A properly fitting bike is important for avoiding cycling-related knee injuries. Photo Credit: Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images	
Riding a bike is a low-impact exercise, but knee pain for cycling enthusiasts is common. The health concern that readers of "Bicycling" most frequently write to the magazine about is knees. This could lead you to think that cycling is bad for your knees, but that's not necessarily true. You just have to have the right equipment and engage in the exercise correctly for cycling to be good for your knees.
The repetitive motion of pedaling your bike without sufficient leg strength can potentially bring on knee pain and injuries. If cycling is the only exercise you get, your leg muscles are probably out of balance, with overdeveloped quadriceps and underdeveloped glutes and hamstrings. This imbalance stresses your knees, so strength training is crucial for keeping your cycling knees pain-free. You'll benefit from working all the muscles in your body, but a full range of leg exercises should be in your repertoire to strengthen the leg muscles that support and stabilize your knees; these include leg curls and deadlifts for your hamstrings, leg extensions and lunges for your quads, hip extensions and squats for your glutes, and calf raises and presses for your calves.
A proper warm-up before any workout is vital, and it's no different for cycling. Even if you consider bike riding a hobby more than a sport or a workout, it's still exercise. Your knees and the rest of your body need to warm up before you start exerting yourself. Many times cycling itself is used for warm-up purposes for other exercise activities, so starting your ride at a slower pace and easing into a higher speed is an ideal way to warm up.
Having a bike that is fitted for your proportions is vital for avoiding knee pain. If the seat is too high or too low, it can affect how much your knee has to bend and extend as you pedal. A seat that is set at optimal height will put your knee just past a 45-degree angle at the top of the stroke, and leave a slight bend in your knee when you're at the bottom of the stroke. Your feet need to be placed properly, too. Pedals that are too close or too far from the bike frame can cause knee pain, so adjust the cleats if necessary. You want to be able to center your feet on the cleats without discomfort, with your toes pointing forward.
Sometimes age-associated wear, weight issues or past injuries will cause knee pain for cyclists no matter what precautions they take. If you have knee pain but love cycling and don't want to substitute another exercise for it, try a different bike. In his book "The Knee Crisis Handbook," published in 2003, Brian Halpern points out that recumbent bikes take the pressure off your knees and other joints by placing your body at a different angle than a traditional bike does. Most gyms have at least one recumbent bike in the cardio center, but you can get a recumbent bike for outdoor riding instead if you prefer fresh air and changing scenery to stationary riding in the gym.
For some, a good massage or trip to a beauty salon is a way of pampering themselves. For me, I love dining at restaurants (simple & affordable to high-end restaurants and hotels at times) or just any fast-food. Of course, it depends on the budget, reason for going out and the people I bring with. I have to admit, there are times I just want to sit down and wait for the food to be serve but that don’t happen at home because I prepare the food for myself. It’s not everyday that I go out to eat. I still enjoy the food I personally prepare at home. Even if I’m alone, I don’t settle to processed and canned foods. And it helps a lot when you know a dish or two.
Being the eldest in the family I learned to cook at an early age and it was an easy task for me. Now at my age, cooking is another hobby and I had tried a lot of dishes guided by different recipes, be it online, from magazines and newspapers to cookbooks.
I am proud to say that I am a good cook and I can even do it perfect on my FIRST attempt. I owe my cooking skills to cookbooks and food magazines I read. Since my teenage years, I started collecting recipes from supermarkets (which are distributed for free) and from many printed materials. I even joined a recipe club and receives regular recipes sent right at my doorstep and even through emails.
For me, you’re a good cook when you know how to invent, reinvent, use available resources and follow recipes. It’s so overwhelming when people recognize the food you prepare, when someone requested you to cook again. I know there are still a lot more to learn and for me I can only do that with the guide of a cookbook. Now, I found a new cookbook to add on my recipe collection. It will make our meals more enjoyable and fun.
Recently, I was invited to celebrate the launched of “MY ELBA KITCHEN” Cookbook, a collection of 60 exciting pasta dishes that’s quick and easy-to-prepare. Delicious, easy pasta dishes from the cookbook was demonstrated by Maxim Cookware’s Chef Endorser Darin Epp.
I was amazed how lasagna turned to a yummy dessert! Looks delicious! Simple and easy to prepare dessert that looks very appetizing with the creative presentation. I can’t wait to do it at home.
ELBA Cookers from Italy has been our partner for many years in preparing delicious food for our family and friends with their elegant and state-of-the-art cooking equipments and home appliances. Now, ELBA shares a new way to make cooking fun and exciting with their collection of easy-to-follow recipes with “MY ELBA KITCHEN."
You don’t need a formal education or become a chef to be able to create such delicious dishes. Your interest and passion will teach you, so start cooking now. With these recipes, food will be the topic in every family meal and gatherings. If you’re a foodie you must learn how to cook and believe me it’s very easy when you are guided. It could be your mom, husband or wife, but mine is an interesting, easy-to-prepare recipes from a cookbook like "My ELBA Kitchen". Available at all leading bookstores nationwide at Php399 only, grab your copies now!
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I really needed to have a quiet day today after my big 2 day workshop but I wanted to hang out with some local sketchers…so after doing yet another Flinders St Station sketch (a version that would fit in a frame) I met up with some dedicated sketchers at St Kilda just opposite Luna Park.
After a lovely slow paced lunch we headed across into Luna Park… I left them around 6pm where they were heading for cake(yes, I missed out on cake!). Thanks for a lovely day – it is always nice to hang out with local sketchers and it was fun to compare Melbourne’s Luna Park with Sydney’s. I think the Melbourne one looks a little angry!