Lifting Away the Fallacies - Menopause Facts on Strength Training

Finally, Menopause Support You Can Trust

It is no secret that there are a number of benefits when it comes to strength training, also known as weight lifting or resistance training; increased bone density, increased muscle mass, and a lower risk for many age related diseases top these benefits. With all the positive effects of strength training, particularly for menopausal women, it is still not widely accepted by the masses as effective exercise. Partially to blame are all the myths surrounding strength training for perimenopausal and menopausal women. The following are some common myths, and the truths behind them.

1. The Big Fat Lie, Women will Bulk Up

It is easy to see how this myth got started considering the number of men focusing on increasing their mass through strength training. However, men and women are different on a number of levels; remember, men don't have to deal with hot flashes and menopause. The truth is menopausal women will not bulk up from strength training unless they are producing levels of testosterone found mainly in men. Additionally, bulking up takes muscle strength that typical women don't have.

2. A Weak Farce, Some Older Women Aren't Strong Enough

Back before the 80s it was common practice for doctors to avoid recommending strength training for older patients, particularly women, because of the fear that the strain of these exercises would injure their weak bodies. This is simply not true. Although I would recommend consulting your doctor first - the fact is older women can ward off pre menopause symptoms by engage in resistance training.

3. Thin Veils, Slender People Don't Need It

Contrary to popular belief, thin does not equate to healthy. In fact, weight lifting is imperative for all women, and the earlier you start the better off you will be. It is said that young women that do not strength train will shed up to six pounds of muscle and replace it with as many pounds of fat by age 50. Just because a woman is thin and "appears" healthy does not mean that she is.

4. Spotty Logic, Weight Lifting Can Help Women "Spot Reduce"

For a lucky few, their bodies are exactly where they want them to be, with the exception of one or two "problem areas." Popular belief says that resistance training can remove these trouble spots; this is simply not true. While strength training can help tone specific areas, body fat, as the name implies, belongs to the entire body, and spot reducing will prove ineffective.


http://www.360menopause.com/blog

Menopausal Support and Relief is something every woman needs; if not for herself, for her friends or daughters. Get the inside scoop and answers to your questions. If you would like more information on exercising and staying fit during menopause go to http://www.360menopause.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Sophia_Edgell

Factors Affecting The Strength Of Wood

Besides the normal variability of strength among and within species, many other factors may affect the strength of wood. These factors may be broadly grouped into natural defects and irregularities, factors related to the environment and the effects of biological agents.

When the grain direction is not parallel to the long axis of a wooden component, it is said to be cross-grained (sometimes referred to as short-grained). Cross grain may occur from spiral grain in the tree or by the manner in which the timber is sawn. In linear furniture parts such as legs and spindles, whose performance depends on longitudinal properties such as bending resistance, cross grain may result in serious strength loss. A slope-of-grain of one in five, for example, may result in 50-60% reduction in the modulus of rupture. Knots in wood are another major weakening defect. Loss in strength results not only from the abnormal tissue and grain direction of the knot itself, but from the cross grain of wood distorted around the knot. Compression wood, the reaction wood formed in conifers as a result of crooked or leaning stems, is usually higher in density and compression strength than normal wood, but the wood is weaker in tensile strength and in both modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity in bending. In hardwoods, tension wood is exceptionally weak in compression parallel to the grain though it may be stronger in tension and tougher than normal wood of the same density. It exhibits abnormally high longitudinal shrinkage and slightly increased tangential, but normal radial, shrinkage. The lignin content of the cell wall is deficient compared with normal wood and gelatinous fibres may be present.

As wood dries below the fibre saturation point, strength increases with the loss of bound water. The greatest increases are in compression along the grain: strength is approximately doubled when wood is dried to 12% moisture content, tripled when oven-dried. Modulus of rupture is increased much less, and modulus of elasticity is increased least upon drying.

Strength of wood is also affected by temperature, increased as temperature is lowered, decreased as temperature is increased. Over the range and duration of naturally occurring temperature changes, strength changes are temporary. However, if exposed to higher than natural temperatures, or for prolonged periods, permanent loss of strength may result. Effects of heat in reducing strength are least in dry air, greatest in moist air or steam. The use of steaming to temporarily plasticize wood for permanent bending of furniture parts is well known.

Strength of wood is also related to duration of loading. Time-related creep in wood reduces strength over longterm load periods. For example, a beam might carry a short-term (5 minutes) load three times as great as it could carry for a long term (a hundred years or longer).

The destructive effects of wood-inhabiting insects such as termites, carpenter ants and beetles need little elaboration, as the physical loss of wood will result in proportional loss of strength. Fungi are a major cause of deterioration in wood. In order for the threadlike hyphae of fungi to develop in wood, four major requirements are necessary: favourable temperature (70-85 °F is ideal), oxygen (20% or more air volume in the wood), moisture (fibre saturation point or above is ideal), and food. Wood-staining fungi utilize the residues of stored materials in parenchyma cells of sapwood but they do not attack cell walls. Therefore, although the staining fungi discolour the wood, they do not reduce its strength. However, the wood-destroying fungi utilize enzymes to break down and assimilate the cell wall substance, producing various forms of decay or rot. Initial stages of fungal invasion, termed incipient decay, may at first have insignificant effect on strength. Impact strength is the first strength property to be affected. If allowed to continue, total loss of strength may result. It should be noted that Chlorociboria both deposits a green stain in the wood and causes losses of strength. Controlling moisture is the principal approach to preventing decay. If wood is maintained below 20% moisture content, decay fungi cannot develop.


If you make wooden furniture, you may need our heavy drawer slides [http://heavydutydrawerslides.org]. Please visit our website and choose it what is most suitable for your furniture

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Freda_Irace