Get fit while learning some new tricks

Gone are the days where pole dancing is just enjoyed by men. 

Nowadays young women all over Australia are spending their weeknights in dance studios with their friends, learning not only dance moves, but also increasing their fitness levels. 

Pole dancing is changing its role within society, turning from a taboo career and industry among young women, to a new way to increase fitness and build strength. It is a brand new way for people to build strength, confidence and change their bodies in an environment outside of the gym. 

The idea that pole dancing is just done by girls is completely cliche and out-dated, as nowadays pole dancing is seen as a fun way for both girls... and guys to get fit. Although the male side is not as popular, and probably never will be, it is becoming more popular. Cherene Thomas Smith, owner of Pol-arise says that she wishes to see more men joining in on the fun, but she understands their hesitations: 'I think they are scared of the gay label.'

A local pole dancing company 'Pol-arise dance fitness' based in Castle Hill provides many classes throughout the week. With everything from beginner classes, to 'sexy flexy' where students are encouraged to push outside of their comfort zones in order to complete new moves and reach more advanced goals. Professional classes are also available for the more advanced. 

Karen McEvoy recently attended a pole-dancing class for the first time and enjoyed her experience.

“I loved it, it was a great way to let loose with friends and exercise at the same time,” she said.

“I would really recommend it to everyone.”

“You really need a lot of upper body strength, I was actually surprised how sore I was the next day, it is a full on workout.”

However you view pole dancing, it cant be denied that it takes a large amount of physical strength and high fitness levels to be able to learn, let alone complete a whole routine. 

DMAA now a schedule 9 drug

Hello friends, family, followers and trolls,

I’m not sure whether you know (or for that matter care) that just the other day the country’s medicines regulator (The Therapeutic Goods Administration) has banned a chemical known as DMAA, due to safety concerns regarding the abuse of the ingredient and its side effects.

The TGA has added DMAA to its schedule 9 list of prohibited substances and poisons. That puts it on par with heroin and cocaine! Now I know what you’re thinking…that’s crazy talk…but the ingredient has already been linked to some crazy side effects and several deaths. Two US soldiers died from heart attack following a training session. Toxicology reports found DMMA present in their blood. More recently, in April of last year a 41-year-old father, Mark Andrew Dahlenburg, died from a brain haemorrhage after mixing DMAA in his beer!

This directly affects the sports supplements and workout industry, as it is a stimulant commonly used in a lot of the industry’s more popular products like Jack3d and Mesomorph. So for all of you who like to down some pre-workout mixes before you go jack up at the gym, then read on as this could affect you directly.

Before we go any further I’ll just run by you the reported positive and negative effects of DMAA.

Positive:

• ·      Increase in functional energy.
• ·      Increased mental focus.
• ·      Enhance in muscular endurance/stamina.
• ·      Enhanced sense of well-being.
• ·      Muscle pumps.

Negative:

• ·      Sleeplessness/insomnia.
• ·      Reduced appetite.
• ·      Increased heart rate/palpitations.
• ·      Increased nervousness/anxiety.

Now lets run through the exact reasons why the TGA has prohibited the ingredient in the first place:

• ·      There are no current approved therapeutic uses for DMAA.
• ·      There are no benefits but there are significant risks.
• ·      There are risks due to DMAA’s toxicity.
• ·      DMAA presents a high risk of abuse, misuse and illicit use.
• ·      Reports of adverse events including high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, cerebral haemorrhage and stroke.
• ·      An absence of studies demonstrating the long-term safety of DMAA.
• ·      The wide variability in the potency of the different doses of DMAA.

The NSW Health Department said the ban would automatically be implemented across the state, carrying with it a maximum penalty of a $1000 fine for each instance of supply.

So now that you have all this information at your disposal, let me know what you think? Is the TGA right in their decision or is it just a knee jerk reaction, like many in the sports supplement industry believe it to be. Do you take the products in question and have had a positive/negative reaction to its use? What are you going to substitute for it moving forward? Have you been stocking up on the product in the weeks leading up to the ban? If you are in the sports supplement industry then write in and let me know what you think of all this. If you are from the TGA and want to voice your opinion then feel free to do so. And if you don’t really care either way but just want to leave a message on the board anyway because you are lonely and got nothing better to do then feel free to do so, I’m not going to judge. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Want to let me know, then comment below.

