dingin dan bila dianggap perlu campurkan Madu atau Gula Batu. Minum ramuan ini sekali dalam sehari, selama 14 hari.

GANGGUAN GINJAL

Bahannya :
- 15 gr daun Sukun kering
- Madu atau Gula Batu secukupnya
- 1 gelas air mendidih

Cara membuatnya :
Seduh bahan tersebut diatas, saring, setelah dingin dan bila dianggap perlu campurkan Madu atau Gula Batu. Minum ramuan ini dua kali dalam sehari, selama sepuluh hari.

Sebaiknya perebusan menggunakan periuk tanah atau panci kaca. Dan selama mengkonsumsi ramuan ini, dilarang keras mengkonsumsi sayur Bayam, daun Singkong, daging merah, Jeroan dan Kangkung.

Sangitan Sebagai Penghilang Rasa Sakit

Tanaman asli Indonesia ini, selain banyak tumbuh di lahan terlantar, tetapi ada juga yang sengaja menanamnya sebagai tanaman pagar. Yang paling menarik, tanaman ini juga memiliki khasiat untuk penghilang pembengkakkan, penghilang rasa sakit, peluruh kencing dan juga melancarkan sirkulasi. Berikut beberapa keampuhan tanaman yang satu ini.

REMATIK KRONIS

Bahannya :
- 15-30 gr daun Sangitan segar
- 3 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah daun dicuci bersih, lalu potong-potong seperlunya dan rebus hingga air tersisa 1 gelas. Setelah dingin, saring lalu minum. Lakukan selama 14 hari berturut-turut.

BERI-BERI

Bahannya :
- 30-50 gr akar, batang dan daun Sangitan segar.
- 3 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, lalu potong-potong seperlunya dan rebus hingga air tersisa 1 gelas. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum selama 14 hari berturut-turut.

SAKIT KUNING

Bahannya :
- Akar Sangitan secukupnya
- Daging Sapi secukupnya

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, akar dengan daging Sapi di-tim sampai masak. Santap daging sapi tersebut. Lakukan selama 10 hari berturut-turut.

BENGKAK TERPUKUL

Bahannya :
- 20 gr akar Sangitan
- 30 gr Gula Pasir
- 400 cc air
- Arak putih secukupnya

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, potong-potong seperlunya dan rebus hingga air tersisa separuhnya. Saat hangat-hangat kuku, campurkan arak putih secukupnya dan masukkan gula pasir, aduk sampai merata. Setelah dingin saring, dan minum. Lakukan sampai bengkak menghilang. Untuk bagian luar, daun segar dicuci lalu digiling sampai halus dan borehkan pada bagian yang sakit. Sebagai catatan wanita hamil dilarang keras untuk mengkonsumsi salah satu ramuan diatas.

Kunyit Mengandung Kurkuminoid Yang Berkhasiat

Tanaman yang mudah dibudidayakan dan biasa disebut kurkuma oleh orang Belanda, Koneng (Sunda) dan Kunir (Jawa), ternyata mengandung senyawa yang berkhasiat obat yang disebut kurkuminoid. Boleh dikata beragam penyakit dapat disembuhkan oleh tanaman yang mudah sekali untuk didapatkan ini. Dan berikut khasiat Kunyit.

DIABETES MELLITUS

Bahannya :
- 3 rimpang Kunyit
- ½ sendok Garam
- 1 liter air

Cara membuatnya :
Kunyit dicuci bersih dan potong kecil-kecil lalu rebus sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum 2 kali seminggu masing-masing ½ gelas. Lakukan selama 20 hari berturut-turut.

TIFUS

Bahannya :
- 2 rimpang Kunyit
- 1 bonggol Sereh
- 1 lembar daun Sambiloto
- 1 gelas air hangat

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, tumbuk halus semua bahan tersebut diatas. Kemudian tambahkan air hangat dan saring. Setelah dingin, minum. Lakukan 1 gelas dalam sehari selama 1 minggu berturut-turut.

KEPUTIHAN

Bahannya :
- 2 rimpang Kunyit
- 1 genggam daun Beluntas
- 1 buah Asam
- 1 potong Gula Kelapa/Aren
- 1 liter air

Cara membuatnya :
Cuci bersih semua bahan, jika perlu, Kunyit dipotong kecil-kecil. Kemudian rebus dan jangan lupa menambahkan Gula Kelapa/Aren dan biarkan sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum 1 gelas sehari dan lakukan selama 10 hari berturut-turut.

MENGOBATI FLEK WAJAH

Bahannya :
- Kunyit
- Gula Aren
- 2 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci, kupas dan iris tipis-tipis lalu jemur hingga kering (jika mungkin simpan untuk persediaan). Selanjutnya, ambil 10 iris, tambahkan Gula Aren dan rebus hingga mendidih. Minum selagi hangat pada pagi dan menjelang tidur. Lakukan hingga flek di wajah hilang.

Aura Mistik Kemuning Untuk Pengobatan

Tanaman yang didaerah tertentu memiliki sebutan Kemuning, Kamuri, Kamoni, Kamone, Kemuning, Kajeri, oleh banyak orang diyakini mengandung aura mistik yang demikian pekat. Berikut adalah nukilan ramuan yang menggunakan sarana Kemuning.

HAID TIDAK TERATUR

Bahannya :
- 3 gr daun Kemuning
- 3 gr daun Pacar Kuku
- 4 gr rimpang Temu Lawak
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan tadi dicuci bersih, rebus sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan sekali dalam sehari selama 5-7 hari.

