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How To Train A Lagging Chest! – Revolutionary Program Design

June 17, 2020 by

Chest training is a big issue. Between rounded backs, low testosterone, and overall poor posture, many guys have limited results when it comes to their chest. The problem is that their options are limited. There is no way to effectively train your chest without a set of dumbbells and some resistance bands. That’s where the Absolut Chest Training Program comes in. This program is based on a revolutionary approach to chest training, and will target your lagging, underdeveloped pectorals with a comprehensive program that uses the best exercises and the most effective techniques to develop a strong chest.

When you’re trying to get a bigger chest and you want to begin training for it, it can be extremely frustrating. You want to get a good foundation in the chest, but it seems like you have to learn a whole new body part. The following article will show you how to train your chest from the beginning to the end. This article is based on research and personal experience.

word-image-9961 Most modern bodybuilders have sagging breasts. Her shoulders and triceps are absolutely huge, but her chest generally lags behind the rest of her upper body. If your chest is lagging behind the rest of your upper body, it means your current workout routine isn’t working and you need to change something. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll teach you the top 5 training strategies for taking care of a sagging chest. The best strategies for chest training include using a proper mechanical stance with the chest up for all chest exercises, proper sequencing of exercises, and using proper high-intensity training methods, such as. B. Drop sets and Iso plugs. Here’s a summary of the rest of this article: Overview of Article

  • Strategy # 1: Mechanical training position
  • Strategy #2: It gets really weird with this thing.
  • Strategy #3: Practice sequences
  • Strategy #4: Frequency of training
  • Strategy #5: High intensity training techniques

After reading this article, you will have all the knowledge you need to clean your sagging breasts. Message: If you have trouble reading the workout programs in this article, check out this workout reading guide. Let’s get to work… Strategy #1: Mechanical training position word-image-9962 The most important factor in building a huge chest is the use of proper mechanical exercise positioning. I learned this term from bodybuilding coach Dante Trudel. In any chest exercise, the sternum should come up and protrude and the shoulder blades should go back and down. This ensures maximum chest extension throughout the range of motion of each chest exercise. Here, IFBB professional Stan Efferding shows you the correct mechanical chest position during the 30 degree incline bench press. Look at this: Stan lifts the sternum as high as possible and pulls the shoulder blades back and down with each repetition. This creates a strong stretch in the chest throughout the range of motion and maximizes tension on the muscle fibers in the chest. Stan also maintains this mechanical position in the upper bench press position. That’s what you need! Once you bring your shoulders forward during a chest exercise, you lose the tension in your chest and transfer it to your shoulders and triceps. Some bodybuilders, like. B. Ronnie Coleman, only do the bottom two-thirds of their chest exercises because this is where the most breast growth occurs. Just look at Ronnie Coleman pressing 500 pounds: Ronnie pretty much ignores the top half of the bench press! Why is Ronnie doing this? The reason is simple: a mechanical exercise position! Ronnie knows that the chest develops best in a stretched position with a deep load and a high chest, so he focuses exclusively on this part of the bench press. Ronnie Coleman had the second largest chest in the history of bodybuilding (just behind Arnold Schwarzenegger), and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. In reality, you can modify any chest exercise to make it more effective by pushing your sternum up and your shoulder blades down and back. If you learn to maintain this position while performing compound and isolated chest exercises, you will get better breast development. Strategy 2: It’s getting really scary with this! word-image-9963 The most important factor in caring for a stunted body part is to use the right exercises for your body. If you don’t feel your breasts working when you do basic exercises, it doesn’t matter what volume, frequency or intensity you use: Her boobs will never grow! What’s the solution? As Dante Trudel says, the decision to be with this one is very strange. This means changing the old exercises and using new ones where you can actually create tension in your chest. One of the most overrated chest exercises in the world is the bench press. Bench pressing was great for Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it doesn’t do much for most people. Additionally, the flat bench causes more upper body injuries than all other exercises combined. Don’t get me wrong: the flat bench is a great exercise! But if you are trying to firm up sagging breasts, there are better options. Legendary bodybuilder Dorian Yates was a big fan of the bench press and the incline. Throughout his career he has used both with great success. Dorian rightly points out that the variations in incline and decline train the chest more, while putting less strain on the tendons of the pectoral muscles and causing far less injury. Flat, incline and decline dumbbell presses are also a much better choice than the flat bench press. They offer the chest muscles a greater range of motion and involve more motor units and muscle fibers in the chest muscles than dumbbell exercises. However, training the pectoral muscles is not limited to using the same incline / 30 degree drop every time. In fact, the chest can contract at any angle, whether downhill or steeply uphill. If you never experiment with dumbbell parallel squats, 15-degree dumbbell presses, 60-degree dumbbell presses, etc., you’re leaving a TON of chest growth on the table. Here, IFBB pro Ben Pakulski talks about the concept: Ben rightly points out that the chest can contract at different angles. If your breasts aren’t growing, you MUST start experimenting with these different angles to work the dormant muscle fibers in your chest. One of the most popular chest exercises is the dumbbell swing. With this exercise you get a big chest stretch in the low position of the movement. It is also one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s favorite chest exercises. Unfortunately, many people get poor results from this exercise. The low position can put a lot of pressure on the shoulders and chest tendons, while the high position puts little pressure on the chest muscles. A much better option for most bodybuilders is the chain fly, made popular by bodybuilding coach Josh Bryant. Here is an excellent video demonstration: This is a perfect example of how to get really crazy with it! The chains make the exercise easier in the low position where you are weaker and harder in the high position where you are stronger. In other words: The gears are ridiculously heavy at every point in the range of motion! The chains also make the exercise much safer. You can stretch your pecs considerably without worrying about overloading your shoulders or chest tendons in the down position. I think you’ll be shocked how hard your chest works when you first try this exercise. Strategy #3: Exercise Sequences word-image-9964 Let’s say you’re doing everything right in terms of exercises, but your breasts still aren’t growing. They use a correct mechanical posture, with the sternum high and the shoulder blades lowered and pulled back, to obtain maximum chest extension during each exercise. They are also very enthusiastic and use a wide range of chest angles/exercises where you can really feel your chest working. What are you doing now? The next step is to make sure you have the right sequence of exercises for your chest. This is something John Meadows has perfected in his mountain dog training program. John divides his chest training into 4 different phases to encourage as much chest growth as possible while avoiding injury:

  • Phase 1: Pre-pump/activation phase
  • Phase 2: Explosion phase
  • Phase Three: Supramaximal pump phase
  • Phase Four: Stretch phase

John starts his chest workout with a routine where he can really feel his chest working. John has a lot of fun doing dumbbell and hammer presses at different angles in sets of 8-12 reps. This first stage aims to establish a good connection between the mind and the pectoral muscles and drives the blood to the working muscle. The second phase is called the explosion phase. This is where you do heavier sets of 5-8 reps on a meat and potatoes chest exercise, such as. B. the 30 degree barbell. Through trial and error, John has found that doing the dumbbell exercises second in his program, after warming up and preparing for the first exercise, gives the best results. After the explosive phase, John goes straight into the supramaximal pump phase. John’s goal is to take and perform the exercises and pump up his chest as much as possible. John likes to perform high intensity bodybuilding techniques such as drop sets, partial reps or iso holds in the last work set. That’s when you get really mad and put your foot down. Finally, John finishes his chest muscle workout with an exercise that effectively stretches the muscle. Exercises such as cable swings, push-ups with extension, chest presses and dumbbell presses with the hand in the extension position are all acceptable. Performing a stretching exercise at the end of your workout, after your muscles are already perfused, is a great strategy to further stimulate growth. There are many ways to do chest exercises, but John’s system is one of the best. It’s definitely worth a try if you struggle to feel your chest during large compound exercises like the barbell squat. Strategy #4: Frequency of training word-image-9965 We looked at the main strategies for chest training, such as. B. The correct mechanical position for chest exercises, the odd selection of exercises and the sequence of exercises for maximum growth. If you are doing all this but your breasts are still not growing, you can try advanced breast shaping strategies. One of the best strategies for getting a lagging body part back on track is to increase the frequency of your workouts. Most advanced bodybuilders train each body part once a week in a typical bodybuilding pen pattern. For example: Typical bodybuilding splits

  • Monday: Chest
  • Tuesday: Biceps
  • Wednesday: Feet
  • Thursday: On the website
  • Friday: Shoulders / Triceps
  • Saturday: Back
  • Sunday: On the website

There is nothing wrong with such a low frequency training split. Most professional bodybuilders use something similar. However, if you have a body part that is overdue, working out once a week may not be the best solution. Let’s look at a few different ways to increase your training frequency. One of the easiest strategies is to add an extra chest workout to one of your other training days. For example: Chest workout with delayed split

  • Monday: Chest
  • Tuesday: Biceps
  • Wednesday: Feet
  • Thursday: On the website
  • Friday: Shoulders / Triceps (extra chest)
  • Saturday: Back
  • Sunday: On the website

Add an extra shoulder and tricep workout to your day with this split. It can be as simple as adding one or two exercises at the end of the workout for a relatively higher number of reps. Even if you use light weights, that extra day of exercise can be very beneficial in rebuilding sagging breasts. John Meadows often uses a similar strategy to lift a sagging chest. For example: John Meadows Split Chest Workout

  • Monday: Feet
  • Tuesday: Chest / Shoulders
  • Wednesday: On the website
  • Thursday: Back
  • Friday: Breastfeeding day
  • Saturday: Weapons
  • Sunday: On the website

If you train with John and your chest lags, he may ask you to do an extra chest workout at the end of the week. This pumping workout consists of exercises that are easy on the joints and performed with lots of repetitions. Barbell, dumbbell and rope exercises are suitable for this workout. Heavy barbell exercises like the bench press – no! If you want to get rid of the weight distribution and train each body part more than once a week, there are several ways to do it. Dorian Yates used a non-traditional training regime where he trained each muscle group once every 6 days. Look at this: Dorian Yates Formation Splitting

  • Day 1: Chest / Biceps
  • Day 2: Feet
  • Day 3: On the website
  • Day 4: Shoulders / Triceps
  • Day 5: Back / rear deltoids
  • Day Six: On the website
  • Day 7: Say it again.

