January 11, 2010

The Lactate Threshold - Reality or Fallacy?

For many years exercise science has perpetuated the concept of a lactate threshold - a point during exercise where a sudden, sharp increase is noted in the concentration of lactate in the blood. This phenomenon is supposedly noticed when blood samples are taken from subjects performing incremental to max exercise tests much the same as a VO2 max test. Traditionally, it has been noted that when concentration of lactate is plotted against running speed (or %VO2 max) on a graph, as the individual runs faster the quantity of lactate in the blood remains constant up to a certain speed, after which a sudden inflection in the gradient occurs. This inflection point has been dubbed the lactate threshold - the point during intense exercise where the muscles become increasingly anaerobic, generating vast quantities of lactate. Therefore, this phenomenon has also become known as the anaerobic or ventilation threshold.

As discussed in an earlier article on lactate featured on this website, early exercise scientists (and even some present day ones) attributed the increasing amounts of lactate in the blood during exercise to a lack of oxygen supplied to the muscles. This theory holds that the cardiorespiratory system must be inefficient at matching blood (oxygen) supply to the muscles and exercise intensity. Therefore, as the intensity of exercise increases, the muscles have to rely increasingly on “oxygen independent” (anaerobic) metabolism and its associated lactate generation. What these researchers failed to understand, or were unaware of was that as the intensity level (power output) of exercise progressively increases, there is a corresponding increase in the dependence of the glycolytic energy system. It is now universally accepted that energy systems are exercise intensity dependent. As explained in the previous article on lactate, this accumulation of lactate is a necessary consequence to maintain the increased flow of energy through the glycolytic pathway.

Tim Noakes at the University of Cape Town, South Africa states that it is highly unlikely that the muscles ever become truly anaerobic. He provides some powerful evidence to back up this statement and quite possibly the most convincing might be what he calls the “lactate paradox”. In his studies of the results of several research papers on Everest climbing expedition experiments, Noakes noted that lactate accumulation in the blood actually decreased as attitude increased. This finding is the exact opposite of what one would traditionally expect since as altitude increases, the ambient barometric pressure decreases, as does the relative availability of oxygen in the inspired air. Therefore, one would suspect that near the peak of Everest, the exercising muscles must be truly anaerobic and generating large amounts of lactate but as mentioned previously, this does not occur. Professor Noakes explains that at such an extreme altitude, some internally regulated factor (possibly the brain) severely limits the intensity of exercise to protect the heart therefore also limiting the amount of lactate production. Additional research, has demonstrated that even at rest under more than adequate oxygen availability, muscles generate lactate. Furthermore, other researchers have failed to find conclusive evidence that muscles become anaerobic at exercise intensities approaching the lactate threshold or even during maximal exercise. Therefore, Noakes prefers to refer to anaerobic metabolism as “oxygen independent” metabolism since in his astute opinion there exists no such thing as anaerobic muscle.

Noakes dismisses the probability of a sudden increase in lactate concentration. He explains that if too few blood samples are taken - say for every three or four kilometers per hour increase, then when the rise in lactate is actually observed, it may indeed show a precipitous “jump” from the one observation to the next. If samples are taken more frequently however, say at every speed increment, then the increase is much more gradual, producing a smoother logarithmic or hyperbolic curve. Dr. Noakes indicates that lactate buildup during increasingly intense exercise is the result of its production rate exceeding its clearance. As mentioned in our article,Lactate is NOT the Culprit!, Brook’s lactate shuttle is purported as being responsible for assisting with the transport, utilization and clearance of lactate during exercise. At lower exercise intensity levels, the rate of lactate clearance is able to match the rate of production. However, as exercise becomes increasingly more intense and more muscle mass is recruited, proportionately large quantities of lactate are produced, but it is unlikely that clearance via the shuttle will be able to maintain pace. Therefore, there exists a speed or intensity level at which the production of lactate surpasses its clearance and the blood concentration begins to steadily increase. This point is what Noakes prefers to call for lack of a better word - the “lactate turnpoint” and that it occurs at an intensity/speed where the concentration of lactate in the blood is approximately 3.0 mmol/L. If the individual were to run at this constant speed, this would be called running at the subjects “lactate steady state”. In theory this is the fastest speed that can be maintained by the exerciser for extended periods of time such as marathon running.

Therefore, from discussions in this and previous articles, it is safe to conclude that lactate production in the body is the direct result of an increased reliance on the glycolytic energy systems, not from a lack of oxygen in the muscles. Paired with this increased use of oxygen independent metabolism is an increase in lactate production. The sudden jump in lactate production simply does not exist; it increases proportionally with the increased exercise intensity or power output. In addition, it should be obvious that the term anaerobic threshold is a misnomer and that perhaps the only appropriate term to refer to this phenomenon is the lactate turnpoint.

