Tag Archives: exercise

Fitness Friday

21 Friday Oct 2016

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Americans, by and large, are by and LARGE. 70% or so are overweight or obese. That’s a problem. And it even extends into the military. Military Times reported yesterday that the number of overweight troops (all branches) is up fourfold from 2001.

Recent military health data shows that about 7.8 percent of the force — or about one in every 13 troops — is clinically overweight, defined by a body mass index greater than 25.

That figure has roughly doubled during the past five years and is up fourfold since 2001, when about 1.6 percent of troops were diagnosed as clinically overweight.

Top Pentagon officials are rewriting the forcewide guidelines for body composition standards and the methods for officially evaluating it. For individual troops, a diagnosis of obesity can stall a career or lead to involuntary separation, making these policies are central to military life.

Some Pentagon officials worry that overweight troops pose a threat to combat readiness because they may not be able to move as quickly in ground combat and if they are wounded, it is more difficult for their buddies to pull them to safety.

In the military some of the overweight, maybe most, are individuals who are muscle-heavy. BMI is a dumb number that does not differentiate between fat and muscle. Still, many soldiers, sailors, and airmen are tubby. Jarheads are safe. The trend is growing like that in the general population.

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Not going to beat the Russians … or the mortality odds. Web Ecoist.

I sat down with a segment of that broader population yesterday afternoon. I was at one of America’s better cigar shops (what’s new?). There, I pounded through my review of The Nine Laws. As I did so I listened to and vaguely participated in three or four conversations.

A crazed Scottish biker raved about drunkenly dodging his armed and angry wife the night before. (Stereotypes exist for a reason, folks…). The rest of the topics concerned personal health. The lack thereof, rather. These men are my friends or at least pleasant acquaintances. They’re middle-aged to older and better off financially and socially than most. They’re also, as a group, a bit on the round side.

Some talked about their recent visits to the doctor. Others were headed to the doctor. One was recently released from the hospital. Blood pressure up. Weight up. Cholesterol up. Medication doses up. Insurance rates up. Etc. Good meals were a frequent side topic. Good Scotch and Bourbon was consumed generously right then and there.

I generally ignored the mildly depressing announcements of ailment and woe.

Then Big Brian walked in. Something was immediately and noticeably different. Big Brian ain’t so big as he used to be. Once somewhere in the 330-350 lb. neighborhood he’s now down to around 270.

His doctor told him to lose weight or die. It scared him into action. And action he took. Drastic action. He adjusted his diet and lifestyle and the pounds began to flee.

He sat down and immediately directed questions at me, the house fitness nut. At 270 he’s ready to start phase two: working out.

This conversation I actively participated in. I recommended one of the best gyms in the Southeast. Work permitting, he’ll sign up next week. I estimate, with steady work, he’ll be down to 220 in 6 months. That’s over 100 pounds dropped in less than a year. That’s amazing.

I say “Big Brian” because that’s his name and because he’s a large man. Probably 6’3″ or 6’4″. He can carry 220 or so in healthy fashion.

Of course, he has choices to make. Given his age, intelligence, and size, he could easily and rapidly convert into a powerlifter or a bodybuilder. It’s possible that in 6 months he might still weigh 270, though of a totally different composition.

I think he’ll opt to go slim and lean. However, it’s nice to have options.

If he can do it, you can do it. The soldiers can do it. 70% of America can too. Become a loser and be a winner.

As for yours truly, I’m doing fine this week. Nothing serious to report. My back has fully recovered from the dead-lifting fiasco last week. I even did a light test set the other day. Things are great, except…

I’m supposed to take a murder of middle school preteen / teen girls to a large amusement park next week. It’s Howl-o-Scream or run Daddy into the ground night or something. I’m sure they’ll have a blast. I ‘d prefer to throw my back again. Prayers, please…

No Pain, No Gain – Chewing The Fat

13 Thursday Oct 2016

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I read this morning that American school children are among the least fit on the planet – ranking 47th out of 50 scored nations. Such was the conclusion of the British Journal of Sports Medicine in a recent study.

The study measured aerobic capacity using a simple 20 meter run test. Children from Tanzania, Iceland and Estonia took the top placements. Mexico was dead last. Our kids weren’t too far from the Mexicans. Britain’s children placed alongside the Canadians in the middle of the pack.

