The Proper Deadlifting Form For Low-Risk Work Out

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

There are numerous types of machines which in turn body builders can use; nonetheless, practically nothing comes near to what deadlift provides to the complete physique. Numerous body builders often deadlift as the king of exercise, even proclaiming that it can be much better than the squat. The primary reason regarding such claim is that deadlifting focuses on numerous muscle group groups which in turn encourages overall body health and fitness.

Nonetheless, at this time there tend to be group of people who would rather stay away from deadlifting because they are skeptical because of back injuries. Without a doubt, placing really heavy load on your back devoid of the good form can cause long term harm. Nevertheless, there are several serious weightlifters who still perform deadlifting by lifting as much as five-hundred pounds.If this is possible, then executing the proper deadlifting form can really make the difference.

Why is the right deadlifting form essential?

Essentially, using the proper deadlifting form prevents damage. When a person executes the right form throughout a deadlift, then, he could eventually develop a stronger physique. Hence, Strong bodybuilders can put on much load on routine without sustaining any injury. On the contrary, their back gets even stronger allowing them to increase the load whenever they need to. Naturally, it takes time and constant careful exercise to reach this condition. To begin your workout the right way, always observe the following deadlifting form.

Proper deadlifting form:

1. Stand with legs apart but not too wide. Your head should be raised up and not looking down.

2. Maintain a flat back, avoid rounding shoulders. This could mean tightening your abs so you can have a good posture. Never round your back since this is one of the main causes of back injuries such as slipped disc.

3. Begin by contracting abdominals. Take a deep breath so can later use that energy when lifting the bar. Begin lifting and do not exhale until the you have fully lifted the bar. Exhale once you have started lowering the bar.

4. Place the bar down slowly, don’t drop it. Some people suggest using a knee-level rack where you can place the bar at the start.

Preferably, deadlift a lighter load before the routine for proper warm-up. Execute the deadlift right after the warm-up procedure.

Never sacrifice form for quantity or a heavy load. The best thing to do then is to lift a load that you can reasonably execute with proper deadlifting form, this would be the safest. So keep that right form so you would reap benefits rather than harm.

Posted in Medicine | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

What Refractive Lens Exchange Is and How It Differs From Laser Eye Surgery

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Both laser eye surgery and refractive lens exchange are used to correct vision so people can reduce or eliminate the dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses.

The most common method of laser eye surgery is LASIK or laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. LASIK is a type of refractive surgery that is used to correct short sightedness or myopia, long sightedness or hyperopia, and astigmatism. Laser correction surgery works by reshaping the cornea or the transparent front part of the eye.

All of these refractive errors are caused by an irregularly shaped cornea, a problem in the eye lens, or anatomic variations in the eye. In short sightedness, the cornea has too much curvature. In effect, the light that enters the eye is not properly focused and the distant objects look blurry. On the other hand, long sighted people can see distant objects clearly but close one do not appear to be focused properly. Long sightedness occurs if the cornea has too little curvature and light that enters is likewise improperly focused. Astigmatism is a refractive error wherein the cornea is abnormally curved, making it hard to see fine details whether up close or from a distance.

Laser surgery aims to modify the shape of the cornea to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Patients must be over 18 years old to qualify for this operation. Laser correction may be done on people who cannot tolerate or who would choose not to wear prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.

There are many advantages to laser eye surgery. The procedure effectively corrects vision problems and after having surgery, most patients no longer need to wear corrective lenses. Laser surgery is non-invasive and after surgery no stitches or bandages are required. There is also very little or no pain associated with laser vision correction. Patients can enjoy improvement in vision immediately or the next day after the surgery. If necessary, enhancements or adjustments can be made even years after LASIK surgery to further correct vision.

On the other hand, refractive lens exchange is essentially a cataract surgery but used mainly for refractive purposes. This is sometimes called clear lens exchange or CLE and is a suitable choice over laser eye surgery for people who have extreme errors in refraction or those who are presbyopic.

Presbyopia is a vision condition wherein the crystalline lens of the eye loses its ability to focus, making it difficult to see object that are up close. It may seem to occur suddenly but it actually occurs over a number of years. With age, the lens of the eye gradually loses its flexibility, making it harder to focus on close objects.