Dorian opted for a traditional bodybuilder split, combining several training days and scrapping one of the extra rest days. The result is a training split where you can train each muscle group once every 6 days, while using a wide range of exercises for each muscle group. Training with Dorian is like the best of both worlds! If your chest (or any other body part) is lagging, this can be a great split workout to get it back up to speed. Another good format of high frequency training is the 4 day format for press/pull/legs. This is a bit of an odd distribution, but it allows you to train each muscle group about once every 5 days. For example: Four day split: bench press / deadlift / legs

  • Monday: Chest / Shoulders / Triceps
  • Wednesday: Feet
  • Friday: Back / Biceps
  • Saturday: Chest / Shoulders / Triceps

With this split, just alternate push, pull and leg exercises. All the muscle groups you trained on Monday will be trained again on Saturday. This split is ideal for bodybuilders because it allows you to train the stunted muscle groups every 5 days. It’s also easy to do an extra workout that day for the weak body. Another good high frequency split to try is Poliquin’s 5 day split. For example: Polyquina Five-day split

  • Day 1: Arms / Shoulders
  • Day 2: Feet
  • Day 3: On the website
  • Day 4: Chest / Back
  • Day 5: On the website
  • Day Six: Say it again.

With this approach, you train each muscle group once every 5 days. With this split, you can also use antagonistic muscle groups, such as. B. Chest and back, train together. It was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s favorite strategy, and he seemed to know a thing or two about building large breasts. Arnold performed antagonistic supersets with exercises such as bench press and pull-ups or dumbbell swings and cable pull-ups. In summary, there are a number of different high frequency workouts you can use to firm up your sagging breasts. You can add additional chest muscle exercises at the end of the week, or use an entirely new split to train each body part more than once a week. These high-frequency splits are not mandatory, but can be very effective in getting stuck body parts, such as…… breasts, in order. Strategy #5: High-intensity training techniques word-image-9966 If you are doing everything right, but your breasts are still not growing, the traditional 3 sets of 10 exercises will not be enough. You should train until you fail and continue with different high intensity training methods. What these high-intensity training methods have in common is that they make the chest work harder by extending the tension time in the set after the muscle has succumbed. Here are some of the most effective high-intensity workouts for firming sagging breasts:

  • Advance
  • After the exhaust.
  • Forced rehearsals
  • Rest stop
  • Extreme Stretch

If these intense workout methods don’t make your breasts grow, then nothing will! Let’s take a closer look at them. High intensity technique #1: Prior signature procedure The pre-exhaustion method is a high-intensity training method where you perform an isolation exercise immediately followed by a compound exercise. Isolation exercises isolate the target muscle, while compound exercises overload the muscle with more weight, causing the target muscle to work the hardest and fail first. Here’s a brutal pre-stretch triset that John Meadows had performed by IFBB pro Ken Jackson at the end of his chest workout. Look at this: Here is the exact protocol for this tri-set if you don’t want to watch the whole video:

  • A1 : Pectoral extension machine, 1 x 10-15, 1/0/1/0, without rest
  • A2: cable pulley / chest press**, 1 x 10-15, 1/0/1/0, no rest
  • A3 : Incline weight machine Hammer with bands, 1 x 10-15, 1/0/1/0, rest as needed

**Execute as a hybrid between the cable swing and cable chest press. Talk about a cheeky triset! Ken does an isolation exercise until he fails with a few more forced reps, then goes right on to two compound chest exercises. This is a great way to make sure you are using your pecs during full body exercises. High intensity technique #2: Post sign method The post-processing method is in many ways the opposite of the pre-processing method. In this method, you perform a compound exercise after the exercise, which is immediately followed by an isolation exercise for the targeted muscle group. Studies show that the post-workout method is actually better for building muscle mass than the pre-workout method. It’s so powerful! Here’s an example of a post-workout chest workout you can try. Look at this:

  • A1 : Bench press at a 30-degree angle, 4 x 6-8, 3/0/X/0, 180 seconds rest.
  • B1 : Power Press with flat hammer, 3 x 10-12, 2/0/X/0, 10 seconds rest
  • B2: crossover with cable (high pulley), 3 x 12-15, 2/0/X/1, 120 seconds rest