References and further reading: more information on the concept oxygen independent metabolism and the lactate turnpoint may be found in Lore of Running - a classic book in its fourth edition dedicated not only to running performance, but to cutting edge exercise physiology as well.

David Petersen is a Personal Trainer/Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and the owner and founder of B.O.S.S. Fitness Inc. based in Oldsmar, Florida. More articles and information can be found at http://www.bossfitness.com

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December 24, 2009

A Vital Guide To Selecting The Correct Satellite Navigation Systems

A satellite navigation system can be a very useful piece of equipment when you are on the road. Whether you are planning on a very long trip or just simply commuting to work Monday to Friday, a reliable Sat Nav is priceless. Before you get hold of a TomTom or any other GPS unit, take your time to understand how you will predominantly use it. If you only intend on using it for family outings, you will get a much different device than you would if you plan to use your device day after day.

If you are planning to be using your navigation unit for the most part for family outings where it is likely that you will have a co-driver to help you navigate, you probably do not require a system that comes with speech capabilities. Your spouse will easily be able to push switches & enter destinations while you focus on driving carefully. Yet, if you aim to use your GPS navigation system for solo company trips, it is advised to consider buying a Sat Nav that comes with voice recognition. That way, you can drive through city traffic & continue to keep both hands on the wheel whilst entering or modifying your destination. A lot of manufactures of satellite navigation units, such as Navman, have units in store both with & without voice commands.

Acquiring the most appropriate Sat Nav system, can make a very long outing in the car tremendously more tolerable for both you and your other travellers. Instead of a general voice offering you directions, some devices come with comical or well-known celebrity voices which you can pick. If your family requires a stop during your excursion, a satellite navigation system can assist you in finding a good location to grab a snack to eat & go to the toilet. When you are ready to return to the trip, your unit will work out your new route and get you back on the motorway without any concerns. This means no more looking at road maps & atlases each and every time you stop for a breather.

For the traveller, an excellent Sat Nav system can save you valuable time in the morning rush to work. A number of the more costly products deliver real-time traffic broadcasts. If traffic is blocked as a result of a bump or engineering works, your navigation system will suggest another route. These traffic announcements can save you a substantial amount of time in traffic jams, therefore getting you to your place of work on schedule.

Regardless of how you intend on using your GPS navigation system, there is a model for sale that will suit your needs completely. It is essential to make sure that you research all your options completely before you make your final choice. Your a GPS navigation unit will be there no matter where the trip takes you. Find a diverse selection of technology products such as; sat navs, tomtom and lcd tvs from leading brands online.

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November 6, 2009

Guess Still Strong after 28 Years in the Fashion Industry

Now in their 28th year, Guess has a track record of accomplishment in assisting more than millions of customers. It all started with four brothers that traveled from Morocco to California and started to develop jeans showcasing three zippers. From there, assorted types of clothes and eventually accessories such as eyeglasses were made. Guess realizes the strain and apprehensions that are part of the decision to undertake the purchase of a new pair of eyeglasses. Their commitment is to assuage those fears with the high quality and beautiful design found in each pair of Guess eyeglasses.

Guess Eyewear strives to make custom designs to reach the needs of their patrons. They focus on using the finest base materials, which allow their shoppers to indulge in luxury when purchasing new eyeglasses. Also, when bought through an online store, the ability to afford Guess eyewear is even more possible. Already discounted prices made accessible to those buying via an online store gives the shopper a new way to buy a new pair of prescription glasses without having to worry about breaking the budget.

By merging Laguna Beach with Silicon Valley, Guess Eyeglasses are able to capture the essence of relaxed, yet sophisticated style like no other company. Mirrored in the fresh colors, funky patterns, and relatively minimalist design, Guess eyeglasses appeals to everyone across the board, not merely to those who identify with the Californian way of life. Thanks to the Morrocan roots of the company founders, Guess eyeglasses are able to achieve the sense of surfing in Malibu while preserving the elegance of sunning on the French Riviera. This makes Guess eyewear the quintessential instrument for any wardrobe.

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October 29, 2009

Do You Have Someone You Know Who Is Awkward to Get a Present for? Send a Personalized Hamper or Gift Basket

Occasionally, people you know can appear to be almost impossible to find the fitting presents for, regardless how well you actually know them, if they live in the vicinity or in another country. Searching for hampers & gift baskets on the internet could possibly ease this problem. You can select cheese hampers for the cheese enthusiasts or family hampers for your loved ones and customize them to suit your specific needs. This makes sure you obtain the right gift for any event bypassing the need to roam past an seemingly endless number of malls.

