Everyone agrees that participation in some form of sports activity is highly desirable for all highschoolers. The benefits are many, including improved physical fitness, self-esteem and grades. The teen will also learn how to work as a member of a team.

Rowing, or crew as it is known in the US, is a great sport for teenagers. This is an engaging sport which provides the challenge and reward of learning a new activity. There are many rowing clubs throughout the US that offer junior programs for highschoolers. Typically a novice would join a rowing program in either the freshman, sophomore or junior years. The programs run through the fall, winter and spring semesters and many also have introductory clinics during the summer.

Novice rowers learn the basics of rowing, about the different types of boats and equipment, stroke technique, the handling and rigging of boats. Rowing is all about teamwork and a novice rower learns that crew members need to work together to balance the shell and perform the stroke in a coordinated fashion.

In the US, highschool clubs usually start a novice in sweep boat rowing where each rower has one oar held by both hands. The oar extends either to the starboard side or the port side of the boat. Sweep boats have two, four or eight seats, and all eights have a coxswain. Sweep boats have a rudder for steering. Novice rowers normally learn in a coxed eight.

In sculling each rower has two oars, one in each hand. Most sculls have no rudder and are steered by means of oar movements.

Sprint races are over 2000 meters. Once the basics are mastered the rower will take part in regattas that have races in different sweep boat and sculling categories for men and women.

Rowing is a total body workout that involves all of the body’s major muscle groups. To the casual spectator rowing looks only like an upper body sport. However, although upper body strength is important, most of the power of the rowing stroke comes from the legs. It is a great aerobic workout and has the benefit of being a low-impact sport. As a competitive sport, rowing demands endurance, strength, balance, team work and mental discipline.

The coxswain is also a vital member of the crew. A coxswain has a number of responsibilities including the steering the boat, leading the crew through training drills, making tactical decisions during a race, and motivating and directing the crew.

In summary, rowing is an excellent sport for highschoolers and can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

If you are looking for a quick diet for weight loss, you may not have to look as far as you think. Believe it or not, quick weight loss diet plans are not difficult to find and use. Its just a matter of knowing where to find one that will work for you.

The first thing to think about when you are looking for a quick diet for weight loss is what your weaknesses are. Many of us have weaknesses for certain foods, drinks or just dont want to exercise. Heres how to get around some of those weaknesses.

Plan To Still Eat Some Of Your Favorite Things

You can still be quite successful on a quick weight loss diet by eating some of the foods you love. In fact we would think it is quite obvious that you will have a high failure rate if you attempted to avoid all of your favorites. The idea here is to moderate your portion size and frequency of the foods you are eating to satisfy the requirements of the diet you choose. This is even easier to accomplish if you are disciplined enough to eat when you aren’t really hungry and allow the smaller portions to satisfy you.

This can be done by eating what we call filler food about 5-10 minutes before eating one of your favorite foods. Of course this should be something like an apple or raw vegetables that will fill your stomach up somewhat making it easier to stay on track.

Drink After Your Meal

This tip may sound counter-intuitive but we want you to start drinking beverages AFTER you have finished eating your food rather then during the meal. This is because drinking during a meal makes the enzymes that your body creates while eating to break the food down a lot less effective. This would be at cross purposes to your dieting plan which is why we suggest you wait and drink afterwards.

The simple gesture of adding these tips to any diet plan should make it more manageable and therefore effective. Of course this means you will get the results you want that much quicker.

This article has discusses some simple tips to accentuate a diet plan. In addition to any changes you make regarding exercise and nutrition be sure to start some kind of detoxification program at the same time. It makes no sense to work against your quick diet for weight loss plans by not getting the needed exercise, nutrition and detoxification.

Diets for diebetics – read this to learn more

Are diabetics supposed to stick to diets different to other people?

Not really. Yes, they may face challenges due to their bodies’ lack of ability to produce insulin, but it is possible to eat a normal, balanced diet – one that controls blood sugar levels, which reduces the need for top-up insulin.

The problem is that diabetics are bombarded with -diabetes safe foods’ which are mostly packed with unhealthy sweeteners, artificial flavours and pure junk.

How should diabetics go about planning their diet then?

Short answer: The same rules really apply to diabetics and non diabetics alike: Start with low GI foods, make sure your meals contain plenty essential proteins; add food with a high biological value (containing all essential amino acids), complex carbs and plenty of fresh vegetables

The aim is reducing the body’s need for insulin, through eating less food containing refined carbohydrates and sugars. No-one needs these sugars, whether you suffer from diabetes or not. It is not a food and has NO nutritional value, it contains empty, unnecessary calories – we can obtain more than enough energy from foods not laden with sugars

What do others say?