The post-exercise method is used for the last 2 years of this routine. You do a power press superset with a flat hammer and a cable crossover with a high pull. The isolation exercise allows you to increase your overall chest tension after you fail in a compound exercise. T This is a great way of exercising to get your sagging breasts back in order. High intensity technique #3: Forced repetitions Forced reps are a high-intensity training method in which your training partner helps you perform 1 to 3 additional reps of the exercise after your muscles have succumbed. Your training partner helps you lift the weight in a concentric range, and you lower the weight yourself in a controlled manner. These extra forced reps are incredibly effective in creating neurological adaptation and muscle adaptation. In other words, they help build strength and size at the same time. It’s not a bad deal! Here Stan Efferding demonstrates perfectly forced reps on the incline press with dumbbells. Look at this: Stan can do eight perfect reps by himself. On the 9th. He fails a few times and his training partner helps him perform 4 more forced reps in a row. These forced reps are so effective because they are actually a form of eccentric training. They help you increase your eccentric strength level after you reach concentric failure. Here Stan Efferding talks about the importance of using forced reps in training: So you have to go to the limit, do forced reps, give it your all and put your body in a state it has never been in before, so it adapts and gets bigger and stronger. Everything else is unimportant in comparison. I couldn’t have said it better myself! High intensity technique #4: Sets with rest The rest interval series is a high intensity training method invented by bodybuilding coach Dante Trudel. The basic idea is to train to failure three times in a row in the same exercise, with only 20 to 30 seconds of rest between each attempt. Yes, pause sentences are as brutal as they sound! Here Dusty Henshaw demonstrates the perfect setup for bench pressing: As you can see, Dusty uses the same weight on all three tests. He gets 8 reps on the first attempt, 4 reps on the second attempt and 2 reps on the third attempt. Immediately after the last attempt, Dusty does a static weightlifting move. This is something you can do if you are an advanced bodybuilder and really know what you are doing. Statically, the tension time of the series is further increased and your muscles are eccentrically overloaded. Usually when doing a rest set you want to fail somewhere between 7 and 10 reps on your first attempt, but you can go up to 15 or even 20 reps before failing if you really want to. Rest sets have many of the same benefits as forced reps: They allow you to break down your target muscle in a very short period of time while stimulating growth in size and strength. The only downside to rest-pause sets is that you can only do one such set per exercise. If you can do two consecutive sets with a break, it means you didn’t go far enough on the first try! High intensity technique #5: Extreme rack I saved the best for last! If you’ve tried everything to grow your breasts and they’re still not moving, it’s time to try extreme stretching. The extreme stretch is essentially a weighted stretch performed in the lower chest exercise position. One of the most popular methods of extreme chest stretching is to hold the lower barbell swing for 60-90 seconds. Here’s Dusty Henshaw demonstrating this technique to perfection: Why on earth would anyone do that? The reason is simple: Extreme stretching is one of the most powerful hypertrophy training tools you can use. Many people have completely transformed their weak body parts simply by incorporating extreme stretching into their routine. Here are 6 benefits of extreme stretching:

  1. They stimulate mTOR, a switch for protein synthesis…
  2. You’re overworking your rapidly recruiting muscle fibers…
  3. They increase blood flow and cause hyperemia in the muscles.
  4. You release anabolic hormones in your muscles.
  5. You are **potentially** stretching the fascia that surrounds your muscles.
  6. You are **potentially** stimulating hyperplasia in your muscles.

I recommend doing this extreme chest stretch at the very end of your workout. Dante Trudel recommends doing a full body stretch longer than 60 seconds, and strength trainer Christian Thibadeau recommends doing 3-4 easy, submaximal stretches for each body part. The choice is yours. Just make sure your chest is already very tired and full of blood before you try it. Trying to do extreme stretching at the beginning of your workout will only get you into trouble. Supplement word-image-9967 It’s time to turn your sagging breasts into one of your strongest body parts! In this guide, I outline the top five strategies you can use to replenish your soggy treasure chest:

  • Strategy # 1: Mechanical training position
  • Strategy #2: It gets really weird with this thing.
  • Strategy #3: Practice sequences
  • Strategy #4: Frequency of training
  • Strategy #5: High intensity training techniques

One of the most important strategies is to choose the exercises that best suit your body, perform them with the right mechanical posture and in the right order so that you really feel your chest working. If you do all these things well, it may be time to play with more advanced strategies, such as. B. Increase training frequency or use high-intensity training methods. If you follow the information in this article, you will be well on your way to a fuller, more powerful chest. You may not become like Arnold Schwarzenegger overnight, but even he had to start somewhere! So, what are you waiting for? Go back to the gym and train your chest the way you want to! Whatever you pursue, many people will tell you it is not possible. But all it takes is imagination. You are dreaming. You will. You can reach us. Thanks for reading and good luck with your strength training! Dr. Mike Jansen. I am the creator and owner of Revolutionary Program Design. I help advanced athletes take their training to the next level and achieve results they didn’t even know they had.

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Teaching Your Kids Friendships and Romantic Relationships

December 30, 2019 by

A significant part of a person’s life is spent in maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. Despite this fact, little to none is contributed in this direction by the schooling system. This is another one of those really important aspects of life, which is expected to be taught and taken care of by elders and parents.

Although it is a parent’s job to teach their kids about friendships and relationships and how to handle them. A lot of these relationships are formed at schools. Kids meet people their own age, learn with them, play with them, and even fight with them.

How To Balance Work And Play When You Homeschool Your Kids

They spend a lot of time together with strangers their own age, which in turn turns that time spending into something more substantial, and they became friends from classmates. You can easily tell which kid has been taught to respect others and take other people’s feelings into consideration.

Teachers can easily see the pattern, and if a kid seems to lack social skills, we tend to isolate them. They are punished for being a nuisance, for troubling other kids, and for being difficult to be around in general. A lot of our teaching strategies revolve around punishing for the wrong but we tend to forget to correct the wrong.

The constant breaking of relationships nowadays is proof that people need to be taught how to respect others’ space, learn to trust, overcome bad times, share feelings, and communicate. With social media making connecting with people easier, it has made making real connections difficult.

Dating, romance, and sexual urges are frowned upon and ignored in certain countries, which ironically ends up worsening the situation as children grow up learning from wrong sources. Be open with your kids, be open to answering questions. Coming to you with anything shouldn’t be scary for your kids, even if it is a question in regards to sex.

It is high time this is acknowledged as a fact of life, and schools try to lay down a foundation from the beginning of a person’s life. Some schools have taken that up by introducing sex education into their curriculum. 

But, that being said, there is only so much the education system can do. They can tell them what to do, but with a population of kids with different learning abilities and different backgrounds, they can’t make sure that every kid understands.