KEPUTIHAN

Bahannya :
- 3 gr daun Kemuning
- 2 gr herba Tapak Liman
- 3 gr daun Pacar Kuku
- 2 gr rimpang Temu Kunci
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan tadi dicuci bersih, rebus sampai medidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan sekali dalam sehari sampai penyakit dianggap benar-benar sembuh.

REUMATIK

Bahannya :
- 3 gr daun Kemuning
- 6 gr akar Tembelekan
- 1 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan dicuci bersih, rebus sampai mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum sekali dalam sehari. Lakukan sampai penyakit benar-benar sembuh.

Temu Hitam Bahan Jamu Untuk Mengatasi Nyeri Haid

Selain sebagai salah satu bahan baku jamu, tanaman yang tumbuh subur di pekarangan, terutama di areal yang agak lembab, ternyata Temu Hitam memiliki khasiat yang tak perlu diragukan lagi. Diantaranya adalah :

MENETRALKAN RACUN DALAM TUBUH

Bahannya :
- 25 gr Temu Hitam
- 30 gr Takokak
- 600 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan minum. Lakukan pada pagi dan sore, selama 7 hari berturut-turut.

MENGATASI NYERI HAID

Bahannya :
- 25 gr Temu Hitam
- 20 gr Kencur
- 20 gr Kunyit
- 2 ruas Asam Jawa
- 600 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan minum. Lakukan pada pagi dan sore, selama haid.

MEMBERSIHKAN DARAH NIFAS

Bahannya :
- 25 gr Temu Hitam
- 400 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga air tersisa separuhnya. Selagi hangat, saring dan minum. Lakukan pada pagi dan sore selama 10 hari berturut-turut.

UNTUK MENYUBURKAN KANDUNGAN

Bahannya :
- 25 gr Temu Hitam
- 25 gr Temu Giring
- 20 gr Kencur
- 600 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga tersisa 200 cc. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan pada pagi dan sore selama 14 hari berturut-turut.

CACINGAN

Bahannya :
- 25 gr Temu Hitam
- 15 gr Bangle
- 5 lembar Daun Sirih
- 5 butir biji Ketumbar
- 4 gr biji Pinang
- 600 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah bahan dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Selagi hangat, saring dan minim. Lakukan pada pagi dan sore selama 6 hari berturut-turut.

Maintain Your Cardio Activity During the Winter Months

People generally tend to cut back on their cardio training during the cold winter months and lean towards increased inactivity. This may be due to the weather making it a more difficult task to get to the gym, excessive holiday partying, or the poor outdoor conditions making it too difficult to perform your regular outdoor cardio routine. These are all reasonable explanations but it is no reason to cut back on one of the most important aspects of your training regiment.

Bring your cardio indoors and work the treadmill, elliptical, exercise bike, or rower. You can make it more fun and interesting by setting distance and time goals for yourself. Staying in shape and strong will also help boost your immune system and ward off those nasty winter illnesses.

Our Family Party

I'm so excited for our Larry and Margaret Family Party tomorrow. We have a wonderful

tradition every year of going to a nursing home and performing for the elderly people.

Then, afterwards, we all come to our house for pizza and make ginger bread houses! So fun!

We started performing when Aaron and Jonathan were little and have kept it up through the

years. Some people give gifts and money to those in need at Christmas, and that is a great

thing to do, but as we really never had much money to give away, we decided years ago to share

something that we did have....music! It's very rewarding and humbling to go into the nursing

homes and find it a privilege to get to share some of the Christmas Spirit with them.

Although when we leave, we find that they blessed our lives far more than we did theirs.

We visit and hand out candy canes afterwards. It really makes my Christmas

special because, not only do I get to hear my children and grandchildren perform, but get

to see the smiles on the faces of the elderly as well. It's a great tradition and we plan on keeping

this throughout the years. Larry and I are singing a song together and are enjoying practicing

practicing it every morning. Along with the hustle and bustle of Christmas, music

brings that special glow inside. We are going to miss Thomas this year as he is in Washington

serving a mission for our church. Maybe he will find an opportunity to sing for others as well.

Exercise of the Week: Seated Cable Rows

Cable rows are a great exercise to work your lats and middle back. Form is of the utmost importance when doing this exercise as your lower back can be easily injured if proper technique is not followed.

You can use either a bar, rope or a V handle. I prefer the latter. Position yourself on the cable row machine and grasp the handle with both hands. Keep your knees slightly bent and you back arched. Bend forward and when you are at peak extension slowly pull the handle into your upper stomach area and hold it there for a one count. This will ensure peak back muscle contraction. Ease the weight back to the starting position slowly so you are working the muscle on the return portion of the rep as well. Warm up thoroughly and use a weight that you have to fight to get 8 - 10 hard fought reps. 3 - 4 sets if done properly should leave your back muscles pumped and exhausted.

Unique Fitness Featured Exercise: Barbell Row

This exercise is one of the best lat building and back thickening exercises you can do. It's difficult to breath while your doing this exercise since your bent over the entire time. But if done properly this strenuous exercise is well worth the effort. You'll notice a thicker and wider back almost immediately if you make this exercise part of your back routine.