Hanukkah or Christmas can be one of the best times to think about giving these fabulous gifts. As a stand-in for the ubiquitous cards and writing materials embellished with your company’s badge, entertain the idea of presenting something way more impressive to associates, colleagues and select customers. This gift will be noticeably eye-catching alongside any others which the receivers could possibly receive — and the best thing is that it’ll be a giveaway he or she can genuinely enjoy. Okay, what comes in corporate gift baskets? The very finest wines, Belgian chocolates, cheese and exotic sausages are a small selection of the articles you will discover in a gourmet hamper. Anniversaries & important family occasions including such events as bat mitzvahs and bar mitzvahs would be the right occasion to gift those near & dear to you a family hamper. Overflowing with an assortment of their favorite treats. Family hampers can make the celebration simpler by negating a few of the usual troubles associated with parties by furnishing you with a few of the tidbits required for the gathering. The person who receives the present may also savor these treats long after the celebration is done. There is no need to trouble yourself when giving them either. As family hampers are jam-packed with many luxury items it is guaranteed to be huge success. Thanksgiving is traditionally focused around the meal, so why not send hampers to your nearest and dearest, and give the party more impetus. Gift baskets are available fully packed with gastronomic delights & first-rate wines along with decorative items, like candles which can round off the gathering, supplying a special style to the gift. Hampers are terrific presents, uncomplicated to get and can be sent to the recipient’s house, but may still have a huge effect on those you buy them for. Actually hampers & gift baskets are frequently considered as a preferred gift owing to the excellent standards of the wares they contain. What’s more, these presents won’t punch a large dent in your pocketbook. All you do is merely search the Web, muster the products being offered, and pack baskets with Wine Gifts or wine baskets as you prefer with dainties and curios that you can be dead certain they’ll drool over.

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October 13, 2009

Knickers and Pop Star Endorsement, Does it Boost Unit Sales?

With the womens underwear market stuffed with a large range of womens bra and underwear brands ranging from cheap and inexpensive to designer and couture designer, the aggressive fight for market share is becoming tougher. Finding the perfect underwear for women is easy with an online store with free returns.

The lingerie market including bikinis and stockings is worth over 2 billion pounds within the Great British Isles. With such a commercial market the number of lingerie brands who are using celebrity endorsements have seen an increase. The most recent female celebs to put their face and bodies to lingerie brands include Mel B from pop group the Spice Girls, Jordan and former girl band Louise Redknapp.

The Spice Girl, Mel B signed a lucrative with brand Ultimo for a substantial half a million pounds. The beautiful Mel B has been doing many ab workouts to show off her chiselled six pack in the press photos for the new range of ultimo lingerie. She follows in other famous celebrity footsteps. Another famous pop star that modeled for a womens lingerie company is the striking Louise RedKnapp, she modeled for Triumph. The increase in sales for the bra brands using female celebs to endorse their products have worked.

An endorsement will work well when the underwear firm teams itself up with a well known person who has the same beliefs and is a good match to the product and the knicker and bra brands target customers.

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October 3, 2009

Fashion Meets Film with Prada

The Devil Wears Prada is a novel turned movie that tells the story of the emergence of an assistant from plain Jane to diva. This account is narrated by actors and dialogue with fashion as the quiet character. Fashion has an innate way of telling a story, setting a tone and even evoking emotions. Many cultures use clothing to tell stories about their history and their past. The Western world has found more novel and entertaining ways of using fashion and clothing choices. What was once necessary is now for our viewing enjoyment. Capitalizing on this, the designer namesake is enlarging the accessories division, and producing a new line of designer prescription eyeglasses.

Prada eyeglasses are the latest creation from the fashion giant. A brillant act on the part of the fashion house, Prada is taking mediocre prescription eyeglasses and lifting it to the level of high fashion. With prescription eyeglasses, Prada is extending its ever present foothold on the apparel and accessories market, while making mediocre eyewear a high fashion must have.Not just for the mega affluent, now fashionistas and working class professionals alike can own a piece of the exclusive brand and emphasize their everyday style with Prada eyeglasses.

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September 20, 2009

Dorothy Wizard of Oz Costume

You could have a magical Halloween or fancy dress party if you visit the XS Party outlet at XS Stock. If you click on the Ladies Fancy Dress category, you could find the perfect outfit for you. Dress up like one of the most famous characters in movies and books, if you follow the yellow bright road and buy yourself the Dorothy Wizard Of Oz fancy dress Costume, brought to you by Wicked Costumes. No-one will want to leave you to go back to Kansas if you show up in this stunning party dress. It consists of a beautiful dress, along with the sweetest apron and petticoat.

