Need something to keep you going?

Then you’re in the right place.

Healthbolt’s got a one month supply of the award winning Detour Runner Bar to giveaway.

Made from all natural ingredients, the Runner Bar contains whey protein and MicroLactin®, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory derived from milk proteins that has been reported to improve joint health and function. Plus they come in three different flavors – peanut butter, lemon yogurt, and chocolate chip cookie.

Sound like what you or the runner in your life needs?

Want to try the Detour Runner bar?

All you have to do is leave a comment before 11th December 2008 on which flavor you’d choose and why to be in the draw.

This one, I’m afraid, is only open to US Residents.

The winner will be announced on 12th December and sent an email with the subject heading ‘Healthbolt Giveaway Winner’ with instructions on how to claim their prize.

And don’t forget it’s ‘everyday a giveaway’ this month at Healthbolt.

Click on the package to find all the great prizes in Healthbolt’s 31 Days of Giveaways.

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Many athletes believe that taking Viagra will help improve their performance in the field. And preliminary studies, showing a 40% performance improvement for cyclists taking Viagra, support this believe.

But experts aren’t convinced. They argue that even though Viagra works on the nitric oxide in the body and causes blood vessels to expand resulting in increased heart function and more oxygen in the lungs, it’s not a guarantee that it will improve an athlete’s performance.

In fact some doctors suggest that it’s actually Viagra’s more well-known effects on men’s sex lives that might be the reason for an athlete’s improved performance on the field. Here’s what Dr. Gerard Varlotta, director of sports rehabilitation at New York University’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, has to say …

“If athletes are euphoric after sex after taking Viagra, they may be euphoric about their athletic endeavors,” Varlotta said. “That may make them a better athlete.”

Meanwhile, the World Anti-Doping Agency ain’t happy. They are currently studying Viagra’s effects in athletes. If they decide that it is a performance inducing drug, they may look at banning Viagra. And that would be a performance in itself.

(source)

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You will not believe your eyes.

My first thought when I saw them was ‘they can’t be for real’ but apparently they are…

My second thought – how in the world would they ever find clothes that fit…

My third thought – why in the world would they do this to themselves…

Luckily,there is a new movie, Bigger Stronger Faster, due to be release at the end of the month that might be able to explain why some guys (and girls) have the need to turn their bodies into muscle bound caricatures. Made by the producers of Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, this movie, according to a Variety magazine review, offers an in-depth yet personal look at the use of steriods among athletes obsessed with body image and winning at all costs.

Bigger Stronger Faster trailer…

Further reading about bodybuilding and steroids:

The Truth About Professional Body Builders

5 Reasons Not to Take Anabolic Steroids.

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An Oregon Clinic has come up with a unique ad campaign to encourage men who are contemplating a vasectomy to book in.

They even offer free sports magazines, free pizza, and a bag of frozen peas to ease the sensitive spot.

What more could a guy ask for?

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Photo/Source Credit

It’s one thing to lick your lips profusely after scarfing down a powdered sugar doughnut. It’s quite another to lick your lips profusely whilst testifying in a Congressional hearing…with no doughnuts in site.

Alas, this appears to be the M.O. of baseball great Roger Clemens these days, as he fumbles through hours of swearing to have never used HGH. While Clemens talks a good game, analysts surely aren’t buying that this guy is on the whole-truth plan (of course, it doesn’t take an analyst to recognize that, now does it?)

With Clemens continuously displaying tell-tale signs of nervousness such as looking down, avoiding eye contact, and wrinkling his forehead, body language experts are left believing there’s more to the story than Clemens lets on. People who are lying, they say, often display the same types of behaviors Clemens does, along with moving their shoulders, clenching their jaws, licking their lips (ahem!), and shuffling their feet.

Of course, displaying signs of nervousness does not automatically mean the guy is lying. I mean, who wouldn’t be nervous trying to clear your name in front of Congress? And besides, maybe he’s just thinking about powdered doughnuts…

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Researchers studying the occurrence of cardiac events (heart attack, irregular heart rhythms, and cardiac arrest) suffered by German soccer fans watching games during the 2006 World Cup in Germany found that the number of cardiac events more than doubled on the days that the German team played. And for male fans, the number of cardiac events tripled.

The study went on to find that “…the risk of heart attack increased by 250 percent and risk of irregular heartbeat increase by more than 300 percent for these fans.”

There is no documented evidence that the same happens to American football fans, but logic dictates that a similar reaction is possible. The link between emotional stress and potential is well known with many studies finding correlation between stress or anxiety generating events (natural disasters, martial problems, work stress, financial stress, death in the family) and cardiac emergencies. There is even a name for it – stress-induced cardiomyopathy or takotsubo.

