June 2, 2012

Top 10 tips for good posture

Yes it's another repost from Yahoo. But if you must know, I only repost stuff that I think are useful and/or funny. I, for one have had back problems in the past. So I can definitely relate and agree with the posts below. 


Here's the original link:
http://ph.she.yahoo.com/top-ten-tips-good-posture-110029035.html

  1. Be ergonomically smart: At the workplace, use an ergonomic chair, support your lower back with a small cushion and ensure that your legs reach the floor or the foot rest comfortably. Knees should be at level or slightly higher than the hips, and the elbows must rest on the armrest.
  2. Buy the right kind of sofa: Spend the maximum you can afford on a good sofa set when doing up the house. Buy sofas that support your back instead of the ones people sink into. Also, put a lot of cushions on them, which can be used to get comfortable and support the back.
  3. Sit up. When working at the desk, don’t slouch or curve your back. Sitting up straight is important to keep muscles and ligaments in top form and prevent neck strain.
  4. Stand tall. A good posture while standing is to keep the feet apart at shoulder distance with the body weight resting more on the balls of the feet rather than the heels. Arms should hang by the sides and the knees should not be locked.
  5. Shift it. If you’re standing for long periods of time, shift your body weight from one leg to another or rock to and fro from heels to toes at regular intervals. If possible, use a small stool to rest each foot on the stool for a while and change over.
  6. Look forward. While walking, look straight ahead with the head in a comfortable position, not leaning forward and shoulders upright but not too far back.
  7. Get the right "sleep aids." When it comes to getting a good night’s rest, your mattress and pillow play an important role. Choose a firm but not hard mattress that supports your body but doesn’t sink in. Use a soft or small pillow for neck support. Beware: Using more than one pillow can strain your neck muscles.
  8. Sleep well. A good sleeping posture to adopt is to sleep on the back or on your side. A cushion placed under the knees while sleeping on the back is recommended. If you’re sleeping on one side, place the cushion between your knees so that the knees do not touch. This helps balance the body’s weight, and prevents stress.
  9. Hold it close. While lifting heavy weights, hold it close to the chest. While bending, keep your back straight and bend from the knees, and not from the waist. When carrying a handbag on one shoulder, keep it light and sling it on alternate shoulders to avoid strain on one shoulder
  10. Mind your back. While driving, keep your back firmly on the back-rest of your seat. Also, remember to adjust the seat so that your legs can comfortably reach the pedals. Ensure that the back of the head touches the middle of the headrest.   


April 30, 2012

NBA Playoffs: Day1/2

So the Phoenix Suns have been eliminated from the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive year now. This means I am yet again without a team to root for in the playoffs. The advantages are: 1. no heartbreaks (haha) 2. I can enjoy the playoffs from purely a basketball fan's POV. 

Most of the results have been expected. The ones that were surprising were Boston VS Atlanta & Clippers VS Grizzlies. 

Boston VS Atlanta
Yes I know, it is Atlanta's homecourt, and judging from recent history, they've been known to surprise us all. BUT this is the Celtics! I expected more from them! And the 2 Technicals slapped on Rondo will only serve to make things even worse for them (as of now, it's still unsure whether Rondo will be given a one-game suspension). I suppose Ray Allen sitting out cost them a lot more than I expected. 

Clippers VS Grizzlies
I didn't watch the game. I was just checking the scores from time to time. The game was initially a blowout. With Memphis leading by as much as more than 20 points. So imagine my surprise when I found out that Clippers actually won the game by 1 point! Talk about a comeback! They're calling it possibly the best playoff comeback ever. The Clips made a 28-3 run from the 9:13 mark of the 4th Quarter. With Nick Young nailing 3 treys cutting the Grizzlies' lead to 3 points with just 5 minutes left to play. 

The D-Rose Injury
How unlucky can you get? While the Bulls have managed to win without him in the regular season, this is different. They might win the series, but just how far can they go without Rose. I'm predicting a second-round exit at the most for the Rose-less Bulls.



Predictions
1st Round:
Spurs over Jazz in 5
Clippers over Grizzlies in 6
Lakers over Denver in 5
OKC over Mavs in 6 (sorry achi :P)
Sixers over Bulls in 6
Boston over Hawks in 6
Indiana over Magic in 6
Miami over New York in 5

2nd Round:
West
Spurs VS Clippers (Spurs in 6)
Lakers VS OKC (Lakers in 6)

East
76ers VS Boston (Boston in 6)
Indiana VS Miami (Miami in 5)

Conference Finals
Spurs over LA in 7
Miami over Boston in 5

I therefore conclude or more like predict that the NBA Finals will be between San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. These predictions are all based on the current line-ups of the team. (I'm assuming Ray Allen will suit up for game 2). Should any more injuries surface (hopefully not), depending on how serious the injury is plus depending on who will be injured, some of the predictions might change.