As parents and elders, it then becomes our responsibility to be there for the kids while they explore things, while they learn the meaning of friendships, companionships, and relationships. 

In times, when it is so easy to connect but so difficult to understand the difference between what’s real and what’s not, there is more need than ever to be there to guide the kids.

Let them make their own mistakes, but be with them at every turn, teaching them and guiding them.




5 Chores Toddlers Can Be Involved In for Holiday Dinners

December 23, 2019 by

Holidays are supposed to be about families and the bonds we share as families. Helping each other in tasks, doing things together, deciding everything as a family is a special moment for the family. Having fun while doing holiday-related chores helps us make memories for later and brings giggles to the present.

cupcake

I am not talking about including kids in the heavy lifting, these are the kinds of hosting jobs that don’t need to be done a certain way or you can easily do without. But, these chores helps toddlers feel involved and helpful. It helps them feel like an adult and show off their work later to the guests.

1. Setting the Table

Setting the table is one of the simple tasks that can make the kids think that they did something big because the whole party is going to assemble and see their handiwork. 

  • Let them help you select the table cloth and runner.
  • Let them help straighten them out on the table.
  • Let them place the placemats.
  • They can also help arrange the silverware.

2. Making a Centerpiece

Buying a good centerpiece can get expensive and holiday-themed ones aren’t used more than once a year anyway. So, a little DIY can help you save money and also help you have a lot of fun making one from scratch. You can use pinecones, fruit, gourds, or branches to create your own unique centerpiece.

  • Take the kids out in the garden or to the park.
  • Let them select flowers, branches, pinecones, whatever suits their fancy.
  • Allow them to arrange the collection the way they like while advising them a little about the design.

3. Arranging Flowers in a Vase

This is one of the simplest tasks on the list. All your kids have to do is place flowers in the vase for the most part. If you want them to be more involved in this, then they can create custom arrangements on their own with you looking over.

  • If you have a garden with flowers, take them there and help them choose the flowers.
  • Or, you can take them to the market and choose there.
  • Bring the flowers and help them trim the stems and remove leaves to make the flowers stand in the vase better.
  • Let them fill the vase with some water and explain to them that the water is supposed to keep the flowers fresh.
  • Let them place the flowers in the vase and arrange them as the like.

4. Designing Place Cards

This is one of the things that is the most optional in this list. So, even if they mess up, it doesn’t matter. Place cards aren’t that important in informal family dinners. But, if you have a large family, and some family drama, then this can come in handy. Plus, the kids get to show their artistic skills.

  • Give them a deck of cards, art supplies, and the list of family members attending.
  • Ask them to write one name on one card and decorate it the way they like.

5. Organizing Snacks Platters

Snacks during parties is a must, especially if there are kids at the party. Help them create snack platters that can be passed around before the meal. This way they can get involved in the food part without actually being a problem for you in the kitchen.

  • Set them on the dining table with the necessary requirements.
  • Give them a plate to set out snacks on and explain what kind of platter they are making. They can make –
    • Cheese and Crackers Platter – Give them cheese slices, cubes, and crackers.
    • Fruit Platter – Cut the fruits and give them the fruits in separate bowls.
    • Chips and Dip Platter – Give them the packet of chips and the bowl of dip.
  • After you have placed all the things on the table, ask them to arrange the items on the plate in a pretty way.

Final Thoughts

Kids love being involved in adult responsibilities, especially toddlers. They are filled with so much energy, excitement, and curiosity. They are at an age that is a time of great cognitive, emotional and social development. Let them be a part of preparations and then see the pride on their faces during the festivities.




The Importance of Teaching Kids Basic Life Skills

December 16, 2019 by

We have all laughed at memes and experiences online on “If only I learned this in school…” We often say that our education system needs to change, we need to teach kids more real-life skills than algebra, and so on. What we don’t focus on is that, it isn’t the sole responsibility of the educational institute to teach things, parents have the same responsibility toward their kids.

Skills like cooking, repairing, and swimming, are all life skills that might not necessarily be vital in life, thanks to modern advancements, but they are some of the basic survival skills that make a person independent and confident to live alone. 

kids active

Children learn by watching us. Involving them in various healthy activities is a great way to cultivate good habits in them, and teach them things that will help them survive independently. Start doing chores with them so that the tasks become more of a bonding moment between you and your kids. When we do things together with them, instead of asking them to do stuff, they are more accepting of learning the skill that is required to do the task.

You have to learn to be persuasive and influential to push your kids in the right direction; it is more like nudging them in the right direction and then watching them grow. Let them make mistakes, just be there to help them learn. If we don’t teach them basic things, then life will, and life might not be that kind to them.

If you do not introduce your kids to cooking, then they are only going to learn it if it is necessary or they have an interest in it. Because of this, when people move out of their parent’s house, eating healthy and home-cooked meals becomes one of their major struggles.

Repair work and swimming might not seem as important as cooking because they are not basic survival skills that everyone requires, but nevertheless, they are handy skills to have, in case something goes wrong. 

No matter how much we love our children, no matter how much we pamper them, they are going to move out as we did. Yes, we want to give them the best, we don’t want them to have to work for things, but they eventually will have to. Their situations CAN and WILL change, and we will be powerless to help it then. Change is an inevitable process, so you need to prepare them for the shift that is bound to happen in their lives.