The British Journal has released similar findings for years as have numerous other organizations. This particular study places, as have others, some of the blame on income inequality. Nations with a wider gap between the truly rich and the poor see an increase in childhood (and adult) obesity. Oddly, the obesity is generally concentrated among the poor.

This trend runs counter to the bulk of the 10,000 year history of settled or civilized human history. Usually the poor are rather thin, being unable to afford adequate foodstuff. This was a universal condition until about 100 years ago and still holds for most of the world. The American poor are among the wealthiest and heaviest poor in the world. The indigent in developing nations are rarely overweight.

I think there are three answers to this riddle. The first two have to do with societal evolution, particularly in the first world. One: our modern lives are more sedentary than they used to be. Consumed calories are not burned efficiently. Two: science and capitalism have given us an abundance of easy, fast, relatively cheap, but less-than-healthy quantity of food. Three: our government subsidizes the consumption of the junk food, especially among the poor.

The first factor is something individuals will need to address as time progresses. As the robots take over the workforce people will need to adopt other means of exercise. This may be a golden opportunity for some fun.

The second will likely work itself out. Humanity has never experienced food production and distribution such as we see now. Invariably, quality should overtake quantity as the new systems mature.

The last factor is perhaps the most troubling. Governments supply people with food not out of kindness but, rather, from a desire to control the population. Handouts breed dependency and docile conditioning – and obesity. This has to be part of the grand scheme of the elite.

The problems for Americans have grown considerably over the past 30-40 years. Our children mirror our adults. Today 70% of all Americans are either overweight or obese. This is a hefty and growing problem. The solutions, in and of themselves, are very simple: eat less, move more. The application, bound by conditioning and psychology, are more difficult.

Even if one breaks away from the expectations of sloth and fast food corpulence, one may still have problems. Overzealous attention to fitness can lead to problems. As I noted yesterday, my attention to extreme anaerobic strength has left me nearly crippled today. My daily venture from the bed to the coffee pot took about 20 minutes this morning. I have the sensation that a shovel is lodged in the small of my back.

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Standing, sitting, moving, and resting are painful. Instant relief is afforded only by elevating my knees while lying down and,simultaneously placing my lower back in traction. This is difficult and unsustainable. Fortunately the body and mind become accustomed to pain. And the pain never lasts long. And from it comes new strength.

For now, Advil is a dear friend. I also consider alternative pain relief.

One good thing about an acute injury is that it immediately takes away other, minor pains. I had a strain in my bicep and a catch in my neck. Both were aggravating. Now? Ha! Can’t even notice them. There’s always something to be grateful for.

So it is with our slow, weak, and bloated society. 70% in bad health means that 70% can enjoy marked improvements. I hope they do, I think they can.

Now, where’s my walker?

The Dead Man’s Lift

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

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Ah, deadlift, my old friend.

The good news is I offed those pesky pounds I fretted about last week. Water, I suppose. And they took another one more with them. 174 pounds at 5′ 10″. That equates to a “normal” BMI of 25. That number means little. This one counts for a little more:

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That’s the really good news. Still stumbling into my strength program and recently returned to deadlifting, I pulled 405 this morning. Twice. Two reps. Consecutively. Non-stop.

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I’d like elite. I’ll settle for advanced for now. By the way, 86% of y’all are weak.

Now, the bad news: I also pulled my back, and my legs, and I think I pulled my knees, if that’s possible.

This blog, and all other work, may continue from bed. Horizontal typing. Hmmm.

Stay strong!

Recuperative Exercise: What To Do When When You’re Black And Blue

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

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Nothing. The safe answer is “nothing.”

Yesterday I was at a cross-roads. My gym schedule was disrupted to the point of a reset. I had a choice to make. Was it a legs day, a chest day, arms, or something else? I narrowed it down to legs or back/shoulders. My problem then was that I wasn’t digging any of it. My cardio (dirty boxing and violence) has been going swimmingly. But between that and the lifting of generous quantities of iron, I had kicked my own butt.

So, I skipped the gym entirely, smoked a cigar and went for a walk. Best routine in weeks, that was. I slept better for it.

Lately I’ve been sluggish. I think I’ve even mentioned it here. Weak, irritable and unproductive even beyond my usual laziness. Why?

I spent most of the year getting rid of excess flab – shedding 24 pounds in the process. My intent, once trimmed, was to beef up a little. “Cut” and “bulk” they call it. The bulking is followed as needed by another cutting.