Refractive lens exchange or RLE can be an alternative to laser eye surgery. In RLE, the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens usually made of plastic or silicone. Instead of altering the shape of the cornea as seen in laser surgery, the process of refractive lens exchange is based on permanently putting in a replacement lens to correct short sightedness or long sightedness. The advantage of RLE is that the cornea remains untouched. This is suitable for people who cannot go through laser treatment because of very thin corneas or dry eye conditions. Also, people with very high refractive errors like extreme short sightedness or long sightedness are not ideal candidates for laser vision correction so RLE may be the fitting choice.

Older adults with refractive errors and those who have the early signs of cataract formation are also good candidates for refractive lens exchange. Since RLE involves removing the natural lens, the risk of developing cataracts in the ageing eye can be eliminated. Unlike the natural crystalline lens of the eye, the artificial lens will not develop cloudiness or cataracts in the future. This makes refractive lens exchange a viable alternative for the older age group.

The intraocular lens implant cost may be a consideration on whether or not to have eye lens surgery. Prices are determined by various factors like the type of lens, area and the eye surgeon. A visit to the eye doctor can help the patient weigh options on whether to have laser eye surgery or refractive lens exchange.

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Blast Away Anxiety With Exercise

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Are you reluctant to start exercising? Did you know that a good workout will help to put you in a good mood? So exercise has a two-fold benefit – to help combat teen obesity and to help bring about good moods. Who doesn’t want to feel and look good?

Did you know that the reason schools have recesses is to give children a chance to run and play and yes, exercise? Recesses are becoming less these days and that’s why we now see an increase in overweight teens. Also to blame are the technology that is available to us. Instead of running and playing outside we are more apt to be sitting in front of the TV or computer or a game system, moving only our hands. Combine this with junk food diets that teens love to eat and you get a generation that has more teen obesity than ever before in history. How are we to slim down?

Exercise and Diet

But if exercising makes a person feel better, then why aren’t we doing more of it? Probably because most aren’t aware of this. We think that sitting around a TV screen pushing on a game pad will make us happy. We have forgotten the art of playing outside and getting fresh air and exercise. I guarantee you if you try it you will see for yourself how fun and refreshing and how good a mood it will give you.

Get Up And Move

Combating anxiety is as simple as moving around. The body releases these hormones called endorphins when we exercise. Endorphins makes us feel great, gets rid of stress and will take away the effects of anxiety. The more we exercise the more we will release these wonderful hormones. This is what is considered a natural high!

Ask any serious runner if they experience this and they can tell you all about it. Ask any person who seriously works out in a gym, they too will tell you. So will any person who plays sports, no matter what the sport. Dancers and skaters know about it too. But the good news is that you don’t have to be an athlete or a talented dancer or skater to be able to get your body to release endorphins.

Try taking a walk. Or a jog. Try an exercise routine for about half an hour. You will see. Keep doing it, for several days. You will really start to notice the good feeling you get from exercising. You will want to continue doing it because simply put it makes you feel really good. The more you exercise the longer you will keep this good mood.

When starting out though, pace yourself. Start out slow and work up. Start out exercising half an hour every other day. Slowly increase the strength of the exercise and the time spent doing it.

Eventually you may can increase it to daily and to more than half an hour at a time. Combine this with a healthy diet and your weight and anxiety won’t be an issue anymore.

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Ricky Skaggs “Bluegrass Rules!” – A Classic Album Review

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Greetings from Asheville, where good music is always found on the turntable, in the CD player, or in the MP3 player. Today’s Classic Album Review takes a turn for the Bluegrass, as it’s a look back at the Ricky Skaggs release, Bluegrass Rules! Released collaborative effort on Rounder and Ricky’s own Skaggs Family Records in October, 1997, it was a return to roots for Ricky Skaggs, who had found success in the Bluegrass field in the 1970′s, before turning to mainstream Country in the 1980′s. The album did not field any hit singles, but was a successful effort, even peaking at forty-five on the Country album charts. The album also won a Grammy for Ricky and his group Kentucky Thunder, for Best Bluegrass Album.

The album opens with the deep voice of J. D. Sumner proclaiming that “Country rocks, but Bluegrass rules!”. The album then jumps into a smoking hot instrumental of “Get Up John”, a Bill Monroe written piece that may well be the highlight of this album. It certainly ranks as one of my favorite Bluegrass instrumentals.

“I Hope You’ve Learned” is a track that sounds oh-so-much like a Bill Monroe piece, right down to the harmonious vocals. In fact, the only way you could really improve on this performance, would be if it was Bill singing.