To make the kids better equipped to deal with the reality of life when they grow up, we need to stop treating them like babies in their impressionable years and start treating them as transitioning adults.

Final Thoughts

Growing up is a combination of learning and getting a lot of things right, but seldom do we realize that what we teach our children is what is going to shape them into independent or dependent adults. Avoiding huge issues tomorrow is worth handling little tantrums today.




Does Everything Really Happen For a Reason?

December 9, 2019 by

Last time I was at a cafe, I came up with this blog about honesty and our relation with it. Months after, again a cafe trip has inspired another article. While sitting there, blowing my cappuccino so that I could drink it, I watched pigeons from the glass window.

A man who was feeding them stumbled and the coins from his pocket rolled out. He caught himself before he fell, dusted off his jacket, must be the shock of it, and then bent down to pick up his coins.

coffee

One of the coins rolled toward my window, while his shaky hands were trying to pick the coin up from the edge, the coin kept flipping, and then this thought struck me, about coins having two sides.

There are two very different sides to every coin. There are some who feel things don’t happen for a reason, and some say they do, that the universe is deterministic.

I watched a video once about how bangles are made and the condition of the workers. One of the ladies working in those glass bangle factories told the interviewer that people working in these industries were usually devoid of basic necessities and exploited both mentally and physically. 

She herself wanted to learn embroidery and get out of this ugly industry and life. But she had accepted her life as it was, saying, “God probably wanted it to be this way.” She then went on talking about why she believed that everything had a higher purpose to it that humans couldn’t understand.

There was another instance where one of her friends had a terrible breakup. She was heartbroken and kept crying for days. In these tough times, her guy best friend supported her. Eventually, she ended up falling in love with him. Things went so well with them that they even got married. 

After the wedding ceremony, her friend came to her and said, “I am so glad my ex went away from my life, I’m glad I found my best friend instead. Everything happens for a reason”

Things that happen have both causes and consequences. But people have always had a different meaning for the statement “everything happens or a reason.” They believe God predetermined everything according to a divine plan like the woman and her friend from the video.

Now let us suppose a situation. Consider a hard-working person, who has just got promoted to a senior position at his job. Later that evening, while driving back home, he accidentally gets hit by a truck, leaving him crippled for the rest of his life. 

Now the question is did the person deserve to get promoted? Of course, he did, he worked hard enough. But did he deserve to be hit by the truck? This is when people will be unable to give a clear answer.

There are reasons for things to happen. But sometimes they happen just randomly. ‘Everything happens for a reason’ is a good explanation for happy things. When bad things happen, this statement gives hope for a brighter future. As long as things are working out, what is wrong in believing in this?

Maybe not everything is according to the pattern. Maybe not everything in life is fair. Maybe

sometimes the universe decides to go random. Maybe not everything has a reason. Or maybe everything does happen for a reason. Change is the only constant that we can be certain of.

Either way, life is what you make of it. There are some situations where you have choices and some situations where you have none. Do what you can do the best, and the results will follow. Not always because of the grand scheme of things, but sometimes they just might because of it.




Healthy Activities to Do as a Family

December 2, 2019 by

Family time is something that helps us bond with each other and also helps us learn about each other. If we do not spend time together, then we are just strangers living in the same home, tied down by the titles of our relationships. Actually creating a bond is what makes a family.

With our work and other commitments, we often neglect our family and children. I agree that being responsible is hectic, but what is the point of earning things when the people you are doing it for will miss you the most.

Health is another one of the important aspects that are often neglected. Why not combine it both and do activities together that will help you bond with your family and also help you stay fit.

1. Turn Chores into Games

Teaching kids chores is our duty, it helps them transition into fully functional adults. Knowing how to do things around the house is important for surviving independently. Why not turn doing chores into a game that you can all do together.

Who can fold more clothes fast or who can put the CDs back in the covers fastest, etc. can be the little competitions you hold. Cooking food together is another of the activities that will let you bond and gives you enough workout if you are making something from scratch like making pasta.

2. Host a Dance Party

dance party

Dancing is something that the majority of people enjoy. What better way to have fun while also working out. Dancing is my favorite way to get in a workout. Host a family dance party, put on some music, introduce each other to your favorite tunes, teach each other your signature dance moves.

Dancing together will leave you laughing in stitches and will help you work up quite a bit of sweat. It is one of the best exercises that you can do together as a family.

3. Plan Scavenger Hunts

You can make a day your treasure hunting day. Hide things around your home, your background, or involve your friendly neighbors in it. Give a list of clues to your kids so that they can reach the final treasure of the treasure hunt or give them a list of items to find. Whoever finds the most item wins. 

The competitive nature of the game makes it fun and makes all the participants go scrambling to find things that will help them win. It gives a great workout because everyone is running around for hours on end, and the adrenaline has us pushing forward to win.

Final Thoughts

No matter what activities you choose, the goal should be having fun and spending time together as a family. If you can work in activities that teach the children new things, helps you learn about them, inculcates good habits in them, etc. then that should be a bonus. Spending time together is the key here because no bond was ever formed merely by being born in the same family.

 

Additional resources: 
 
 



Families and Addiction: Coping During the Holidays

November 29, 2019 by

Holidays can be a joyous, celebratory time. However, for some, holidays are one of the most difficult times of the year. While the addiction epidemic rages on, there are many families that must cope with an addicted loved one during the holidays.