Anyway, I was starting on a half hearted power program. No results yet to speak of. I gained 3 pounds but that could be water or a little fall cushioning (gotta watch that). Where was I…

Yes. A summer I spent cutting and conditioning and suddenly I ramped up the weights, rather carelessly. I’m a small time believer in “no pain, no gain” but I seemed to have reached the point where the pains aren’t so small time. I have a couple of nagging injuries that keep getting aggravated. And it’s aggravating me.

Today I did – or started – what I thought would be a light workout. It was going to be a general upper-body tune up. Three sets of bench-presses and I had a sharp pain. One sharp one in addition to the naggers. For once I actually listened to my body and backed off. Another cigar and another stroll in the woods. I also made use of one of my several compression cast things. It seems to be working.

For the short interim I’m going to monitor the diet, ease off the heavy stuff and recover. Sometimes that’s the best course of action.

And that’s the point of this admittedly rambling post – take it easy:

  • Don’t shift programs until you’re sure you know what you’re doing;
  • Don’t beat yourself into oblivion;
  • When in doubt, take a break;
  • In the scheme of health and weight control, diet is maybe 2% more important than exercise – use that 2% when you need to;
  • Wear an air compression cast thingy in public – the ladies love it..;
  • Eat your greens, get sleep, drink water and just say “no” – all that good stuff;
  • Skip VP debates on TV;
  • Mostly importantly, listen to your body. It will tell you what to do if you listen.

I hope this resonates with at least one of you. I’m always here (physically at least) to help.

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Dr. Perrin says, “Take two breaks, skip the debates, and don’t ever call me again.”

By the way, you can help me too! If you happen to be an extraordinarily attractive woman with stronger hands, questionable morals, and a massage license (or not), I could use your (free) help. The cast thingy needs help… I’d like a free, deep tissue massage…for free… If you fit these exacting requirements and operate anywhere between Columbia, SC and Tampa, FL, please let me know. The world will thank you.

And, thank you, good people, for enduring this one…

Night!

Fitness Update, 9/14/2016

14 Wednesday Sep 2016

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Today I hit my low target weight – 175 lbs. That means I’m 80 pounds lighter than I was eight or nine years ago. I’ve been under 200 for almost four years now straight and uninterrupted. This is the second least I’ve weighed in that time period; two years ago I was about 2 pounds thinner than now.

I got here by cheating a little. My exercising has been a little erratic lately; I suppose it mirrors my mentality. I don’t eat much in the summer anyway and lately I have cut way back to compensate for the sluggish gym routine. To be blunt I feel weak, at least when working out.

This I mentioned is my low target weight. I got here by losing some excess fat. In aeronautical terms I’m at the low-end of my cruising speed range. About 192 is maximum speed and 199 is my “do not exceed” speed. Some of you get that.

Now I intend to embark on a strict power program. I’m still making some calculations. The diet and the motivation are the tricky things. That and not getting hurt (too badly). Today was a wimpy leg day followed by a decent secession in the ring (mostly hand work). Tomorrow I’m going to hit legs again kind of hard.

I may throw out some stats from time to time. Like today’s:

Weight: 175, you got that;

Waist: 32 inches (in the a.m.);

Chest: 40-something;

Biceps: ? but kind of small;

Legs: ?? and weak.

…this is kind of discouraging…

Bench: ? but at least 365 (still got that);

Squats: ???we will find out tomorrow;

Deadlift: weak, weak, weak….

Punching: fastish, still powerful, and rather accurate;

Kicks: needs work but can still hit face level;

Hip-throw/body slam: at last check I could still slam my body weight but I hurt the heck out of my shoulder….

Mile run: I can do it…

**Note: I’m over 40 so I reserve the right to substitute: Hammer Strength bench for flat bench; Hammer Strength deadlift rack for bar, and; leg press for the squat rack. I will do this at will and without further announcement. If you don’t like that, buy some books and then F off.

I hope a few of you find this inspirational. The rest of you may find it mildly entertaining.

Oops. It’s 8:30; old man must go to bed now…

Here’s a picture of some weights:

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Diary of a Wimpy Nation; My Old Man Would Take Exception

21 Sunday Aug 2016

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A friend turned me on to a piece from National Review about the decline of male strength in America. This trend appears tp coincide with the rise of obesity and other negative indicia.