Here's how it's done: Step on a platform or bench with your grip on the bar slightly wider than shoulder width. Bend over, arch your back and pull the weight up slowly to your chest (not stomach). Lower the weight slowly to the starting position and repeat. Perform 3 - 4 sets with a moderately heavy weight for 8 - 12 reps.

Remember do not lower your chest to meet the bar and do not bounce the bar off of your chest. This constitutes cheating and not only will you not build muscle you'll also leave yourself susceptible to a lower back injury.

Peggy Sue Golf Tournament

Although I missed going the the tournament, I was there in spirit. I so much appreciate all who

gave up their Saturday (and the wife's who gave up their husbands) to golf the 18 holes in my

behalf. The hat's turned out so nice...thanks to Ellen Rogers and her son Jeff. Bryan Stradling

deserves a big hand for all that he did in my behalf. (and Maria as well!) So many people

donated money and time and I don't how to begin to thank everyone.

But, I just couldn't go to bed with out attempting to express my deep appreciation to all that

were involved. It comes down to love. There are so many Christ-like people out there. One

person donated $5. Some $75... others more. Another donated $1,000. All the money

combined sure adds up. Thank you...thank you...thank you....to all of you that helped in any

way. I love you all!

Perform Dumbbell Concentration Curls for a Super Biceps Peak

The concentration curls give your biceps that well-rounded peak look bodybuilders strive for. It has been a staple exercise and used by bodybuilders since the golden age of bodybuilding in the 1970's. There are many videos and images of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his contemporaries performing this exercise. It is a favorite because of the isolation factor and the subsequent great pump you can achieve if this exercise is performed properly. Perform this exercise after your heavier biceps movements like standing barbell or seated dumbbell curls. The concentration curl will isolate each bicep muscle ensuring that the biceps are responsible for all of the work.

How to Perform The Concentration Curl: Sit on the end of a flat bench with your legs apart and lean forward slightly. Pick the dumbbell up in one hand with your palm facing upward and place your elbow on the inside of your thigh letting the dumbbell hang down. Slowly curl the weight up while keeping your elbow steady and locked in place against the inside of your thigh. As you are performing the curl twist your wrist to the outside to work the muscle more completely. Squeeze your biceps at the top of the movement then slowly return to the starting position and repeat. Remember the downward part of the movement is as important as the lifting portion to completely fatigue the muscle.

Peace

Throughout this whole cancer experience, I have felt such deep peace. It has sustained me and

given me great comfort. I know what it is like to be held in the Lord's hand and to be blessed

while experiencing a deep trial. He has truly been with me every step of the way and is

continuing to bless my life and to give me strength. This Christmas season I want to testify that

God lives and that He loves each of His children. I know that miracles have not ceased and that

healing continues even in our day. I have such a wonderful husband that is very supportive and

helpful to me. He loves me and that means everything to me. I am blessed with such great

children that have strong faith and are there for me constantly. They, along with so

many others have sacrificed much in order to help me. Thank you to all that pray for me and

give so generously to help me get my pills. May God bless each of you with your needs this

Christmas season. Good news! I made the Easter Pageant along with my granddaughter

Rebecca. So, we will be having a very special experience this spring. It will be wonderful to

participate in testifying of Jesus Christ through music and acting!

Lunges are a Great Exercise for Overall Leg Shape and Development

Next to squats, lunges are the next best thing for your butt and thighs. Lunges are also a compound movement like squats. So when you do them you get more of a complete anaerobic workout for your entire body. There are a few different ways to perform lunges. There are static lunges which you do while holding dumbbells at your side or a barbell across your back and lunge forward alternating legs. You would start with your feet together and then step forward into the lunge, then back to starting position (front lunges). Another popular way to perform this exercise would be to do reverse lunges. You would also start with feet together and then you step back (instead of forward) one leg at a time into a lunge position and then back to starting position.

A third way is to do moving lunges. You would perform these outdoors or in a gym that has ample room. With this version you would keep moving forward with the lunge and not go back to the static position. This is a more advanced version of the exercise since you would keep constant tension on your glutes, quads and hams for a deep burn.

Visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more training advise, tips, and equipment.

Know When You're Ready to Enter Your First Bodybuilding Contest

Question and Answer with Harvey Reich, Natural Masters Illinois Bodybuilding Champion.

Question: I am preparing to enter a contest. I trained very hard and I cut my weight from 245 lbs. to 185 lbs. I have a very large torso and short limbs which made my arms and legs look big and well developed when I was heavier. Since I have lost this weight most if not all of recently gained my muscle mass is gone, particularly in my arms which has made me very depressed. What should I do?
Todd C. Buffalo, NY

Answer: Hello Todd. If you had that much weight to lose then there was never much underlying muscle in the first place, which tells me that you were not developed enough to enter a contest. If you lost this weight in a short amount of time (which it sounds like you did) it is no wonder that you have lost muscle mass.

Your body uses the muscles as nourishment to feed itself when drastic weight cutting occurs, which is what seems to have happened to you. The proper way to get "ripped" for a contest (once you DO have enough muscle mass) is to adjust your carbohydrate and fat intake so you gradually lose the weight, optimally 1 – 2 lbs. a week. Leave enough time before a contest to begin your diet, usually around 16 – 20 weeks out so you can reach your target contest weight in this manner. You’ll be very pleased with the results.

Khasiat Dibalik Buah Delima

Dari sekian banyak tanaman yang menjadi penghias halaman, mungkin tak ada yang menyangka jika delima ternyata memiliki khasiat untuk penyembuh dari beberapa jenis penyakit. Dan berikut adalah pengobatan dengan menggunakan Delima.