On top of the usual holiday frenzy and stress, dealing with an addicted family member can be chaotic. It can leave healthy family members feeling frustrated and disappointed. 

If you have a family member who is suffering from addiction, it could mean spending the holiday without him or her. On the other hand, it could mean spending your holiday trying to protect and help your loved one.

Often times, the challenges that come from substance abuse come to a head during the holidays. Despite how hard it may be, there are some steps you can take to bring yourself peace of mind during the season. 

Maintain Realistic Expectations

While you may be hoping for a sober holiday or Christmas miracle, it is important to maintain realistic expectations. Having realistic expectations is important to everyone’s wellness, especially during the holiday season.

After all, addiction is a chronic disease, and people who are in the grips of it will use compulsively. Usually, no amount of consequences will keep them sober. 

Having the whole family around may seem like an opportunity to confront your loved one’s addiction. However, planning an intervention during the holidays may be a bad idea.

Effective interventions require professional consulting and extensive planning. In addition, the holidays are a vulnerable time to attempt to tackle such a serious subject. 

Holding onto expectations that a family member should want to get sober or stay sober for the holidays can be harmful to your wellbeing. The inability of a family member to do so can create high levels of stress, frustration, and even resentment.

As a result, these feelings can take away from the joy of the holiday season. If your expectations are high, it can set you up for disaster.

Instead, you should try to love your addicted loved one right where they are. You can offer your support and be prepared with recovery resources in the event that they ask for help, but keep your mindset realistic. 

Develop New Holiday Traditions

Another way to deal with a loved one’s addiction during the holidays is to create new holiday traditions. If there have been sources of drama or conflict during past holiday get-together, new traditions can help you and your family avoid these triggers.

If your regular holiday traditions consist of spending time at home eating a big meal, playing games, and watching holiday movies, this year could be a time to change things up. Instead of spending idle time in the home, you can book your holiday full of new, exciting activities.

Stay busy to avoid triggers and conflict by viewing a light display, eating at a restaurant, spending time at a local park, going ice skating, or going to a religious service. Find out what local holiday events are happening near you to create a busy, fun-filled day. 

Spending time outside of the regular holiday environment can be a refreshing change. It can also provide the entire family with a chance to break away from past behaviors and avoid emotional triggers that can stir up conflict. 

Set Healthy Boundaries

Enforcing healthy boundaries with an addicted family member is critical year-round, however, it is more important than ever during the holidays. Remember that it is okay to say no and that it isn’t your responsibility to tolerate or fix your loved one’s behaviors.

If their behaviors go against your beliefs to defy what you feel comfortable tolerating, it is important to make your boundaries clear. 

Before the holidays, let your loved one know exactly what is unacceptable. For example, if you don’t want them to come to the gathering drunk, let them know that they will have to leave if they are drunk. When setting these boundaries, you are protecting yourself from potential harm.

Make the boundary and the consequences clear. Most importantly, be ready to stand by your boundaries. 

Learn to Let Go

In some cases, your loved one may not be joining you for the holidays. Whether it is the choice of the addict or of the family, spending the holiday season without your loved one can be difficult. You may be worried about their actions and miss their presence with you. When it comes to addiction, there are only so many things you can do to help your loved one.

It may be impossible not to worry, however, you shouldn’t let it destroy the holiday season. Instead, take some time to practice self-care. Some self-care strategies to keep in mind include getting enough sleep, getting regular exercise, eating a well-balanced diet, and taking time to relax by yourself.

In addition, you can also attend a local support group or al-anon meeting for family members of addicted loved ones. You, too, deserve support, especially during this time of year. 

Cassidy Webb is an avid writer who advocates spreading awareness on the disease of addiction. Her passion in life is to help others by sharing her experience, strength, and hope.

Also Read- Keeping Kids Active and Social During the School Holidays




5 Chores You Can Have Your Teenager Help You Out With

November 25, 2019 by

Doing chores together is a great way to bond, and it also helps make the kids independent. Knowing how to do all their chores is essential for them to live their adult lives without depending on anyone. It is our job to teach them all the things that they are going to need to be fully functioning adults.

As your kids get older, they can take on tougher tasks in all the chores like cooking, cleaning, and maintenance. For example, when they are young, you let them peel and mix things in the kitchen, but as they grow old, they can be allowed to cut, dice, and chop. Tasks that might not be fun but provide a certain amount of satisfaction are the options you need to think about when it comes to teenagers.

To get your teenage kids into the habit of assisting with chores, you have to figure out which ones they have always loved to do and then increase the complexity in the said chores. Also, start assigning them duties that they have always avoided because when they move out, they won’t have the luxury of you helping them with the chores they do not like to do.

Here are some tasks you can let them handle:

1. Prepare a Meal or a Snack

cooking

You can task them with preparing one of the meals like say breakfast, or if they have never been interested in cooking, then start them off with making snacks.

2. Sweep and Mop the Floor

Sweeping the floor should be an easy enough task for them. Tell them to sweep under the furniture and not forget the corners when they do so. After they have done sweeping, they can easily mop the floor. Both tasks are similar and do not require special skills.

3. Vacuum the Carpet

cleaning

After they are done sweeping and moping that leaves the carpeted areas of the house, vacuuming the carpet is one of the easiest things they can do. When they were younger, handling the vacuum cleaner could have been an issue, now they shouldn’t have a problem with it.

