Category Weightlifting and Exercise
Designer Protein 20% Off Sale On Bodybuilding.com!
Bodybuilding.com is having a big sale on ALL Designer Protein products this month!
Go to http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/designer-protein.htm and make sure to enter the following discount code:
DesignerProtein20
The code is good for a 20% off all Designer Protein and will be effective from today through October 31st.
Musings From A Happy Half-Centurian
Now that I have been in the 50 zone for a few months, I can honestly say that I actually like it! Here are a few reasons why I am completely comfortable with being 50 years old…
* I still get carded. In fact, I have been asked for ID when purchasing alcohol more frequently now than a year ago. And it’s not because I am purchasing booze with more frequency either. I have even gotten carded while with younger friends who did NOT get carded. It’s bizarre and very cool.
* I can still rock an outfit and not only be a head-turner, but a neck-BREAKER. Gotta have goals!
* I can take care of myself and don’t panic if I am faced with a challenge. However, I am completely grateful when someone comes to my aid or shows concern for my welfare. I am so blessed to have wonderful, true friends who have my back as much as I have theirs!
* I can usually discern very quickly which opportunities and situations are legit and which ones are a waste of my time. With age comes wisdom, and my gut instinct has proven consistently to be a foolproof guardian.
* I don’t wait for things to happen…I MAKE them happen. When I was younger, I had a tendency to put more faith in others coming through for me. Over the past few years, I have adopted the attitude that I can only depend on myself, so I have pushed myself to become a solo mover and shaker. It’s pretty tough navigating alone, but at least I trust the person at the helm!
* I trust that time will always makes things unfold organically. This makes struggling through difficult times much more manageable. I know that situations will always come to a resolution eventually. Whenever I have any doubt, I think of what my grandmother used to tell my mom and her siblings when times were rough: “Don’t worry, after bad comes good.” What a wise woman.
* I no longer care if someone has a problem with me sporting a miniskirt, a bikini, or a curve-hugging dress. My thought is, I still have it, and I have every intention of flaunting it. Sorry if that offends some people, but the folks who have a problem with such attire can’t take away my resolve to celebrate what I have worked so hard to maintain.
* I realize that life isn’t over just because I hit a certain chronological marker. If anything, I am just getting started!
Will I Compete Again?
Autographed 8×10’s For Sale…NEW IMAGE Available
The following 8×10 images are available for purchase, and can be autographed with a personal message. All photographs are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED by the respective photographers. Each image is 8″ X 10″ in format, and will be mailed to you in a rigid photo mailer.
Each image is $15.00 USD which includes autograph and shipping costs.
Please email me STACEY@STACEYNAITO.COM with your requested images and your mailing address, and I will provide payment info at that time.
WHITE CROP TANK – Taken by Trudge Photo in June 2014:
BLUE MALIBU – Taken by LHGFX Photography in March 2014:
KIMONO WARRIORESS – Taken by Second Focus Photography in March 2013:
WHITE TROPICS – Taken by LHGFX Photography in July 2013:
SILVER STANDOUT – Taken by Chaz Photographics in August 2013:
**NEW**
GREEN MICRO BIKINI- Taken by Chaz Photographics in 2015:
My Shake And Bake Sweet Potatoes Recipe
You can use either sweet potatoes or yams for this clean and delicious recipe! I used to make very large batches when I was still competing, and think this recipe and the yield are perfect for those who do their food prep ahead of time. I don’t peel the potatoes beforehand but you can certainly do so if you wish.
DR. NAITO’S SHAKE AND BAKE SWEET POTATOES
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
INGREDIENTS:
5 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, washed and cut into one-inch sections
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Place cut sweet potato sections into a clean kitchen trash bag. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl, then pour into bag. Twist bag closed and shake mixture so that it coats the potatoes evenly. Place coated potato segments in a large baking dish which has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until slightly tender.
Joints That Snap, Crackle, and Pop
You’re sitting with friends, and you reach for something next to you, when you hear a pop in your shoulder. There’s no pain, yet that popping sound has you concerned that something is wrong. Should you worry?
Popping or cracking sensations and sounds can occur just about anywhere in the body and, if they aren’t expected or commonplace for an individual, can be alarming. Scientists can’t agree on what it is exactly that causes all those strange noises, but one theory is that as tendons and ligaments tighten around or move over a joint, the result is snapping, popping or cracking. As for popping knuckles, one popular idea is that air bubbles within joint fluid escape, causing a popping sound, while another belief is that a vacuum is formed when the joint is adjusted, causing synovial fluid to rush into the space. It’s a different scenario with arthritic joints, which may creak and grind as a result of bone moving across bone.
Just because your body might make those strange sounds when you move, such noises and movements don’t necessarily mean bad news. However, any time those noises or movements are accompanied by pain or restriction of movement in the body part moved, it’s time to have it evaluated by a physician.
How To Perform A Smith Machine Squat (Repost)
If you have always wanted to do Smith Machine squats but weren’t sure exactly how to do them, read on. This description of squats on the Smith Machine will help you maximize recruitment of your glutes, hamstrings and quads.
Your torso should be in line with the Smith machine rack during the squat movement. A good way to check your form is by looking in the mirror from a side view to check your alignment. Tuck your tailbone in slightly but make sure to keep your back neutral. In order to keep everything in line with your upper body, you need to make sure that your feet are far enough forward. You can place your feet close together, shoulder width apart, or at a wide stance.
Keep in mind that if there is a slant to the Smith Machine apparatus that you will have a tougher time keeping your back in line with the slant, in which case you will favor keeping your upper body completely perpendicular to the floor instead. Make sure to keep your back NEUTRAL the entire time.
When you push the bar up, you will only go up halfway. Concentrate on squeezing your glutes and pushing through your HEELS. On the down phase, you will come down beyond 90 degrees (around 60 degrees at the knees). Move slowly and deliberately. If you are doing these correctly, you will feel a stretch in your hamstrings and glutes.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar Face-Off
Buns Of Steel And Abs Of Steel Video Review
Please check out my review of Steel Fit Nutrition’s Buns Of Steel and Abs Of Steel, two awesome topical products designed to tighten up the skin, reduce fat and excess water, and improve the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks.
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