April 25, 2012

9 quick hangover cures that actually work

Not that I'm an alcoholic, but I'm sure this can come in handy. I've been a victim of a hangover a few times and IT IS NO JOKE. I don't know how effective these are though, so perhaps you can try them for yourselves. :D

Source: Yahoo (The link to the original post)

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/photos/9-quick-hangover-cures-that-actually-work-slideshow/curing-hangover-with-orange-juice-eggs-common-eatables-photo-1327896574.html

1. Orange juice is among the commonest of home remedies for hangovers. It performs the function of rehydration with great intensity and the Vitamin C acts as a counter to that nauseating feeling. You can combine this with a few boiled eggs and slightly toasted bread. This might sound strange but the protein from eggs helps the liver to filter the toxins of alcohol faster while toasted slices have a charcoal-like effect, preventing bloating or vomiting caused by alcohol.

2. Your mother might have repeatedly told you about the benefits of ginger tea for relieving nausea, cold and cough. However, what she didn’t tell you was that it is an excellent aid for hangover headaches. It can alleviate that typical head-splitting feeling induced by hangovers apart from helping the stomach digest the alcohol better without suffering cramps.

3. Get hold of any granulated antacid that you can easily consume by just pouring it in a glass. This eases the body ache caused by hangover. Most antacids contain some form of sodium bicarbonate that helps to neutralize the excessive acidity caused by consuming too much alcohol.

4. Vitamin drinks are easily available in most super-marts today. Just ensure that there are always a few bottles in the fridge. Vitamin drinks are loaded with water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B and C that get absorbed and work towards eradicating the hangover. Just ensure that your vitamin drink doesn’t contain too much sugar. If you already know when the next bar binging trip is scheduled, try to take a few over-the-counter multi-vitamins on a daily basis. This will ensure that your body has a better degree of preparedness against the hangover. You can dilute the vitamin drink with some water for better rehydration.

5. Another world-famous hangover cure is a strong cup of coffee. However, not many people realize that you need a cocoa-rich variant of coffee for neutralizing the hangover. Rather than having a huge serving at one go, have many smaller cups of coffee throughout the day. Caffeine raises the blood pressure that helps the body to metabolize the alcohol faster apart from providing some relief from the drowsy feeling and headaches.

6. There are a number of rehydration solutions and powders that are sold at your local chemist. These are excellent rehydration sources, usually prescribed for children who are suffering from an intense case of cellular dehydration due to illnesses. These are packed with a high concentration of electrolytes that instantly replenish the vital minerals that have been wasted due to drinking. Just dilute the solution more and drink it slowly throughout the day.

7. This hangover cure requires the greatest degree of determination. However, exercising here doesn’t refer to hitting the gym hard. Something simple as running on the treadmill combined with a few push-ups can help. The sweating induced by exercising followed by rehydrating yourself with a low-sugar sports drink helps to cure hangovers.

8. Every household is bound to have some sort of over-the-counter analgesic or painkiller. These are excellent for relieving the pain and discomfort induced by a hangover. When back home, just pop an aspirin or Aspirin or Ibuprofen but don’t overdose yourself. It is better to start with just one pill and wait to feel its relieving affects.

9. More than a hangover cure, this is a hangover prevention aid. Here, you need to be a bit quirky and eat a few bananas before you hit the bar. The potassium in the banana and its complex carbohydrates has a rehydrating and coating effect on the intestines respectively, helping you recover faster from the alcohol excess.didn’t tell you was that it is an excellent aid for hangover headaches. It can alleviate that typical head-splitting feeling induced by hangovers apart from helping the stomach digest the alcohol better without suffering cramps.Vitamin drinks are easily available in most super-marts today. Just ensure that there are always a few bottles in the fridge. Vitamin drinks are loaded with water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B and C that get absorbed and work towards eradicating the hangover. Just ensure that your vitamin drink doesn’t contain too much sugar. If you already know when the next bar binging trip is scheduled, try to take a few over-the-counter multi-vitamins on a daily basis. This will ensure that your body has a better degree of preparedness against the hangover. You can dilute the vitamin drink with some water for better rehydration.