KEPUTIHAN

Bahannya :
- 15 gr kulit Delima kering
- 30 gr Sambiloto segar atau 15 gr Sambiloto kering
- 600 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Rebus semua bahan tersebut diatas hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan selama 10 hari berturut-turut.

MUNTAH DARAH

Bahannya :
- 30 gr bunga Delima
- 30 gr akar alang-alang
- 500 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus semua bahan tersebut diatas hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Setelah dingin, saring dan minum. Lakukan selama 14 hari berturut-turut.

SINUSITIS

Bahannya :
- 15 gr daun Delima segar
- 30 gr daun Jagung segar
- 15 gr daun Teh segar
- 500 cc air

Cara membuatnya :
Setelah dicuci bersih, rebus semua bahan tersebut diatas hingga air tersisa 200 cc. Selagi hangat-hangat kuku, saring dan minum. Lakukan selama 10 hari berturut-turut.

CACINGAN

Bahannya :
- 15 gr kulit Delima kering
- 5 gr biji Pinang kering
- 200 cc air panas

Cara membuatnya :
Tumbuk biji Pinang kering sampai halus, campurkan dengan kulit Delima dan seduh. Aduk sampai rata dan saring, lalu minum selagi hangat. Lakukan selama 3-5 hari berturut-turut.

Daun Waru Dapat Mengobati Masalah Pencernaan

Tanaman yang memiliki nama asing tree hibiscus ini ternyata jika tumbuh di tanah subur akan memiliki batang yang lurus, sementara di tanah kurang subur batang akan tumbuh bengkok. Berikut khasiat penyembuhannya :

TB PARU

Bahannya :

- 1 genggam daun Waru segar

- 3 gelas air

- gula seperlunya

Cara membuatnya :

Setelah dicuci bersih, potong-potong daun dan rebus hingga mendidih. Setelah dingin, saring, serta tambahkan gula seperlunya lalu minum 3 kali sehari masing-masing segelas. Lakukan selama 21 hari berturut-turut.

RADANG AMANDEL

Bahannya :

- 1 genggam daun Waru segar

- 2 gelas air

Cara membuatnya :

Setelah dicuci bersih, lalu rebus hingga air tersisa 1 1/2 gelas. Setelah dingin, saring dan gunakan untuk berkumur dan langsung diminum. Cukup sekali teguk. Lakukan 3-4 kali dalam sehari, ulangi sampai benar-benar sembuh.

RADANG USUS

Bahannya :

- Daun Waru muda yang masih kuncup

Cara membuatnya :

Setelah dicuci bersih, gunakan daun Waru muda sebagai lalap. Lakukan selama 5-7 hari.

MUNTAH DARAH

Bahannya :

- 10 lembar daun Waru segar

- 1 cangkir air minum

- gula secukupnya

Cara membuatnya :

Setelah dicuci bersih, lalu pipis (tumbuk sampai halus, diblender), kemudian tambahkan air sambil diremas, saring, tambahkan gula dan aduk sampai rata, lalu minum sekaligus. Lakukan sehari 2 kali selama 7 hari berturut-turut.

Thankful List

Here are a few things I'm grateful for today.

That may kids and family could come over today for Thanksgiving Dinner and that

we had such a great time together

I am thrilled to be alive and getting better.


It's exciting to be a part of a "healing miracle" even though I would rather be the one helping

and praying for someone else. I'm so happy that I am getting better.

I'm thankful for my family. I have wonderful parents, parents in laws, sisters, brothers, in laws,

a great husband and fantastic children and darling grandchildren! So blessed!!

I'm grateful to have a house to live in with good food to eat and clean water to drink.

Also, I'm thankful for a comfortable bed and pillows, and a bathtub with warm water.

I'm thankful for a living prophet to guide us in these perilous days.

I'm very thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and for His plan for his children, for our

Saviour, who personally suffered for me and is making it possible to be healed.

I'm also grateful for our son, Thomas, who is serving a full time mission in Washington State

and for all the missionaries that are serving throughout the world and sharing the gospel of

happiness with my brothers and sisters.

I'm so grateful for the scriptures and for the strength that I get from searching them.

Probably one of the most important gifts that I have is that of the Holy Ghost and I am so

grateful for the peace that is mine even in the midst of trials.

God is holding me close and easing my burdens. He has not forsaken me but has been there for

me every day.

I am sooo grateful for His help and also for everyone that is helping me get well through their

prayers, faith, money, service.....and support!

Life is wonderful and these are just some of the things that I am grateful for today!

Working Through Imbalances in Your Physique

I've received many questions about physique symmetry and balance over the years similar to the one below. My response has basically been the same. Do not compensate for an imbalance with one-sided exercises as you are leaving yourself susceptible to injury. Perform each exercise using the strictest of form and the imbalance will work itself out over time.

Question and Answers with Harvey Reich - Illinois Bodybuilding Champion:

Question: I’ve been working out for six months now and my left arm still seems to be bigger and stronger than the right. What is the most efficient way to correct this?
Fredo F. Mt. Vernon, IL

Answer: Hi Steve. I’d be willing to bet that you are left handed. Whatever inclination we are is naturally used more and would be more developed and stronger. If you keep working out on a consistent basis with good solid, balanced form this will eventually work itself out with your right arm catching up resulting in a more balanced eye pleasing physique.