Next, Ricky borrows a track from the Stanley Brothers catalog, with “Think Of What You’ve Done”. While there’s no arguing at the greatness of the Stanley version of this song, this version ranks right with it. Just as strong of a track, in my opinion.

Ricky does a fine job of capturing the “high, lonesome” sound on the slower “Another Night”. On songs such as this one, you can tell where Blues had it’s influence on the beginnings of Bluegrass. Another excellent track.

“The Drunken Driver” is a Bluegrass staple, having been around well over fifty years and performed by numerous Bluegrass and Country singers. Personally, as I have stated before, I’m not big on death songs (with some exceptions), especially involving kids. That said, this is still a fine Bluegrass performance.

“Little Maggie” ranks as one of my faves of The Stanley Brothers. Simply a great performance by Ralph and Carter. And I have to say I like Ricky Skaggs’ version almost as well. The picking, here, is exceptional, as it is throughout the album. This smoking number, though, seems to have a little extra something to it that really makes it stand out over the rest of the disc, with the possible exception to the opening instrumental.

The Ricky Skaggs composed “Amanda Jewell” is the album’s next instrumental. You know, the great thing about Bluegrass is that, whereas most other genres have pretty much eliminated the instrumental from their repertoires, Bluegrass isn’t afraid of the songs with no words. I love a good instrumental and this is a great one. Breakneck speed, yet in control, and the musicians seem to glide through the cut effortlessly and smoothly.

“If I Lose” is yet another Stanley Brothers favorite that, again, is well performed by Ricky and the band, and even has a fresh feel to it, despite the song’s age.

Also from the Stanley Brothers is “Ridin’ That Midnight Train”. The song, itself, is a decent composition, but listening to Bluegrass, even a song that’s lacks a little in strength, can still be impressive when great pickers are involved, as is the case, here.

One the best songs to come from Albert Brumley has to be “Rank Stranger”. Simply an outstanding recording, good enough to give chills.

“Somehow Tonight” isn’t quite the breakneck pace as much of the album is, but it still moves along quite nicely, at a spritely pace. Melodic and catchy.

You are treated (and it is a treat) to one more instrumental with the Bill Monroe-penned “Rawhide”. Especially exciting on this track is the fiddle work of Bobby Hicks, along Ricky Skaggs’ own mandolin work, and the some hot banjo work from Marc Pruett.

You will find used copies, both CD and cassette, averaging around $7 to $10, but the album is still available on both CD and as an MP3 download.

My Standout Track is “Get Up John”, though I admit to a strong argument for “Little Maggie”. As for a Hidden Gem, “Somehow Tonight” gets my nod; there is no Weak Track.

Overall, this is an excellent piece of Bluegrass, well worthy of the accolades it has received. As a listener/consumer, I confess to having spent several hours with this disc, and it never gets tiring to hear. An outstanding piece of work, fitting of a 5 out of 5.

Posted in Mens Issues | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Three Tips to Avoid Binge Eating

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Binge eating is a serious issue and it can plague anyone no matter how prepared they may or may not be for the event. That being said it becomes very important to understand what may lead up to binge eating and of course how you can avoid doing it in the future.

The cause

First of all, binge eating can be caused by a number of different factors. One of course could be depression which is caused by influences at either home or work. It could be an issue with family, or it could be a project you have taken on. Either way, binge eating can easily become a problem which leads to even more issues down the road. There are other causes for binge eating of course, aside from depression, and when this issue occurs, you are going to need to seek some kind of treatment or relief. It all starts with something to break the cycle.

Breaking the Cycle

How do you break the cycle exactly? What does it take to return to a healthy standard of living? If you continue your binge eating activities you will gain weight, heighten your cholesterol, and increase your chances for heart attack. If you wish to break the cycle, you will need to find something to replace the activity.

Replacing the Activity

Replacing the binge eating activity is your best hope of eliminating the problem. This might not seem helpful, and you might find it difficult to find a replacement, but you could take up exercise, or you could even adopt a hobby. There are plenty of hobbies for you to choose, from chess all the way to rock climbing. Whatever you choose, it will likely help to curb your unhealthy eating habit.

Create Routines

Routines are different from hobbies in a few ways. First of all, a routine is something that you establish for yourself, and you will perform it on a daily basis. In your routine you can set your meal routine at a specific time as this will ensure you only eat at the times you dictate. To set your routine in stone it would be a good idea to write it down and post it somewhere that you will see every single day. This will help you significantly and will allow you to bring some much needed structure into your life.