I recently read an interesting article published in a South African medical journal by Prof Pankaj Joshi, director of Diabetes Care Centre in Pretoria, South Africa. The medical profession, according to Prof Joshi, is guilty of conveying mixed messages relating to losing weight and healthy living. One example he mentions is that unhealthy lunches are frequently served at world-wide diabetes seminars.

I quote: -If medical professionals and health workers are not committed to the ideas that they propagate to patients, and if our hearts are not in it, then it is obvious that we will fail dismally in helping our patients.-

Some people in the medical profession are simply bad role models. And the problem doesn’t stop there – wider failings in the profession’s fight against diabetes are evident. Doctors should seek to switch their approach to focus on holistic diabetes management and improve efficiency of their preventative and therapeutic techniques.

A new sense of purpose is required: Diabetes is in part a genetically-transmitted metabolic condition, without a cure other than lifestyle modification – and sticking to a healthy eating plan is an important part of it.

Do you want to learn more about how the Metabolic Balance method can help diabetics? Or are you non-diabetic, looking for healthy eating and weight loss advice for you and your family? Check out our diets for teenagers and learn why you must avoid diet meal delivery schemes.

Now that the new year is upon you and you’re making your resolutions, why not include a fitness plan to get your body in shape and stay with it. If you want to create lasting changes, there are three things you can do to make your resolutions work all year long: Adjust your attitude, change your lifestyle and come up with a plan to succeed.

Here are some quick tips on how to make mini-New Year’s resolutions that will keep you committed to regular exercise from sheknows.com:

1) Make time for you

The problem: Taking care of yourself on a daily basis – if you don’t already use a fitness routine – can be challenging. From daycare to meetings or just catching up with friends, it can often seem like you don’t really fit into the routine of your day.

The solution: Start making yourself the priority. Let family around you know that you’re hoping to make a big fitness change in your life and ask them for their support. See if your friends can help you with a few daily tasks or even work out with you. Get your husband to wash the dishes so you can go to the gym or outside for a walk. By sticking to your I need me time plan, you’ll be more likely to keep an exercise schedule.

Work out on your lunch break

2) Write it down

The problem: You want to lose weight and tone your muscles, but haven’t set any concrete goals and you’re not sure how to go about achieving your fitness goals.

The solution: Recent studies prove people who write things down – from what they eat to how they feel before, during and after exercise – are more likely to stick to a new healthy living plan. So, before you start any routine, go to your local bookstore and buy a journal to track your fitness goals (or keep one online). Include inspirational quotes in your health journal to inspire you to work out whenever you feel like taking a day off (or feel too lazy to get off the couch). Doing this will assist you in feeling more organized and in control of your fitness goals.

3: Set realistic health goals

The problem: Your fitness goals are too flimsy and could set you up for failure. For example, it’s January and you want to run a half-marathon by March or you’re hoping to lose 10 pounds in a month.

The solution: speak with your physician before starting any fitness regimen to help you set realistic fitness goals. Make an appointment with a qualified fitness trainer who can help you in breaking your larger New Year’s resolutions into smaller more achievable fitness goals and tasks. This will keep you determined and increase your odds of success. A medical or health professional can also help you plan for and overcome the inevitable hurdles that may slow down your fitness schedule; for example, illness, injury, or family and work obligations.

When you live in such a beautiful state, it would be a shame is you didn’t take advantage of its natural surroundings. Whether it’s snowboarding, golf, hiking, or using your fly fishing rods to catch some amazing fish, this is the place to be if you like to be outside. If you do not mind putting on a little extra sunscreen and investing in some polarized sunglasses, then this is the place to be during whatever season because there is always something wonderful to do outdoors. If you are into extreme winter or water sports, Colorado’s great lakes and its famous Rockies will keep you entertained for a lifetime. There are so many top notch ski resorts here and so many lakes to camp at that you won’t run out until you’re too old to put on your skis.

If you are thinking about moving from wherever you hail from, Colorado is a great place to settle down and start a family. There’s really no place like it since you can enjoy some great snowboarding one day and golf the next, sometimes you can do it all in one day. On top of all this, Colorado has some of the best biking trails and fly fishing rivers out there. All you need is a fishing license that costs around thirty dollars, some fly tying kits and an adventurous heart to get out there and have the time of your life. There is a difference between simply living somewhere and tolerating it and actually loving the land beneath you.

The only downside about Colorado is that the weather changes so quickly that you might not be able to adapt to it. It might be 79 degrees one day and 39 the next. It doesn’t matter if it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter. The weather will try to trick you any day of the week. So check the weather application on your phone before going to work every morning because you might be in for a rude awakening once you open your door.

If you already live here in beautiful Colorado, then you know what it has to offer. Chances are you have already found your adventure here and to those who are trying to make a decision, this is the place to be. Whether you are using your fly fishing reels or your newly waxed snowboard, outdoor happiness awaits anyone who moves here.