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Change Your Routine Routinely for Maximum Gains

Here's another great question from a bodybuilder who is frustrated and working to break through a plateau. Remember the key to maximizing your progress is for your muscles NOT be used to the same old routine. You must change your routine around constantly so your muscles are being worked in a different way for maximum stimulation.

Hello Mr. Illinois: I'm a mid-level competitive bodybuilder who loves blasting my chest. Recently gains in my bench presses have really slowed down resulting in decreased muscularity and strength. I'm still working hard at the same routine that has produced results in the past. But I seem to have hit a plateau or even regressed a bit. What should I do?
Steve F. Burlington, WI

Answer: Hi Steve. The key to your problem is in the "same routine" part of your question. You're doing the same old thing that your muscles are used to. So how can you expect to make gains? What you need to do is to shake up your routine and shock your muscles into growth. There are numerous ways to do this. Super sets, giant sets, micro-loading, or just plain weight and set variations should all do the trick. Remember your muscles continually need new stimulus to grow.

For starters try using a different weight and rep combination for your bench presses. Then progress to working new chest exercises into your workout You'll be surprised as to how well your muscles will respond to the change. Good Luck.

Wonderful Son in Law

I just want to say something about Bryan Stradling on this blog. He is really going the extra

mile and serving me, his mother in law, with putting together the Peggy Sue Golf Tournament.

It's true that all the family is helping him, but, it was his idea and he is heading it up. That is

really nice of him and it means a lot to me. I hope that many people support us in this event

and that we can make the money needed for my pills. Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I

appreciate Bryan's love and support.

Yesterday, Larry and I took a walk together with our darling grandson, Craig. We walked to

my sister Mary Nielson's house and had a nice visit and then walked home again. We walked

about 3/4 a mile and I was just fine. So, my energy level is certainly increasing and I am soooo

happy that I'm getting well. Truly, Heavenly Father is watching over me and taking care of my

needs. I have great peace inside.

Obtaining a Peak in Your Biceps

I often get questions from bodybuilders regarding training techniques. Here is one of the better questions I've received regarding biceps training.

Question: I work my biceps constantly. They are getting bigger but I can't seem to get that peak on them that I see on other bodybuilders. What do you suggest I do?
Eric B.
Peoria, IL



Hi Eric. Unfortunately, a large part of a great bicep peak is the way your muscle is shaped at birth. In other words, it's part of your genetic makeup. However, you can improve if you regularly perform several peak contraction movements like concentration curls and Preacher or Scott curls. Remember to squeeze or flex your biceps at the top of the movement. Try that for your next few biceps workouts and over a few month's time you should notice an improvement.

Set Realistic Fitness Goals for Yourself

When setting fitness goals don't aim to high and set yourself up for disappointment. Try setting smaller obtainable goals. This will accomplish two things: 1) The satisfaction of completing the goal will give you the desire to raise the bar and keep on going. 2) A minor setback won't play on your mind as much and will enable you to get back on track much more quickly. This also holds true for workouts and even specific lifts.

For example, if your goal is to increase your bench press by 50 lbs. don't try and do it all in one shot. Set many 5 and 10 lb. goals and work to obtain those one at a time. When you are successful with each smaller goal it will give you the satisfaction of success and the inspiration to continue with the program and reach the long range goal. If you focus only on the long range goal you may disappoint yourself even though you are making progress.

Visit us at Unique Fitness Concepts for more fitness tips and routines

My friend

I just want to share a special experience that happened this morning. A dear

friend called me and said that she was reading her scriptures this morning and

thought of me. So, she called and said that she is concerned about having a big trial in her life

someday and that she wants to be prepared for it. So, she was studying the atonement and is

trying to increase her faith. She asked me how I can remain happy and positive through my

health trial. She realizes that I am getting better and that a miracle is occurring and wanted to

ask about what has given me strength to meet my trial. She is so sweet and it touched me heart

to think that she is trying to prepare now...for the future. Most people don't even think about

trials until one hits them. So we talked and cried together. I told her that I don't have to worry

about things because the Lord told me I would be healed all the way and instructed me where

to go to get the help I needed. I just trust in the Lord and know that He keeps His promises.

At the same time, I am doing the things He asked me to do. I know that it is not occurring just

because of my faith. It is because of the faith of so many. Faith is real and it precedes the

miracle. Then she asked if there was anything else that has blessed my life and gives me

strength, and I told her about D & C 98: 1-3 and how the early saints were being persecuted and

how they were instructed to handle trials. They were given 5 things to do. I learned those

steps when my husband was so sick and now I can apply them to myself and I am... and they

work.

They are to fear not, let your hearts be comforted, rejoice evermore, in everything give thanks,

wait patiently on the Lord for he has heard our prayers....and all things will work out for our

good.

So, life is wonderful and I am again very grateful for the tender mercies that the Lord is

granting to me.

By the way, I just got back from a nice long walk around the neighborhood and to the retention

basin and I feel great!

Watch your Diet this Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us and that means holiday parties and feasts galore. You should always enjoy yourself but be extra conscious regarding your caloric intake. With all the office and family and friend get-togethers there will be ample opportunity to add extra calories to your diet which means that you should be prudent whenever possible. You don't want to gain unnecessary pounds to negate all that hard work you've put in at the gym. And with all of the parties make sure that you still get rest and get to the gym as often as possible to counteract any of your divulgences.