These are three great tips for you to follow, but you need to remember that it all starts with you. Once you learn to implement these tips into your life you will need to stick with it, and of course ensure that you do not give into temptation. It will be impossible to remove all of the factors from your life, but you can at least remove some of them and learn to live a better life.

Posted in Home Health Care | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Hemorrhoids Symptoms Can Usually Be Treated Using Natural Home Remedies

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

When the pressure in the veins of the anus increases hemorrhoids can develop. There are 2 kinds of hemorrhoids and those are internal and external ones. These can protrude from the rectum and feel like sore knots.

Approximately 10 million people are suffering from hemorrhoids in America. Sometimes there is no pain associated with them but blood might show up on the toilet paper, in the water, or on the outside of the stool.

Typically hemorrhoids are caused by too much straining when attempting to pass the stool. Pregnancy and excessive weight significantly increases one’s chances of having hemorrhoids because of increased pressure in the veins of the anus.

Also, if you are constipated this will most definitely increase straining. Diarrhea, on the other hand, can increase irritation of your hemorrhoids causing itching and/or pain. These are the most usual hemorrhoids symptoms

Because blood can indicate also some more severe problem, such as cancer, it might be wise to meet a physician in order to eliminate such a possibility. He is going to make all the required tests to ascertain whether you have hemorrhoids or some other medical problem.

If the diagnose is that you have hemorrhoids, there are many home treatments for hemorrhoids you can use. These consist of having a high fiber diet, such as eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, and remaining well-hydrated. Additionally, an appropriate amount of physical exercise can help.

Try to use baby wipes or moistened toilet paper and lightly clean the area afflicted. This will reduce irritation. Be sure to use dye and perfume free cleansers as these can easily cause the symptoms to become worse.

You can also use some pain killers to lower the discomfort caused by your hemorrhoids. Ice backs are another tested way to offer relief from your symptoms. Additionally, many sufferers have found that warm water in the affected area has been valuable in treating their symptoms.

Wear underwear made from cotton as it is less irritating. Try not to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time to ease pressure from the anal area. Some find it useful to sleep on their sides for relief.

For more serious cases it might be needed to have surgery to eliminate them. Sometimes it is possible to tie off the hemorrhoid, restricting the blood supply, causing them to shrink or disappear altogether. There are many topical ointments and creams that assist to manage the hemorrhoids symptoms.

In summary, if you notice any blood after bowel movements, you should call to your doctor to exclude the possibility of cancer. On the other hand, if you have hemorrhoids, there are numerous natural methods to get rid of them. In the most severe cases, surgery might be the only choice.

Posted in Healthcare Systems | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

How to Achieve a Lean, “Ripped” Look

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Everyone I know wants to be lean and totally “ripped”! There are several ways to achieve that “look”, but most people want to know the fast, easy way. Well, there really is no fast or easy way, but I can tell you one way that is the least painless and less time-consuming.

You will have to follow a few simple techniques to get to your goal:

Eat a clean diet. Make sure you are consuming at least 1-1.5 grams of lean protein per pound of body weight. Your carbohydrate sources should be nutrient dense and fibrous choices such as green vegetables, oatmeal, sweet potatoes and brown rice. Make sure you are also eating healthy fat like olive oil, flaxseed oil, all-natural peanut butter, salmon and EFA capsules.

Absolutely NO junk food!

You should completely eliminate fruit, fruit juice, dairy and bread.

Take a good multi-vitamin and supplement with at least 15 grams of L-Glutamine every day to promote muscle recovery.

You must be on an intense lifting split, working each body part. once per week. A 3-day split is best.

Perform at least one High Intensity Interval cardio session per week. I suggest 15-20 minutes of HIIT training.

Perform at least one moderate-intensity cardio session per week. I recommend 30 minutes of moderate cardio.

On training days, your last set of every exercise should be to failure.

When lifting, squeeze your muscle at the top of every rep before performing the next rep.

Change the way you perform a “rep”.Using the Lat Pull-down as an example; one repetition would consist of pulling the bar down to your chest, allowing it to come half way up, pulling it down again for a tight contraction and then allowing the weight to come all the way back to the top, so that your arms are fully extended. Use this technique with all your lifts.

Incorporate Isotension – Wait a minute…you’re not done yet!After your final set, reduce the weight by about 20 percent and hold it at the top of the lift for a 30-second static contraction. The contraction should cause a huge flow of blood to be directed toward the muscle you are working. You should be squeezing the life out of your muscles.