So what’s a dedicated Giants or Patriots fan with cardiac problems to do?

Here’s what some doctors suggest…

• avoid the usual unhealthy high fat foods, alcohol, and cigarrette smoke that is usually associated with watching major sporting events.
• don’t bet on the game as this only increases the stress.
• maintain compliance with medications.
• watch in a calm and relaxed manner (yeah, right!!!)

Oh, and one more thing – remember, it’s just a game….

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Steroid use and abuse is back in the news again with the recent release of the Mitchell Report, the result of a 20 month investigation into performance-enhancing drug use amongst professional baseball players.  Disturbing but apparently not all that surprising news.

I guess, in a way, it’s kind of understandable why anabolic steroid use is so prevalent in the professional sports arena. And, let’s face it, they are all adults and in theory know what they are doing and what the risks are. But you have to wonder if they understand the full extent of what they are doing to their body and health.

Yes, performance-enhancing steroids can give you bigger biceps, triceps, and pecs. But in using them, you also get a whole lot more than you bargained for.

1. They cause serious health problems.  Continual steroid use can cause liver tumors, heart disease, and a weaken immune system leading to internal bleeding, heart attacks, strokes, and viral infections.

2. They cause hormone imbalance, especially in teens who already have enough hormone imbalance going on to last a lifetime. Anabolic steroids will simply confuse the issue. Boys can end up with shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count, and breasts. Girls can become more masculine, with deeper voices, reduced breasts, and excessive body hair, including beards. Plus, steroids can stunt the growth spurt, resulting in staying short for life.

Let’s face it, getting through High School is difficult enough without having gender mix-up issues as well.

3. They are addictive. Steroid use can result in having to maintain an expensive drug habit. And withdrawal will hurt as users have to deal with mood swings, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, restlessness, and steroid cravings. Many will also suffer depression (often for years following withdrawal) to such a degree that they might even decide that suicide is the only option.

4. They mess with your head. Initially, steriods can cause irritability and depression. Continual use can result in delusions and mania. And in the end, they can turn an otherwise meek and mild mannered person into a raging homicidal maniac, otherwise known as ‘roid rage’.

5. They are illegal. This doesn’t seem to bother users much. But here’s the facts. Anabolic steroids are classified as a controlled substance and as such, are only legally allowed to be sold by a pharmacist via a doctor’s prescription. If you obtain steroids any other way, you risk a jail sentence of up to five years.

And if all that doesn’t discourage you, then how about this…

You’ll get CAUGHT (witness Marion Jones, the Baseball League, etc) or DIE (Chris Benoit, Rob Garibaldi)

By the way, if you’re concerned about someone possibily using Anabolic Steroids, here’s a few resources that might be worth checking out:  MedLine Plus, Anabolic Steroid Abuse, and NIDA for Teens

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It’s all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Craig Golding photo.

Ice, Ice, Baby

The traditional sports wisdom of taking an ice bath post-game is being challenged. (That whole pesky “scientific evidence” thing.) Not only do ice baths not inhibit lactic acid, they may slow muscle recovery time.

You Fruit!

There’s a link between asthma and diet. Teens who maintain diets low in inflammation-fighting antioxidants, vitamins and Omega-3’s have significantly higher rates of asthma. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish helps nourish the lungs by providing vitamins C, E, and essential fatty acids.

Truckers Need Love

The majority of truckers are obese. Over half of them smoke. Few of them wear seatbelts. They chow road food and work long, mind-numbing, odd hours. The people who bring you your food, drink, and widgets have one of the most dangerous, unhealthy jobs on earth.

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This five-hour etch of LeBron James is sped up, so that you can see every line he makes, and every step he takes I’ll be watching you to create a unique piece of pop art.

See more of George’s Etched In Time artwork.

Oh, and my condolences, Lebron.

Post from: Healthbolt

This is sad. Floyd Landis’ follow-up test results are positive for synthetic testosterone. There’s some screwiness with the results (of-effing-course there is) what with the lab not allowing Landis’ expert, Paul Scott, to be present during the running of the tests.

The lab had originally agreed to let him witness the testing, but only in the presence of two other experts from the U.S. Anti-Doping Association. The USADA’s experts failed to show up on Sunday when the tests had been scheduled to take place. So the lab ran the tests without any experts in the room, and the results came out positive.

Naturally, the Landis’ camp is fighting mad about the snafu, and are madly fighting the allegations. Landis has said he will voluntarily abstain from competition until the dispute is settled. Should it ever finally get settled, and not be in his favor, he would receive a two-year ban and be the only champion in the 104-year history of the competition to be stripped of his title.

*Oh, and you can get all the info on that badass picture from the last Tour right here.

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