If you’re the average Millennial male, your dad is stronger than you are. In fact, you may not be stronger than the average Millennial female. You’re exactly the kind of person who in generations past had your milk money confiscated every day — who got swirlied in the middle-school bathroom. The very idea of manual labor is alien to you, and even if you were asked to help, say, build a back porch, the task would exhaust you to the point of uselessness. Welcome to the new, post-masculine reality.

Let that sink in. Our young men are no stronger than our women. If you’re a young hipster, pokemon addict, your dad is stronger than you. I’m a proud, jaded Gen-Xer and I kind of know what that’s like. My dad was always stronger than me (until shortly before he died). That however was freak genetics; if I was Batman strong, he was the Incredible Hulk. Hell, his nickname in the gym was “Earthquake”.

The Review is talking about “men” who have become so feminized as to shun all physicality. One thing led to another and I found myself reading a story from the New York Times: 27 Ways to be a Modern Man. It’s actually pretty good until the end.

My thoughts on a few of the wayward of the 27 ways:

13) I don’t listen to Wu-Tang. Then again, musical tastes vary greatly. That may just be personal.

17) Really? A melon baller? I guess this is New York based advice.

20) I had to look up this spoon business. At first I though they were talking about snuff. They were not.

23) I don’t know who Michael Mann is and I’m not checking.

25) This is a dead giveaway the author is a liberal sissy. A gun does not make a man but, like any tool, a man may find uses for one. This is also a odds with number 16.

26) Men may cry but they don’t do it often. I last cried when my daughter was born.

All  cry and no gun? These are modern “men” they’re describing. Probably obese and weak as any woman. I suspect the women are weaker too and they are definitely getting bigger. Grab any farm wife from 1880s Kansas and I bet she could beat up half the recruits at Paris Island today.

I could give advice like:

Get a gun or at least learn how one works;

Wear a belt and closed toe shoes;

Hit the gym, toughen up and lose some fat;

Carry a pocketknife;

Carry a handkerchief too;

Limit the video games;

Buy my books;

Smoke a cigar;

Offend an SJW intentionally and never apologize;

Read a book;

etc. – a 1000 etcs.

But, advice is a dangerous gift to give. Wait, I did just throw some out. Live dangerous, be a man.

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All this got me thinking about the old man. At one time he held all the Georgia masters powerlifting records. I tried to find them but could not (easily). I’ll just estimate from memory: Bench – 455 lbs; Squat – 635; Deadlift – 585. These were “equipped” and from a 300-pounder. Still he was about 55 when he set them. Usually lifted wearing a “When it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight” USMC t-shirt. He was smart too.

It’s not all brawn. A man should use his brain muscles too. I’ll leave you with that.

Get In The Zone: Peak Power

12 Friday Aug 2016

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Here follows a rare, non-cigar, product review and recommendation.

The other day I told you about Peak Performance and Lean Green protein. Lean Green is a meal supplement and something one takes after a hard workout to burn fat and build muscle. Today I tried another great Peak product: Zone 20.

Zone is a pre-workout energy booster. Think of it as several cups of coffee and some vitamins with the taste of Tang. Something like that. It helps you retain water, stay focused and stay energized during your gym session. Lord knows I needed it today.

I workout best in the morning. I workout best when I’m consistent, rested and full of life. One thing led to another this week and today, in the afternoon, I found myself dragging into the gym with all the pep and determination of a salted slug. I mixed up some Zone 20 and went to work. It was amazing.

When I say I was beat, I really mean wore out – like a Clinton lie wore out. The Zone gave me just enough power to get through the day’s lifting and stretching without a crash. Under normal circumstances I’m sure I would have hit 120% efficiency. This stuff is incredible.

I’ve used similar drink mixes before. Most work but many leave me with the jitters. One causes me to break out in a full-body hive. All the gym-bunnies just loooove that… Another works great (really great) but leaves my heart racing for the next 18 hours. That’s a little too much power.

Zone 20 is the happy balance. It provides the zip with none of the aggravating and maybe life-threatening side effects. If you’re wore out and need a pick-me-up, or if you’re looking to take your next workout to a new level, try some 20.

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Zone 20 Orange.

To order your Lean Green or Zone 20, please contact Peak through their website. I am a friend of the company but NOT a paid spokesman (though I’m sure Craig will probably want to give me more free samples now….).