Posing – Choose 2 days a week to flex and tense your muscles for 30 minutes. You will pose, flex and tense your muscles as intensely as possible for a total of 30 minutes. This will not only burn calories, but also improve the shape, separation and condition of your muscles. Hit a pose and hold it for at least 5-10 seconds before switching to another pose. Flex your muscles with extreme intensity for the duration of this workout!

By implementing these simple techniques you can easily achieve a lean, “ripped” look without spending a fortune on supplements or spending hours and hours in the gym.

Try 2 of these techniques for 8 weeks! You’ll be totally amazed at much fat you’ll lose and at your overall transformation!

Posted in Healthcare Systems | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Common Cold: What to Do When the Cold Season Hits

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

The common cold is a viral upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. The average adult has between 3 and 6 colds a year, and children have as many as 8.

Signs & Symptoms

• Sneezing, nasal congestion

• Sore throat, cough, hoarseness

• Fever

• In children, sudden onset of fever (lasting 2-3 days), irritability, restlessness, sneezing

• Headache

Treatment Options

Contrary to what most think, antibiotics and antihistamines cannot help cure your cold. They only suppress the symptoms and may even prolong the cold or increase the chance of it reoccurring. Colds go away on their own after about 5 to 7 days for adults, and 10 to 14 days for children. However, there are a number of treatment options that can help to support the body and may even shorten the duration of the cold.

Cold Buster Recipes

Sweet & Spicy Lemon Tea

3 parts Boiling water

1 part Orange Juice

Juice of ? lemon

Ginger

Chamomile

Dash of Cayenne Pepper

Packed full of vitamin C, this tea will relax and stimulate your body’s ability to fight off your cold. Chop up fresh ginger and add it to a pot of water. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes while covered. Add orange juice and bring to boil again. Add chamomile tea bags and let steep for 7-10 minutes while cooling. Pour into mug and add lemon juice. Finish with a pinch of cayenne pepper. Enjoy.

Garlic Cough Syrup Recipe

10 cloves of Garlic

1 C honey

Garlic is a natural antiseptic, not to mention an immune stimulator! When you feel a cold coming on, chop up garlic. Let it sit out for 10 minutes to allow oxidation and activation of medicinal compounds. Add to honey. For stronger syrup, let sit for a few days before consumption.

Soothing Throat Tea Recipe

Licorice Root

Marshmallow Root

Sage

Thyme

Sooths the throat by decreasing inflammation, and fighting viral and bacterial infections. Add equal parts of each herb to a tea pot. Pour boiling water over top of herbs and let steep for 10 minutes. Sip and enjoy!

Steam Inhalation Recipe

Large bowl of hot water

10 drops Peppermint essential oil

10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

Clears the airways, and fights infection. Bring water to boil. Pour into large bowl. Allow to cool slightly. Add essential oils. Immediately, place your head over the bowl and cover with a towel. Inhale slowly and deeply until steam dissipates. Caution: Essential oils may be quite strong at first so inhale carefully.

Cold Fighting Food Tips

Try to include:

• Extra fluids such as water, herbal tea & chicken broth

• Raw garlic and onion. These foods are anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Eat as much as you can tolerate!

• Green leafs (cooked are easier to digest)

• Fruit and Lemon rind (put in tea)

• Eat less (energy going to healing body, not digestion)

Try to avoid: Things that weaken the immune system!

• Sugar & Alcohol as these lower the immune system

• Caffeine

• Dairy and bananas. These increase mucous production

• Wheat or known food sensitivities

• Large meals

• Intense exercise

Supplements to have in the medicine cabinet during cold season:

• Vitamin C to enhance immune function (up to 10g day)

• Vitamin A Do not use in pregnancy (25,000 IU/day short-term)

• Zn (15-25mg in lozenges every 2 hours)

• Beta-Carotene: Immune stimulating and antioxidant

Herbs – in tea, tincture, or capsule form

• Goldenseal or Oregon Grape Root: dries mucous. Anti-viral, anti-bacterial.

• Echinacea Root: Enhances immune system.

• Panax Ginseng: Warming herb. Stimulates vitality.

• Elderberry: Stimulates bronchial secretions.

• Mullein: Good for chest coughs.

Hydrotherapy

Frozen Wet Socks vs. Dry Warm Socks

Wet a pair of sock and put them in the freezer. Before bed, put the frozen socks on your feet until your body makes them warm. Next put a pair or warm dry socks on (best to put them in the dryer for a few minutes). Wear the warm socks to bed.

