Before attempting the rocky presses make sure you have a friend that can spot you in case you have troubles. This exercise is going to require the use of a press bench with a back on it and a dumbbell bar.

Pick the weights for using on the dumbbell bar. Make sure the weights are something you will be able to handle comfortably when you are lifting the bar above your head. Attach the weights to the bar and walk over to the press bench. Carefully sit in the chair and place your feet flat on the ground. Your feet need to be aligned with your shoulders and your back needs to be flat against the back of the press bench.

The proper way to grip the barbell is with your hands a little wider then your shoulders. The palms of your hands will be facing the wall in front of you. Now using your forearms lift the dumbbell to your chest. The bar will be sitting right below your chin. This will be your starting position for the rocky presses.

Tighten your grip on the bar and while exhaling lift the bar in the air. Your arms will be straight up and down. The dumbbell will now be over your head. Start inhaling and lower the bar behind your head. Do not try and lift the bar all the way to your shoulders. It only needs to be lifted to the middle of the back of your head. Your elbows will be to the side of you pointing straight out. Hold the position for a second then start exhaling.

While exhaling slowly raise the bar back in the air. Once again your arms will be straight up and down while holding the bar above your head. Hold the position for a second then start inhaling.

While inhaling bring the bar back down to the start position. One complete repetition is lifting the bar from the start position into the air, back behind your head, back into the air and back down to the start position. Do the recommended amount of repetitions.

Once you get the strength built up in your shoulders you can push them even harder. When doing the rocky presses keep the bar in the air, moving it from the front of the head to the back of the head. You will feel the stress mounting on the shoulders almost immediately.

Now that your shoulders are loosened up and feeling good lets go to the next step, Arnold presses. This will help with building shoulder strength.

1/2 cup wheat bran

1/3 cup oat bran

1 scoop protein powder (whey)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup

Preparation

Bring 3/4 cups of skim milk to a slight boil and add all ingredients from above and stir. Wait one minute remove from heat and continue to stir. Let stand 2 minutes and enjoy!

*Note* If it’s to dry for your taste you can always add another 1/4 cup skim milk.

When using weights you need to make sure that you have a buddy or a spotter with you so that they can help you to keep your form and technique right so that you do not accidentally sprain or damage any other muscles in the process. Standing straight with your feet firmly planted shoulder width apart and your arms at your side with your palms facing you, you need to curl each weight alternatively in each arm up till at chest height. Using lighter weights and building up to heavier weights is the right way to go, as you may find at first you are unable to lift weights that you think you can as you are using your Bicep muscle alone rather than any other muscles to support the lift. Concentrating on one muscle takes time and patience. Holding your Bicep and using a counting system will improve the rate at which you increase the size and power of your muscles. Always keep your wrists locked so that you do not inadvertently damage them in any way.

In effect only your forearms should move as this ensures that the concentration on your Biceps is absolute. There are variations of this exercise if you need more support for your back or if you need more support for your legs. This can be achieved if you sit down on a bench to do the Alternating Hammer Curls. You can use the back support if you need it or not if you do not. The exercise is performed exactly the same with a straight back and your feet shoulder length apart. Tuck your elbows into your waist and use only your Biceps to pull up the weights, in alternate raises.

Keeping your breathing measured and controlled will allow you to lift heavier and heavier weights over time and will benefit your training regime as a whole. Inhaling as you raise the weights and exhaling as you let go after your count will help you to fully take control of the muscle in question which in this case is your Bicep. Muscles are always improved, sculpted and built upon better when they are taken from a lower weight mass as this controls the amount of stretching the muscle does which builds stronger and more reliable result. Stretching before and after exercise minimizes the chances of damaging your muscles, so make sure that you stretch fully as looking after yourself does not start or end with the exercise alone. The look and feel of your arms has to include in your regime Alternating Hammer Curls because without them your workout regime is not complete.

Weight loss is not found in a pill. The latest diet book won’t offer you a miracle cure. Essentially, you have to burn more calories than you consume. Pills can curb your appetite so that you won’t be hungry when you diet. Diet books can offer you ways to eat fewer calories according to a specific plan. But, essentially, all diets boil down to the same thing: eat less than you burn.

Food calorie counters can help you make smart choices about what foods you consume when you are trying to lose or maintain weight. You must begin counting your calories and capping them at an amount that will allow your body to lose the weight. The use of a food calorie counter can help you to keep track of what you have consumed throughout the day. Don’t guess as to how many calories are in certain foods. A calorie counter will give you the information you need.

You are also advised to use a diet and exercise journal to make sure that you are keeping track of all of your foods eaten. By taking the time to write down everything you consume along with your exercise, you are better able to see where you are having problems and where you are finding success. You may be surprised at the foods that are adding excessive amounts of calories to your diet. The food calorie counter along with a journal will help you find success.

Write down every food item you have for a week. At the end of each day, look up the calories in each food and total the day’s take. At the end of the week, you can analyze where your problem areas are. You may be surprised, for instance, at how many calories you are drinking every day and choose to replace these liquid calories with food. Or, you may find that on days when you eat a hearty breakfast, you eat less food during the rest of the day. Alternatively, you may find that you eat high calorie lunches because nothing else is available. You can plan to pack and bring low calorie lunches to work or school with you.

Between the food calorie counter and the journal, you should be able to find the weight loss success you have been looking for. As I said earlier, there is no magic cure for weight loss. You will have to watch your calories and limit the amount you are eating.

There are a number of free food calorie counters available online. You can also purchase them for your iPhone or PDA so that you will have them on the go. These tools will make your diet much easier.

1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 cups reduced fat baking mix (like Bisquick)

1 cup skim milk

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 egg

Directions

Combine cranberries with the powdered sugar. Let stand for 5-6 minutes. Combine Bisquick and remaining ingredients. Stir until moistened (will be lumpy). Stir in sugared cranberries. Pour into cooking oil sprayed muffin pans. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5 leaves red fire lettuce – torn into small pieces

1/4 cup hemp hearts

1 chopped avocado

1 chopped tomato

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/4 cup raisins

Juice of half a lemon

5 basil leaves chopped

5 cilantro leaves chopped

1 Tbsp Nutritional yeast

1/4 cup hemp seed oil 1 tsp sea salt

Directions

Mix everything together in a bowl and enjoy.