Something like Zone could help make the difference between this pathetic blob:

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and this deadly machine:

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*All photos herein property of Perrin Lovett. The ad above this line is endorsed by Mr. Lovett, any below are not (especially if they are hack political ads).

Peak Performance, a Fitness Field Trip

09 Tuesday Aug 2016

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Yesterday morning I had the privilege of visiting the headquarters of Peak Performance Fitness International. There and online, under the tutelage of my friend Craig Bryan, ordinary people becomes athletes and athletes become superstars.

The process starts with clients receiving an assessment of their overall health and physical state. With a clear picture of where they are at present, they forge individual plans for transformative fitness. These plans vary depending on individual goals. Those goals will invariably include both cardio-vascular work and anaerobic exercises (weight training). Peak places a special emphasis on stretching in order to achieve optimal results.

Diet plays just as large a role, if not larger, in personal fitness than physical exercise. Thus, Peak assists clients with tailored meal planning to ensure proper weight loss or gain as dictated by the clients’ goals.

Peak specializes in athletic performance. “Here at Peak Performance WE BUILD ATHLETES by building functional strength which translates to better performance on the playing field making the athlete GAME READY. Providing sports specific training, speed, mobility and agility training, core and rotational strength, proper lifting techniques and progressions, injury prevention and quicker recovery as well as pre and post rehab strengthening.” That means they help the athlete perform better, regardless of the game.

It’s an impressive system and a bit more comprehensive than what most might associate with getting in shape.

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Heavy things.

The gym itself is smaller than most. Then again, most fitness clubs are designed for use by dozens or hundreds of people at any given time. Peak’s emphasis is on individuals. Smaller is better in this sense. They have everything one needs without clutter, all of it state-of-the-art. It’s like a cross between an iron gym and a sports medicine clinic.

Of course, this being the 21st century, one need not actually visit the location for benefits. Craig offers on-line training and consulting. I hear he works with people as far away as Australia.

Craig has also blended his own line of meal supplements under the Performance Zone brand. These are available for purchase by telephone and will be offered online (the website is brand new with an operational store “coming soon”).

I tried a Lean Green protein shake for lunch and was impressed. It packs 42 grams of protein with only 200 calories and a low carbohydrate count (low sugar). It easily mixed up in water without a blender and, as promised, it did taste great. I would describe the taste as vanilla spiked with broccoli – tasty and healthy together. It was filling and provided a good deal of energy for several hours.

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As seen with my bag gloves so you know I’m serious. Lean Green, so mean, it’s keen; not obscene but good for the spleen.. I may have found a product to endorse.

 

My visit for part tour, part friendly get-together, and part idea swap. I love to hear and see what other people are up to, to see friends excel. Craig’s been doing this a long time. In his office, there’s a picture of him and Arnold Schwarzenegger, circa the Pumping Iron days. Still, he’s finding new ways to bring fitness to the digital age, faster, better, with more efficiency and accuracy than ever.

Idea trading is more than just shooting the breeze, although that can be fun in its own right. Cross-business exploration provides inspiration on all levels. One can always learn something new and apply it to one’s life – even if the observed subject is outside one’s core field. The there’s the rubbing-off aspect; I left Peak wanting to play football.

 

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*The ads above this line are endorsed by Perrin Lovett; those below are not.

Invasion of the Super-Bugs

11 Monday Jul 2016

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As from the beginning of a horror/zombie movie, scientists have positively identified a strain of E Coli bacteria which is resistant to the “last line of defense” antibiotics. Please read: A ‘slow catastrophe’ unfolds as the golden age of antibiotics comes to an end, Melissa Healy, LA Times, Science, July 11, 2016.

Ms. Healy and the LA Times did a wonderful job with this story. The Times science section impresses at times (get it….).

The devious little bacterium seems to have developed a new gene, “mcr-1”, which makes it resistant to colistin. Colistin is the “last line” drug given when other antibiotics are not effective. Now, for this particular bug, even that doesn’t work. It seems that the infection at issue in the case study was beaten off with a combination of other treatments. However, doctors and researchers are not overly optimistic about what this portends for the future of medicine. Some are downright pessimistic.

“It’s a slow catastrophe,” said Army Col. Emil Lesho, director of the Defense Department’s Multidrug-resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network.

