Health Myths

 
     Some people may think they know everything there is to know about their health, but I have some myths that you just may not have known and might even surprise you. 7 myths that you probably didn't know:

1. Myth: Cold weather makes you sick. Truth: People who are chilled are no more likely to get sick than those who were not. It may be that cold weather keeps people indoors where germs are more likely to catch up to you.
2. Myth: You lose most of your body heat through your head. Truth: There is nothing special about the head and heat loss. You will lose heat on any uncovered part of the body. 
3. Myth: Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis. Truth: Knuckle-crackers are no more likely to get arthritis than those who don't make that annoying sound with their fingers. 
4. Myth: Milk makes you phlegmy. Truth: In a study of 330 patients, nearly two of three believed milk increased phlegm production. But it's not true. In one experiment, volunteers were infected with the cold virus, and some of them drank a lot of milk as well. The weight of nasal restrictions did not increase in those who drank milk, nor was it associated with cough and congestion. 
5. Myth: Sugar makes kids hyper. Truth: Numerous studies show that sugar does not affect behavior, but most parents don't believe this. In one study, parents were told their kids had sugar and they were more likely to report problem behavior-- but in reality, the kids had consumed a sugar-free drink. 
6. Myth: Food quickly picked up from the floor is safe to eat. Truth: Scientists have put the commonly-cited five-second rule to the test. They found that food that comes in contact with the tile or floor does pick up large amounts of bacteria. Food that comes in contact with the carpet does not, but it does have the carpet fuzz. 
7. Myth: It's okay to double dip in the chip dip. Truth: In one study, scientists took a bite of a cracker and dipped it into salsa, cheese dip, chocolate syrup and water. They did the same test with an unbitten cracker. Then they measured bacteria in the dips and the volunteers mouths.On average, three to six double dips transferred about 10,000 bacteria from the eaters mouth to the dip. And each cracker picked up about one and two grams of dip. Salsa picked up the most germs from double dipping. 

These myths definitely make you think twice about things we do in our every day lives. No more double dipping, people!

Motivation

     Well, it's the weekend and for some of you that means it's time to be lazy and not do anything. No motivation to do much exercise or eat right. I thought of some of my favorite motivational quotes that might just kick that lazy habit of yours. Sometimes just reading inspirational quotes can make you jump up and start being active, at least for me it does.

• It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not.-Anonymous 
• The secret of getting ahead is getting started.- Mark Twain 
• Fear is what stops you.. Courage is what keeps you going.-Unknown
• Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.- Lou Holtz
• Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.-Jim Ryan
• Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.-Ralph Waldo Emerson 
• You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.-Wayne Gretzky 
• Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will.-Mahatma Gandhi 
• I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.-Michael Jordan
• It's never too late to become what you might of been-George Elliot
• In seeking happiness for other, you find it for yourself.-Anonymous 
• The finish line is just the being of a whole new race.-Unknown 

I hope you found motivation and inspiration in these and I hope that you realize that giving up is never an option, no matter what!

Stop Stressing and Start Stretching

    

      If you start feeling overwhelmed or stressed whether it is because of work, school, family problems, etc. I think I found a solution for you. We should all know about the deep breathing, paint drawing and taking a walk techniques for relieving stress, but did you know that stretching your muscles can actually calm you down? I think it works great. Stretching improves your posture, gets your blood flowing, and relaxes your muscles. So, when you are feeling mentally strained try these stretching exercises to alleviate it. 

1. Stretch your neck. Tilt your head with your ear toward shoulder, incline your head backward and roll your head left and right. Be sure that while your head is tilted back you keep your jaw relaxed.
2. Stretch your shoulders. Put your arm on your chest, pull your forearm with your opposite arm and pull your arm until you feel your shoulder being stretched. Push the arm you are stretching the opposite in order to contract the muscle if you feel that your chest is being stretched instead of your shoulder.
3. Stretch your triceps. Reach up with your right arm, bend your right elbow and put your forearm down behind your head and between shoulder blades.
4. Stretch your scapulae. Extend your arms in front of you, join both hands together and cross fingers. Push your arms further and try to push your scapulae in opposite directions.
5. Stretch your quads. Stand up and pull one leg behind you and repeat with the other leg.
6. Stretch your calves. Put your arms against the wall, bring one leg in towards it while keeping your other leg straight and repeat with the other leg.
7. Stretch your hamstrings. Sit on the floor and put one leg out, reach for it and hold for a few seconds, and then repeat with the other leg then with both legs.
8. Do a butterfly stretch. Sit on the floor, press the soles of your feet together, pull your feet the closest you can and put your hands on your ankles where your elbows are lined up with  your knees. Push against your elbows trying to close your legs and push your knees down. This contracts your groin to get a deeper stretch. 
9. Stretch your lower back. Lay down, bring one leg into your chest, and repeat with the other leg and repeat with both.
10. Stretch your legs fully. Lay flat on your back and extend your leg out, grab the back of your thigh, pull your leg towards your face, and be careful not to jerk your leg. 

If you want to feel even more relaxed then try the citrus lavender sage herbal tea or thousands of others on teavana.com

Tea Improves Your Health

     Ever wonder if you can drink anything else besides boring water on your diet? Well, guess what, tea is excellent for your health and I love to drink it. It can even help raise your metabolism and burn fat. I will give you the top five teas that I believe will not only taste amazing, but have tremendous effects on your body.