UWS Opens Its Doors

Hello fellow bloggers and followers, 

                                            

An interesting new development has come alive at my university. The University of Western Sydney has expanded its residential campus. As a student and resident of the residential college I am personally delighted that more international students will be coming to our shores. I hope I can learn a new language!
But, we all know all good things come at a price.

Here are the fees:

Personally I think it’s reasonable considering the price is all inclusive. Here’s what each domestic or international student receives while residing on campus:

1. Accommodation close to your classes.
2. Common room amenities including pool table, table tennis, Foxtel, computer labs and outdoor BBQ areas.
3. On-site activities organised and hosted by the student resident assistant (RA).
4. 24-hour security.
5. Furnished rooms.
6. Electricity, water and gas included in the rental price.
7. Wireless Internet.
8. Cleaner for communal areas.
9. Making new friends from different cultural backgrounds.

Now, some might say that the resident assistants are lucky because they receive a 50% rent decrease for their hard work on campus. However, Alannah Maher thinks otherwise.

“Organising social events is right up my alley. The pay for being an RA is only a 50% rent reduction. Many people think about taking up the position purely for that reason but that can’t be your only motive. It’s a huge responsibility and it involves a lot more work than some people realise. It can be a fulfilling and fun position when you feel like you’ve done something right, when a social event is a hit or when you can tell you’ve helped an individual feel more comfortable on campus. Without the rent reduction it may not even be possible to afford to live on campus.”

Sounds tempting doesn't it? But she also continues to say that once every few weeks a resident assistant must remain on campus for the entire weekend and not move. No freedom?

I don’t know about you readers out there but that’s a tough requirement. I mean what if I needed to go to the local grocery store to buy milk or sugar to bake my little cupcakes? As a resident assistant I would have to stay put and have to do with my Arnott’s biscuits as a dessert. Don’t think I could handle that for the entire year!

One thing I would love is meeting with all the international exchange students and listening to their stories. Although, exchange rates are declining, the few I’ve met on campus are super sweet and have the most amazing cultures and traditions. International dinner nights, and activities such as visiting the local farm, bowling and paint ball shooting is the perfect environment for making and maintaining friendships.

Staying on campus does have its positives and negatives. Would you consider living on campus if you were currently studying at a university?

Let me know by commenting below.

ALDI liquor stores mean cheaper alcohol, but at what cost?

These days it is impossible to turn on the news without hearing about another violent incident fuelled by alcohol consumption.  One only has to look at Kings Cross on a Saturday night to see alcohol fuelled violence and havoc. While alcohol abuse has become such a prevalent issue, supermarket retailer ALDI has introduced discounted alcohol into 34 of its stores across NSW.

ALDI store at St. Marys sells liqour

Concerns have been raised by both NSW Heath, and the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), for potential alcohol abuse. In a statement released by the council, CEO David Templeman said:

“Research by the State Government’s Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research directly correlates liquor outlet density with the incidence of assaults. The bureau’s report shows that more than half the assaults police recorded in the Sydney CBD occurred within 50 metres of a liquor outlet.”

However, the Casino, Liquor & Gaming Control Authority (CLGCA) saw the picture differently. The CLGCA found that there was no substantial relationship between alcohol abuse and liquor pricing from supermarket chains Woolworths, Coles and ALDI.

Wide range of wines available at ALDI
from as little as $5

Not all of ALDI’s plans to sell alcohol have gone according to plan. Earlier this year the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority of  NSW (ILGA) rejected ALDI’s application to sell liquor at its Taree store  in northern NSW. The ILGA decided to decline ALDI’s application after police claimed to find a direct link between reported incidents of alcohol related violence and consumption of liquor purchased from these supermarkets.

Despite these findings, not everyone is convinced. Dr Jenny Chalmers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre believes that as the alcohol price goes down, harm goes up.

While you won’t find all the popular brands of alcohol at ALDI, there are a number of cheaper imitation alcoholic drinks available. Bottles of Sherry are under $5, and four litre casks of wine are available for less than $9. These discounted prices places ALDI far below their closest competitors Woolworths and Coles.  

ALDI sells beer for just $1 a can

While ALDI seems to be in full force in selling discounted liquor, the ILGA will continue to review further applications by ALDI to sell liquor.