Posted in Hair Loss | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Get Help For Ear Infections Without Drugs and Surgery

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

By the age three, over two thirds of all children have had one or more episodes of Otitis Media, otherwise known as Ear Infections. The common story is, the parents go to the doctor, the doctor prescribes Antibiotics to ‘fix’ the problem. The infection may go away, but often they become reoccurring and higher doses of medication are given as the only answer. If it continues to get worse, grommets are normally inserted to drain the ear properly, but, often the question is never asked “what is causing the ear to not drain properly in the first place?”

A study that was shown on the effectiveness of Antibiotics and Ear Infections revealed that 88% of cases didn’t need to be given them, yet for most people it is the only recommendation given. What many parents aren’t also aware of, is that if a child is given Antibiotics within the first twelve months of life, they are more likely to develop Respiratory Problems such as Asthma and Allergies.

So, where does Chiropractic fit in?

At each level of the spine, nerves exit from the spinal cord, between the vertebrae to feed messages from the brain to every cell, muscle, gland, organ and tissue in your body. If the spine shifts out of its healthy position, this can put endangering pressure onto the spinal cord and nerves, which can effect the brains communication with the entire body.

If the nerves that travel to the ear are effected this can prevent them from draining properly.

The goal of Chiropractors all around the world, is to detect any misalignments and gently adjust them to restore nerve flow, in turn improving the function of the body. By focusing on the cause of the problem, not the symptom, health is restored naturally without the need for drugs and surgery.

In a study of 332 children, (aged between 27 days & 5 years) suffering from recurrent Ear Infections, all had been on repeated doses of Antibiotics. They were finally given Chiropractic Care. After the Chiropractic Adjustments the children healed quickly, without Antibiotics and they experienced fewer repeat infections. Not to mention they became happier and healthier kids.

How Can Chiropractors Help Your Family With Ear Infections?

Chiropractors, such as Body Brilliant Chiropractic have been able to help hundreds of families restore health and vitality back into their lives through natural Chiropractic Care. Their goal is to empower and support their patients with knowledge and tools to regain a level of health and vitality they have not previously experienced.

If you are ready to get to the cause of your health concerns, why not contact a Family Wellness Chiropractor today, it could be the best health decision you have ever made.

Posted in Health and Fitness | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Stephen King – Master of Horror

Posted on November 22, 2011 by somstaw

Stephen King really needs no introduction. Bursting onto the scene in the seventies with Carrie quickly propelled him to instant stardom, and the subsequent movie adaptation of Carrie cemented his position as the Master of Horror.

Nowadays Stephen doesn’t like being branded a ‘horror writer’ because he sees himself as just simply ‘a writer.’ Given the release of the last half dozen or so books you’d have to agree that he doesn’t always write horror. With movies such as The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile spawning from his books it’s clear to see his talents are far more diverse that the horror story. Although, I have to admit, I’m a huge fan of his earlier works. I still love his recent novels because, to me, it shows how he has matured as a writer and I’m a believer that a writer has something new to learn every day. Every day is a school day.

I think it is such a shame his mother wasn’t around to see how successful he is. She sometimes went without food just so she could send him some money while he was in college. It really shows how dedicated she was that he do well. Although she knew about the publication of his first novel, it’s just unfortunate she couldn’t stay with him to share in his success.

There are a lot of literary writers and critics who don’t like Stephen King’s work, only because they think he’s just after the money. As a writer, any writer, that’s an insult. Writer’s write simply because they enjoy the work, they enjoy the creative process and get a kick out of following the characters and finding out what happens at the end. I know plenty of writers who aren’t making millions with their work but they still love to tell a story.

The Stand is probably King’s most loved piece of work, detailing the end of the world through a super-flu. Most stories nowadays involve an asteroid or climate change leading to spectacular changes in weather and natural disasters.

The great thing about The Stand is it revolves around normal people like you and I who find themselves in abnormal circumstances. 99% of the world’s population have died from this super-flu called Captain Trips leaving the few survivors to brave it out in the new post-apocalyptic world. However, they aren’t the only things walking the Earth. Randall Flagg, the prince of evil, gathers his followers in the west while all those on the side of good flock to Mother Abigail. Sooner or later the two sides must meet in what can only be described as a gripping cllimax.

Stephen’s use of imagery in the book is among the best ever used and will leave a lasting impression for years to come.

Posted in Health and Fitness | Tagged , , , | Comments Off