4. Dust Surfaces

Dusting the surfaces is an integral part of the cleaning routine. While some people do it daily, others do it once in a week. This depends on the area you live in and the amount of dust that settles in your house. Ask them to dust the furniture, shelves, books on open bookshelves, and windowsills. If the dust is settled for a long time, tell them to wipe it with a damp rag.

5. Rake Leaves

Raking leaves can be tiring but a fun task. Seeing all the leaves in a pile and the yard clean gives them an immediate result and instant satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

Asking them to help around the house lets them know how much work it needs to run a home smoothly. Kids learn gratitude and learn the skill themselves. You also get some help with the chores. It is a win-win!




Being Persuasive and Influential With Your Children

November 18, 2019 by

“Moral persuasion over a period of time makes a difference, but we shouldn’t be naive to think that just because we raise it in a meeting it will make all those problems go away. It won’t and it doesn’t.” -John Key

Persuasion can be used in both good and bad ways – the skill of persuasion comes with a sense of power. Getting someone to do something that you want them to do is known as persuasion. Influence, on the other hand, is a lot different than persuasion. The correct way to influence other people, especially your kids, is by setting an example yourself.

kids career

Kids are generally better persuaded by reasons they think they came up with. It is true for adults too. The art of persuasion includes being a good listener because when you know what people care about, it becomes easier to persuade them. For example, if your kid doesn’t like vegetables but like cartoons who are strong. You can use Popeye’s love for spinach and the strength he got after eating it into persuading your kid to eat spinach or other vegetables.

Your kids might do things because you persuade them to, but they are not always going to like them. While influencing them is something that will make them want to do things with their own accord. Children catch on more to what we do than what we say.

Having both persuasion skills and influential skills is among the most powerful traits of successful leaders. Raising kids is similar to being a leader, you lead them to follow the right part, to have strong morals and develop strong cores, to go for what they dream.

“Various influences – our parents, other family members, teachers, books we’ve read, discussions we’ve had, life experiences – all merge together to form our core values.” -Maya Green

More influence should be used than persuasion to teach the kids what we want them to learn. They will follow our actions, which is why setting a good example for your kids is important. There are two parts to influencing correctly. You have to remember both, influence is powerful and it is subtle. 

When you realize that, you will understand how much your bad habits will impact your kids. You might not notice them adapting to the same habits but when it hits, it will hit strong. When kids are influenced onto the right path, it is easier for them to have emotional stability. Emotional stability is the ability of a person to overcome stress and difficult situations without letting themselves get highly affected by it. 

Final Thoughts

Teaching our kids and guiding them is crucial to their development. Parents are their first role-models and have heavy influences on their children’s lives. We need to realize the power both these skills hold and use them to teach the kids to be better people.




4 Animal Face Painting Design Ideas for Your Kids

November 11, 2019 by

Whether it is a birthday party attraction or a costume competition – knowing how to face paint can be really handy. I spent my niece’s last birthday, painting the faces of little children to help them look like the animals they wanted.

I honestly had more fun than I thought I would. Here are some of the popular designs I made and how to make them.

1. Dog Face Paint Design

Dogs are one of the most common animals that kids want to dress up as or want to be associated with. Painting a dog face is an easy task so you have no reason to sweat. Have you seen the dog-face emoji? The one with a white pup with black spots. It is one of the most common interpretations people use.

How to Paint it –

  • Start with white face paint. Cover your child’s face with a white base to help enhance the look and other features.
  • Add basic black eyeliner around one of their eyes to make it look like a spot on the dalmatian.
  • Apply some on the tip of their nose to represent their puppy nose.
  • Use the same eyeliner to draw whiskers.
  • You are done!

2. Bunny Face Paint Design

While adding rabbit ears is enough to often represent a bunny, painting a bunny face isn’t that difficult and will kick the look up a notch.

How to Paint it –

  • Sponge a base coat of grey and white paint on your child’s face like for the dog face.
  • Add rosy cheeks to highlight a bunny’s chubby little cheeks.
  • Add a nose and whiskers.
  • Draw on the two bunny teeth.
  • You are done!

3. Tiger Face Paint Design

Tigers are more a more common demand among children than you would like to think. Tigger from Winnie the Pooh could be an inspiration. The tiger stripes, though very impressive, are actually very easy to make.

How to Paint it –

  • Give a white base coat to your child’s face.
  • Sponge off the face orange leaving an area around their mouth, eyes, and the edge of the face or jaw.
  • Sectioning off parts of the face with areas of orange and white will help you create the muzzle effortlessly.
  • Use black paint to draw stripes.
  • Add black nose and whiskers.
  • You are done!

4. Butterfly Face Paint Design

While the butterfly isn’t technically an animal. You will be surprised at how many kids demand to be painted like a butterfly. The colours surely are the reason for many kids being drawn to them. You don’t need to paint the whole face, the area around the eyes is enough to create a stunning butterfly design on your child’s face.

How to Paint it –

  • Trace out the wings around wither both the eyes or one eye, depending on the wing placement you choose. Both eyes will also give a mask illusion.
  • You have the option of choosing the color here. Choose one, choose many, choose a rainbow – ask your child to choose their favorite. Paint the wings.
  • Add borders and details.
  • You can dot the wings with gems and glitter to make the design look more intricate.



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