PERSONAL TRAINER

HEALTH

CABLE GAL:

Nancy sculpts her shoulders with the cable system.

Look who's appearing on cable now

Are you a cable-bodied individ ual? If you've used the cable system in your gym to augment your train ing, the' answer is yes.

Cables are a great way to train almost all muscle groups in your body. I'm particularly fond of trF.' ing shoulders using cables. Shapely shoulders show off your upper body and strong shoulders help you remain injury free. To get them in shape, start sculpting.

While standing perpendicular to the cable stacks with your feet

about shoulder-width apart and knees soft, grasp the D-handles attached to the low pulleys on both sides of the cable system. With your palms facing forward, position your hands slightly higher than and slightly forward of the tops of your shoulders. To initiate the move ment, press up until your arms are almost completely extended toward the ceiling. Your elbows should not lock out at the top. Keep your shoulders back and chest up during the entire execution of the exercise. Pause at the top briefly and then slowly lower to the starting posi-

tion. Using the cables takes a bit of balance. Make sure you start with a lighter weight than you are accus tomed to pressing and then work up to your most cballenging weight once you are accustomed to con trolling the weights and pulleys. Start with 12 to 15 reps.

Of course, getting to use both sides of the cable system is not always easy. Use good gym eti quette, altemate witb others and avoid hogging the whole system.

And as an added bonus, you'll enhance core stability. So, if you're willing and able, try cables.

LET'S TALK

Pay careful attention to your elllotional self

Q: This summer I was transferrea to Miami after earning a promotion. have been so busy work ing that there hasn't been much time to develop a social.life. had hoped would not be spending the holidays alone. For

various reasons, am reluctant to share my dislike of being alone with Iny small network of acquaintances,

A: Read Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (Little, Brown, 2005) by Malcolm Gladwell. TIlls book examines the importance of listening to that small voice inside of each of us. The real issue

DR. ANDREA CORN

compsyd r~lIsouth.net

is learning not to ignore these inner together with family over the holi feelings. You have worked hard to days, this year you'll have to adapt attain a level of professional suc- to change. Consider reframing this cess, yet there seems to be less cer- holiday season as your opportunity tainty and confidence within your ·to better understand yourself. Care personal relationships. fully listen to the thoughts and feel-

Your fear of exposure may be ings that you may have marginal warranted, yet be careful not to ized or disregarded. By doing so, blame only your career and other you will give yourself the gift of external factors from keeping you nurturing and replenish your emo from developing closer friendships. tional self. Then the only restriction Sometimes what seems to be an you'll face this season will be one external problem actually origi- you impose on yourself.

nates from private conversations Dr. Andrea Corn is a licensed psy within one's head. You need to pay ch%gist in Lighthouse Point. Write more attention to the subtle emo- to her at cornpsyd@bellsouth.netor tional signals circulating inside of c/o Health, 1 Herald PlaZa, Miami you because everyone has personal FL 33132. The advice in this column needs. is not a substitute for consulting d

If yo~~~ ',U ep; to,..getting"therIIPi,st. ""1' I n1, "! I

DOCTORG

Planned romance helps revitalize sexuality

This is the second in a three-part series about revitalizing your sexuality.

Q: How can I revitalize the sexuality in our rela tionship?

A: First we need to get men and women on the same page sexually. The mind-set of men and

women comes from opposite poles. A well respected study on sexuality in the 1990s at the University of Chicago helped to illus trate some of the differences. Researchers found that 54 percent of men say they think about sex every day or several times a day. and by contrast, 67 percent of women say they think about sex only a few times a week or a few times a month. The data seem to show that men are interested in SEX. while women want ROMANCE and LOVE. This study of Americans found that 79 percent of women enjoy the caressing and hugging involved in foreplay far more than sex itself, The contrary was true for men: 83 percent of men see foreplay as nothing but the prelude to sex.

But whether you are a man or woman, your ultimate goal should he to use your improved sexuality to improve your appre ciation of each other from a physical. psy chological and emotional perspective.

Begin your quest to improve your sexu ality by reviving the emotional compo nents of your relationship. Renew your friendship. Look at each other from a per spective that you had when you were first dating. You can recreate some of that thrill and excitement that you experienced so vividly early in your physical and emotional relationship. Plan to do fun and interesting things together such as romantic vaca tions or a surprise dinner of caviar and champagne. While spontaneity is wel comed, the most effective way to inte grate romance into your life is to have a planned date, This is a commitment to a time to get together on a weekly (more or less) basis to really "be together" and to listen to each other and to re-energize. Planned romance can, and should be, a part of these dates. Listen to the likes and dislikes of your partner - in and out of the bedroom.

Ultimately sexual satisfaction is a com bination of the interaction of the mind and body. The most important""pearl" you can take away from today '5 column is the fol~ lowing: How you make love reflects the intimacy of your relationship. If you are determined to revitalize your sex life, then the first step is to make ~ commitment to improve the intimacy of your relationship.

Dr. Marc Gittelman is a board certified urologist. The advice in this column is not a substitute for consulting a physician. Write to him at DrMarcGittelman@yahoo.com or c/o Health. '7 Hl!ralcJPlara. MiamI FL 3jr.s2.1 T

DR. MARC GITIELMAN

drmarcglttelman @Yahoo,com