Please visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more fitness related articles, routines and tips.

Recovering

The flu got me. Sunday I was down all day and then Monday as well. It's strange

how you start to feel better and then get sick again. Maria brought us in a delicious

chicken soup...it is the best. I loved it. Also, she made me carob brownies with

whole wheat flour and honey, They are very moist and yummy. Larry just went to

the store for me and I am so taken care of and blessed.

Someone very special gave the money to buy a months supply of my Tykerb

medicine, which took a tremendous amount of stress off of Larry. It was so helpful!!

Also, my son in law, Bryan, is putting together a "Golf Tournament" to raise money

for me. He has put a lot of time and effort into it and it should be very successful. It

will be the first Saturday in December. I hope that anyone who is interested in

golfing or helping in anyway will contact Larry or me or Bryan Stradling. All my

kids are helping out with it. They are calling it "Peggy Sue's Golf Tournament", as it

is my nickname. My real name is Margaret Susan but the popular name of the day

was Peggy Sue. So.....Bryan sometimes calls me by that name. He is so funny. I am

grateful for a very supportive family. They make me smile and feel happy and

loved.

I am looking forward to feeling better from this dreadful flu and then trying out for

the Easter Pageant with my grand-daughter this Friday. Hope we make it!

The Importance of Stretching Prior to Working Out

Stretching is of the utmost importance for all athletes regardless of fitness level or experience. I’ve seen too many instances where experienced bodybuilders and weight trainers end up tearing or severely pulling a muscle only because they did not take the few minutes to stretch and warm the body up properly prior to intense exercise. I, myself have had to learn the hard way on more than one occasion. It simply is not worth it to risk injury and be on the shelf for weeks at a time to save a few minutes at the gym. So don't be over anxious to dive into the heavy sets. Stretching also has many other benefits including elongating the muscle and making the muscle more pliable which is always a benefit for weight trainers, especially bodybuilders.

Remember, take the time to stretch and really get the blood flowing through your muscles before you start exercising. You’ll take a huge step towards injury prevention. Don’t forget to stretch you muscles during your workout in between sets. You’ll feel the benefit throughout your entire workout.

For more fitness articles, routines, and tips please visit Unique Fitness Concepts

Nothing Beats the Look of a Powerful Back

I've always admired bodybuilders and powerlifters who sport a powerful looking well-developed back. You know the type - the tapered V look that looks like there isn't enough room to hold that amount of muscle. All of the top bodybuilding champions like Arnold, Sergio Olivia, Ronnie Coleman, and the current Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler had the best backs of their respective eras. When these champs wrote about their back routines they always seem to be proud of the amount of work and effort it took to build this impressive body part. They usually performed at least 4- 5 different exercises to ensure that they hit all areas of their back. Although some of these aforementioned bodybuilders who were from "golden age" seemed to always train to much I have to agree with the number or exercises they performed on a regular basis for back.

In order to fully train the back properly one must address the upper, middle, and lower back almost as separate body parts. Here is one of my back routines and the associated part of the back it works.

1) Pull-ups: 4 sets of 10 - 15 reps and works the upper back and lats.
2) Seated Cable Rows: 4 sets of 8 - 12 reps and works the middle back.
3) Barbell Rows: 4 sets of 8 - 12 reps. Works lats and middle to lower back.
4) Hyper Extensions: 2 sets of 30 rep. Works the lower back.

As you can see the total of 14 sets works the entire back and will give you that powerful well-muscled back that all bodybuilders strive for. Try this routine for about four weeks and I'm certain that you will be pleased with the results.

Check out the video below and you can see back exercises performed with PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells.

View video for PowerBlock Ab & Back Exercises.

Please visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more fitness tips and exercise routines.

Discover What Motivational Factors Work For You

I've been lifting now for 35 years and there has been one consistent factor throughout that time and that is motivation. Motivation gets you going when you're feeling a bit lazy and don't want to go to the gym. Motivation gets you that one extra hard fought rep to make you grow. Motivation gives you the drive to be the very best you can be. All of the top bodybuilders have always used it to their advantage to get to the top of their profession.

Personally, I started out very weak and underweight and my motivation was to build muscle so I wasn't that 97 lb. weakling in the Charles Atlas comic book cartoon. As I got older my motivation changed from building up to trimming down and ridding myself of extra fat. During my workout I pictured myself with my stomach protruding and that thought alone drove me to push myself harder. The point is that I used a factor in my life that lit a fire under me to push myself beyond what I normally would do. The same should hold true for everyone. Think about it and choose something that will push you to excel. It may be an ex boyfriend or girlfriend or an irritating boss. Or maybe you want to look great in your swimsuit on the beach. Whatever your motivation is store it in your brain and bring it out when you're lifting to push yourself beyond where you would normally go.


Please visit us at Unique Fitness Concepts for more bodybuilding tips and routines.

Grandchildren

It's so much fun to play with and watch my grandchildren. They are the cutest and so

adorable. As Aaron and Andrea are moving, I get to watch some of their children. Rebecca, age

5, brought with her a special envelope which was all sealed up with money inside. On the outside

she had written "Rebecca Disneyland Money". Then she gave it to me for my pills. She said

that she had earned it by doing lots of chores and was saving it for Disney Land... but she

changed her mind. I was so touched.