The perfect costume for a Halloween party or hen night, or if simply role playing. The outfit also comes with a fabulous selection of accessories, such as stockings shoes and a whole lot more. Then you will be all ready to hit the town and have an unforgettable night were you wont ever want to go home. The costume may be delivered free of charge to anywhere in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

This outfit comes in a size Small (8-10) and has a recommended retail price of £30.95. However you can buy it from XS Stock for the bargain price of £21.99. This will give you a saving of £8.96.

The Sexy Dorothy Wizard of Oz Costume is just one of the fabulous products on offer at an excellent price from XS Stock

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September 18, 2009

The City of London Accommodates Incredible Musical Production

London has been remarked for its fantastic entertainment for numerous years, and this is particularly true for London theatre musicals. Grab Cheap London Theatre Tickets online and watch your favourite shows.

The smash hit theatre musical Wicked is currently London?s most successful London theatre show ever. Based on the story of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked the theatre production tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. See the brilliant theatre production and unearth why London has fallen head over heels in love with the amazing London theatre show that is Wicked.

Next is Dirty Dancing. Based on the 80s smash hit movie, Dirty Dancing the London theatre show sees the Housemans on vacation at a popular holiday camp. Watch lead character Baby fall head over heels in love with Jonny, played by Patrick Swayze, the rough and ready holiday camp dance teacher and note the greatest love story of all. Get your Dirty Dancing theatre musical tickets and watch if true love might conquer all barriers and be prepared to sing out loud to every one of your favourite songs.

And finally, the feel-good theatre show of the year, Mamma Mia. The incredible Mamma Mia tells the story of Donna, a tough forty-something single mom who remembers the memories of her younger days and careless nights and her daughters dreams of love and a beautiful summers wedding. The theatre production is told through 22 of ABBAs greatest known songs including Money, Money, Money and of course, Mamma Mia.

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September 10, 2009

Trench Coats Signify Style and Class

The British military is rendered credit for the Trench Coat’s introduction to society. It was a much wanted piece of clothing during the war. After the war, they were worn by military officers in uncomplicated civilian settings. Since then, trench coats have caught on and have appealed thousands of admirers and users.


Improvements were put in to the Trench Coat as the years went by. They have been re-fashioned to display distinct styles, characteristics and colors. Buyers can nowadays prefer the single or double breasted, cropped (othewise known as three quarter length), belted, full length, and wax-coated trench coats. Another evolution Trench Coats went through is that they are now likewise being worn by women.


Adaptability and adjustability are 2 recent added features of the Trench Coat. Trench Coats nowadays possess what we name as a removable lining, which lets you to put on it all year round. Another thing to observe is that the users’ preference indicate that pea coats, blazers, duffle and leather coats are nowadays the sought after patterns.


Another fundamental improvement that Trench Coats had is that apart from being worn over suits, it can nowadays compliment a variety of outfits and clothing. You can fit Trench Coats with skirts, fashionable trousers and even casual jeans as they seem to fit together. They bring a certain finesse to what you’re donning. The Trench Coat’s mark was strengthened when Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn promoted them. Apart from famous people, politicians and renowned athletes have likewise worn them.


There is no doubt that Trench Coats have surfaced in modern day. With delightful and fanciful designing incorporated with leather’s undying beauty, they have defied time and has captivated the modern man’s lasting pursuit for fashion. Maybe it’s about time to acquire your own.

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August 27, 2009

Giorgio Armani Beats Recession with High-Low Fashion Mix

With today’s struggling economy, the latest trend in fashion is the High-Low. For years mixing high end items with low priced items has been par for the course for trendsetters and tastemakers. Now that many are dealing with financial hardships, the high-low has become a new way of life. Getting last season’s Armani Prive and mixing it with a Target shirtdress is the new coping mechanism of the cash strapped fashionista. The easiest way to incorporate the high-low into your wardrobe is through high end accessories. This is an instant way to perk up an outfit. Since the first thing people see is your face, start with eyewear.

Giorgio Armani Eyeglasses

The latest line of Giorgio Armani eyeglasses has that same high-low philosophy being adopted during this current economic downturn. It takes high end Giorgio Armani quality and style but at a more affordable price point. Since Giorgio Armani has an unmistakable appearance and high standard of quality, Giorgio Armani eyeglasses are a great jumping-off point for those new to the world of high-low fashion merging.

With an uncanny knack for making lemonade out of financially challenged lemons, today’s shoppers are incorporating the high-low philosophy into every aspect of their current lifestyle. As a whole, our culture has been living beyond its means for some time now. The high-low adds a much needed equilibrium to our lives and allows us to continue to exercise our consumer habits while adjusting to our new lower budgets.

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