The problem goes beyond treating infections. As bacterial resistance grows, Lesho said, “we’re all at risk of losing our access” to medical miracles we’ve come to take for granted: elective surgeries, joint replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapies. These treatments give bacteria an opportunity to hitch a ride on a catheter or an unwashed hand and invade an already vulnerable patient.

…

“It’s not apocalyptic until it is,” said Peter Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and former associate commissioner of the FDA. “Shame on us if we wait till bodies are in the street.”

Whoa, apocalyptic? Bodies in the street! This story made me think of several things:

First, we’ve been being warned for years now, by experts, about our overuse of antibiotics. Drugs given to patients who don’t need them. Drugs given to our cows, hogs, and chickens. And, so on. Maybe it’s not to late to heed the warnings. I haven’t had an antibiotic since I can’t remember when. Since I lost the weight and started working out, I don’t find myself seeing the doctor much at all.

Second, medical science has a history of outmaneuvering the bugs. The Times story included this chart:

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This isn’t the first time there’s been a gap between drugs. They’ll make a new one.

Third, the Times notes the high FDA regulatory costs of developing these new drugs. The drug companies prefer to concentrate on fields where the patient uses the medication for a lifetime. The return on the R&D (and regulatory compliance) isn’t worth the return for antibiotics. Another case of government getting in the way and potentially getting people killed. The author suggests the government might find some incentives (our taxes) to ease the process. Rather than more corporate welfare, I say get the state out-of-the-way. If the FDA had been around in 1928, we might still be waiting on basic penicillin.

Fourth thought – the government which makes it cost prohibitive to develop new miracle drugs is the very same government which is madly trying to bring as many “refugees”and other non-Westerners as possible into the country. Many of these folks, regardless of their intentions, carry diseases we haven’t had here in years. If they’re not going to curb the flow, maybe they could at the very least implement some better medical screenings.

Fifthly and finally, there is something you can do right now to circumvent the government, the scientists, and the culture. Get in shape. A healthy body does an unbelievably good job fighting off disease. Since I went “health nut” – and, yes, cigars are a component – I haven’t been sick once. It’s simple – drink water, sleep, exercise, and don’t eat as much and not as much junk. You can survive the apocalypse.

Odd little critters. BBC.

I’m not worried about these developments.We’re human beings. We can beat the bugs. We might even beat the government.

The Easiest Batman Workout

07 Thursday Apr 2016

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The internet has been abuzz lately with Ben Affleck’s transformation into the Dark Knight. There was similar commotion over Christian Bale, with various health sites promoting “Batman” weight training and diets. Most of these were pretty good if a little rigorous. I have discovered a very simple way to train like the Caped Crusader – just by hanging out – literally.

Remember the scene when Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne (1989) was hanging upside down in his bedroom?

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Like this. Warner Bros.

I suppose they may have added the scene for realism; bats hang and sleep inverted after all. It’s also no stretch to think Batman would do this as part of his training regimen. It’s part of mine, generally one of the final parts.

Keaton was on a frame which requires effort to climb on and lock in before suspending the body upside down. There is a much easier device that does the same thing: the inversion table.

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One just lies back on it, secures the ankle restraint, and a motor rotates the table over 180 degrees. All you do is hang there and maybe do a little stretching. Why would Batman or anyone else bother? Here’s why:

Joint relief. The Earth is a big thing, a hefty Six Septillion kg. After years of walking around with all that mass exerting gravity on the body everyone develops some kind of joint compression and related pain – back, knees, etc. Inverting instantly reverses gravity. This allows the joints to open up. That takes pressure off the nerves which cause pain.

Muscle problems. Inverting stretches out tired and tense muscles, tendons and ligaments. This promotes healing and alleviates some pain and tension.

Circulatory system. Gravity causes blood to pool in the feet and legs. That causes problems – bad veins, swelling, etc. Inverting reverses that too. Blood rushes to the head and upper body. A frequent first time complaint is about the head rush. One quickly gets used to it or, if not, one can get most benefits by just breaking parallel with going completely upside down.

Sinus relief. All that blood in the head increases pressure on the sinuses. Temporarily this may make nose breathing more difficult. However, as soon as the body is righted again all the overpressure rushes out. With it also often goes existing pressure in the sinuses. All of a sudden the nose opens up and breathing is easier than ever.

All of these listed benefits cause more benefits: more energy, faster recovery, increased immune function, better digestive health, lower blood pressure, on and on. Super benefits for any superhero. Try it as soon as you can.