We emptied it onto the bed and counted out the nickles and dimes and pennies. It was two

dollars and 95 cents. What a sacrifice. It really is special that my grandchildren want to help

me. I know that their money is like the widow's mite and that the Lord recognizes their money

as such. I love being their grandmother.

Advantages of Training with Dumbbells

Some bodybuilders have gravitated to the weight training machines since they burst onto the gym scene in earnest in the 1970s. The machines are all well and good and they can add variations of exercises to your routine, but they do restrict your natural movement due to their design.

I've always liked training with free weights and especially dumbbells. Dumbbells give you freedom of movement and also work your core with certain exercises as well. You can also alternate between arms for a variation of the exercise which is not possible with machines. Once you've mastered the balance part for exercises like dumbbell presses and flyes you'll be able to better focus on the muscle group you're working due to the isolation nature of the movement. This in turn will lead to greater gains in strength and mass.

Here are some excellent dumbbell exercises for arms with PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells.

View video for PowerBlock Arm Exercises.

To see more videos of dumbbell exercises please visit us at Unique Fitness Concepts

Ingredients for a Great Chest Workout

Today I will be working my favorite body part, chest. To me nothing makes you feel more virile and powerful than the pump you feel after working chest. I start out with bench presses 4 - 5 sets including one warm-up set. When bench pressing focus on using your chest muscles to push the weight. Bring the bar down slowly then explode upwards once the bar touches your chest. Never bounce the weight or arch your back as cheating does not increase your muscle mass or strength and you will also leave yourself at risk for shoulder and back injury.

The next chest exercise is one of my favorites, inclines presses. No muscle burn feels better to me then the deep muscle ache you feel during a hard worked set of inclines. A well developed upper chest gives you that powerful table-top look that people really admire. I usually perform 3 - 4 sets of 8 - 12 hard fought reps. That does the trick for me. If you do these correctly you should have a difficult time even lifting the bar after the last set.

I complete my chest workout with either dumbbell flyes or cable crossovers. When performing dumbbell flyes your motion should be similar to that of you hugging a tree. But be careful and don't extend to far down at the bottom of the movement as you leave yourself vulnerable to shoulder injury. Same with cable crossovers, use a moderate weight and flex your pecs at the peak of the movement. Don't overload the weight as you will also expose yourself to injury.

When your done working with the weights spend a few minutes flexing your pecs in front of a mirror to really bring out the cuts and striations with this isometric exercise.

Blessings from Heaven

As you know, we have been strugling to pay for our expensive pills to keep me alive. But, the

Lord is right there to bless me through so many angels on earth. My brothers and sisters each

contributed and together were able to come up with $1,100, which is very helpful. Then today,

another angel dropped $100 off at my door.

Larry's parents gave us money as well. It's wonderful to know that I am being taken

care of and that somehow the money comes in. Our son in law, Bryan is also

working to put together a golf tournament with pledges, to go towards my medicine. I

know that our loving Heavenly Father watches over us and He hears our heartfelt prayers. So

many people on earth are in tune with the Spirit and are willing to sacrifice for little old me. I

feel very blessed! (By the way, if anyone ever reads this blog and has questions about my experience at the Burzynski Clinic you can email me at musicmanning@gmail.com and I would love to talk with you about it)

Legs Take the Longest to Get Back Into Flow After Layoff

Well my comeback just completed two workout cycles. By that I mean I completed workouts for each body part two times. Without question legs seem to be the most difficult to get back into a good rhythm. For this second leg workout I did barbell squats first for three sets of 135x12, 185x12, and 205x15. Not bad for the second workout but my conditioning or lack thereof showed during this exercise. My rest time in between sets was probably twice as long as when I am in shape and my fatigue level was very high. I never quite recovered my wind which hindered my effectiveness for the rest of the workout. I finished the workout with calves - raises on the leg press and standing calf raises. I was able to get a fair calf burn but not a great pump which I again attribute to my conditioning. I will be hitting the cardio harder so my focus and energies can be with the task at hand and not fatigue.

Are Barbell Squats The Right Exercise For You?

Ever since circus strongmen and the early superstar bodybuilders like John Grimek and Steve Reeves were winning the Mr. Universe contest the question to perform barbell squats has been a hotly debated topic. In the 1970's, top bodybuilders like Ken Waller and Arnold would swear by the squat, while fitness guru's like Vince Gironda would not even have squat racks in their gym! His argument was that the barbell squat would overdevelop the glutes and would be a detriment to the symmetrical bodybuilder. Others, like Arnold and France Columbu squatted religiously, and they attributed there overall muscular balance and strength to the squat. So which point of view is correct? I don't want to ride the fence but in my humble opinion both are!

There really isn't a better exercise you can do for overall body balance, mass and conditioning that the squat. When I perform squats as part of my leg routine I can almost feel my strength and conditioning increase as I am doing them. I also feel that I have endless energy and stamina for the rest of my workouts, and every exercise seems that much easier to do. Barbell squatting is that good for conditioning! However my body type tends to gravitate more towards the ectomorph side (thinner and a hard gainer), so putting on too much mass was never an issue for me.

If your body type is more of an endomorph (larger and heavier) you may not ever need to put on more mass on your body, especially in the glute area. Although lighter weight and high repetition squats would still be of benefit to you for shaping and conditioning, heavy squats probably would not be the first and best choice of leg exercise, unless you're a powerlifter.

In summary there is not a better over all exercise you can do than the barbell squat. It is an individual choice as to determine if the aesthetic results are to your liking.

False Alarm!

Sorry about the mix up. Larry King ended up having a substitute and they wanted

to talk about the boy and the big balloon that went up into the sky. So.....the Dr.

Burzynski is suppose to on either tonight or Friday night. Please try to watch it if

you can.

I had a very special blessing occur today. Larry and I have been concerned about

getting more pills for me as it is quite costly. We just don't have the money right

now and needed to order them. After much pleading, the Burzynski Clinic is going

to send us a week supply of the PB (cancer pills) free. Yay! That will give us some

more time. Also, my sister, Mary, said that some of my brothers and sisters gave

her some money last night at her birthday party to give to me. So, I may be able to

by my Tykerb on Wednesday. I know that the Lord is watching over me and our

family. But, please continue to keep me in your prayers and pray that we will be

able to have the pills that I need to live! Thanks so much, Margaret

Balance is the Key to an Eye Pleasing Physique

You've probably noticed this too but I've walked into the gym way too many times over the years only to see some of my buddies the "regular gym rats" who perform only a select few exercises and call it a day. They only exercise the "showy" muscles with disregard for the rest of the body. A fine example of this are the "cantaloupe smugglers". You know those guys, the ones who only work their pecs and biceps and look like they are carrying four large melons under their shirt. They probably think that they look strong or muscular. But with little muscular development elsewhere they in fact look horribly disproportionate and even silly. If you look closer at these guys they probably have spindly under-developed legs and look ludicrous in a shorts or a bathing suit. Another good example are guys who work everything but their abs. They may have a great back, chest, arms, legs etc. but if your stomach is not sporting some semblance of a six-pack you're not going to look in shape.

The whole idea here is proportion. I've been to many bodybuilding contests and the overall winner more often than not is not the biggest, strongest person in the contest with flashing oversized body parts. It's the guy or gal who is proportionally or evenly developed and has the fewest weaknesses. This type of physique will catch your eye at the pool or beach as being much more impressive than the cantaloupe smuggler type. Remember a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and this especially holds true for the human body.

It may not be fun to blast your legs with squats or do endless calf raises and sit-ups. But if you do work out the entire body in proportion there is no doubt in the end you'll be more than pleased with the results.

Visit Unique Fitness Concepts for more bodybuilding articles, routines, and advice.

CNN

Exciting News!

Dr. Burzynski will be on the Larry King Live Show (CNN) on Monday,

October 19th at 6 pm. He is going to talk about what they do at the clinic

and why he can help people with cancer. I'm so excited to see the show

and hope that everyone I love can see it too. He's kind of shy but very

intelligent and full of energy. Hope you can watch it.

The Cardiovascular and Psychological Benefits of Walking

First let me start out with the statement or fact that I believe that there is no better low impact aerobic exercise then walking. Walking is tremendous activity for every level age group and fitness level. It helps control weight, conditions the heart and strengthens the bones and you can easily make it as easy or as difficult as you like to suit your physical fitness needs. For example, I started walking at a leisurely pace when I began training again after an extended layoff just to get my motor running. I also did heavy or fast walking five times a week when I was in intense training for competition. Needless to say I was very pleased with the end result both times. Walking helped me "ramp up" or segues into more serious training and it was a great cardio top-off after a long day of lifting and dieting. I can't say that I enjoyed any fitness activity more than arming myself with my ipod and dog and marching away in a cool, soothing night throughout the neighborhood.

I have also find out that even though during my intense training periods where I really pushed my walking pace to 9 - 10 minute miles I was able to relax my mind and "think" about plans and activities that I would not be able to do while performing any other intense fitness activity such as free weight or machine circuit training. It seems that the rhythmic cadence of walking really freed up my mind to perform my most creative thinking of the day!

Walking should never be boring. The great thing about walking is that any two workouts never have to be the same. You can change the pace, environment, time of day... you get the point. With the limitless amount of change to keep you fresh you should never grow tired of it! You can also ramp up the intensity by adding hand, ankle, or wrist weights or even a weighted vest.

Cancer Clinic

I am sitting at the computer at the Ironwood Cancer Clinic killing time while the

rituxin finishes through my IV. It is great to have computers down here.

This is the third week of four and then I'm done with this series until April. yay!

The people down here so nice and very humble. but, I am so glad that I am not taking

chemo...because in all honesty...many of them are very sick. But, I always enjoy my visits

with the nurses and the patients around me. It's an experience that I'm glad to have.

It's been a very busy week with lots of activities. The saddest thing is that my brother, Stephen,

passed away. The funeral was wonderful and Mary and the family did an amazing job. but, my

heart hurts for him and I will miss him so much. Other things that happened are we got to enjoy

Jonathan and Carrie's kids for several days while they went on a business trip. All in all it went

well until I either sprained or broke my toe. Fortunately, it happened the evening before they

returned and picked up the kids. But it was really nice having them.

Our pipe broke in the front yard and the water was off....but we got it repaired.

We were able to plant much of our garden with our grand kids help and they

had a lot of fun. Emma was sick most of the time but she felt good about helping to plant a few

flowers in the front yard. Lily was ecstatic that she learned to ride a two wheeler all by herself.


I forgot to mention, the 2 baby blessings went very well on Sunday and now this Sunday, will be

one more. I'm so happy to be alive and not be sick with chemo treatment so that I can enjoy

these special times with my family. Life is wonderful and I am enjoying every moment of it. Got

to go because my IV is done.