1. Peppermint tea- Peppermint tea helps with digestion and can be very useful for treating upsets stomachs. So, if you are feeling sick make sure you have plenty of peppermint herbal tea, add ginger, and honey to help sooth your ache.Peppermint tea also helps the mind by relaxing, comforting, and refreshing your entire body. 
2. Oolong tea- Oolong tea promotes fat burning and helps reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. Oolong tea also has the ability to prevent diabetes and heart diseases! Definitely won't hurt to have a few cups of this a day.
3. Rose Tea- This is one of the oldest teas out there. Rose tea has a major therapeutic effect on the body. Not only does it clear toxins and beautify our skin, but it contains vitamins A, B3, C, D, and E and can act fast against infections. It also prevents constipation and helps promote weight loss. I highly recommend this do-it-all tea. 
4. Black Tea- Black tea is a tremendous source of antioxidants and is made from the cameillia plant. It is shown to reduce cardiovascular problems and increases your ability to lose weight and maintain a healthy metabolism. 
5. Star Anise Tea- Last, bust certainly not least this tea has the ability to treat different types of skin conditions, and works as an anti-aging tool. Star Anise Tea reduces abdominal discomfort and works wonders for sore muscles. Of course this tea has the ability to promote weight loss as well. 

Note: I left out Green Tea because i mentioned it in a previous blog post so you already know about it's powerful fat burning ability. 

I know you are wondering where to purchase these amazing teas so I would highly recommend buying them from teavana.com they have a ton of selections to choose from and I think you'll be pleased. 

Exercising Can Be Fun

     The most common excuses for people not exercising are, "It's too hard.", "I don't have time.", It's too boring, i'm tired." and so on and so on. Even though I disagree with all of those excuses one of them might have a valid point. "Exercise is boring." Well, yeah, if you are just starting out and not use to the burn and sweat, that's understandable. Believe it or not, their  are ways to make exercise fun! Yup, losing weight and having fun- it is possible.


     It's always a lot more fun when you have a friend to join you in your exercising, but if you are solo then follow these steps:

• Always listen to music when you go running or walking. Music is a huge motivator to keep going. Make sure you have some loud, rock or scream-o music on that iPhone 5, though. Soft jazz probably won't get your adrenaline running. Also, don't forget to take deep breathes when you run, it burns the most calories from your body.
• If you enjoy playing sports then go get a basketball and a hoop and play some basketball. Running and jumping and shooting burns lots of calories and you're having fun. Be sure to head over to FinishLine.com and get some lose fitting shoes for maximum comfort for your feet. Running and jumping and shooting burns lots of calories and you're having a blast doing it! 
• Go swimming. Swimming is a great exercise that works every part of the body and burns more calories than even jogging! You can burn up to 700 calories in just 30 minutes of swimming. Having fun and burning off that entire cheat day meal you had earlier.
• Dance! Dancing is a very good work out that burns up to 500 calories in 30 minutes! So, if you don't like the basketball court or the water then hit the dance floor. 
• If you have a dog then you have a great excuse to go out and exercise. Playing and running with your dog is a great exercise. Your dog wants to play so why not join him? You'll both have fun and you'll be melting the fat away!

Now, if you have a family member or a friend who wants to join your fun exercise mission then take these ideas into consideration:

• Tennis is a fantastic workout. It's also loads of fun. If you are competitive like me then you'll really enjoy an hour or two of playing tennis. You can play one-on-one or you can play doubles with two other players. Don't forget to bring water with you, you'll need it!
• Get ready to run because playing frisbee calls for lots of running and hand-eye coordination. Throwing the frisbee back in fourth can get a bit repetitive so I suggest you play ultimate frisbee. It's just like football but with a frisbee and no tackling. It's tons of fun if you have a few other people to play with you.
• Go hiking. Hiking with your friend is a great workout and a great rush of excitement. Climbing your way all the way to the top will burn tons of calories and also fulfill your excitement needs. 
• Cycling is by far a great calorie burning exercise and racing your friend or calmly riding side-by-side is very fun. Your legs get a great workout from going up hills and give you that awesome burn.
• Aerobics! Aerobics can be really intense so just stay at you and your partners own pace. Don't forget to get proper stretching and a cool down period in your workout. Just get a workout DVD and move the coffee table and chairs out of the way and enjoy the intensity! Go to Gaiam.com and get the best workout gear for your killer burn!

I hope these suggestions have given you some hope that exercising can be fun and that the excuses are silly and working out can be easy if you let it. Don't forget to relax and remember; have fun!

Deserts For Your Sweet Tooth On A Diet

     We all have a sweet tooth, but feel we can't please our sweet tooth because of our strict diet plan.. Well, that's not true because their are plenty of sugar-free or low sugar and fat free alternatives that taste just the same if not better than our usual tub of Ben & Jerry's cherry Garcia. I'll list some of my top favorites that not only satisfy your cravings, but satisfy your diet as well. 

1. Sugar-free Popsicles- You can never go wrong with a few delicious, fruity popsicles on a hot summer day in July. 
   
2. Ice cream sandwiches- Just make your own! Make sure you use whole grain graham crackers and non-fat or reduced fat and no sugar added ice cream. It's just as good as the unhealthy ones in the stores!
   
3. Raspberry and blueberry parfait- Don't forget to use non-fat Greek yogurt and plenty of fresh berries and sweetened your berry sauce with stevia. Note: Always use stevia instead of any other artificial or real sugar.
   
4. Upside Down Fudge Almond Tart- For you chocolate lovers this is perfect for you. Chopped almonds and dark chocolate (which is a fat burner, believe it or not) combined with sugar-free syrup help give the fudge almond tart it's rich, chocolaty flavor.
   
5. Dessert Pizza- Use whole wheat flour and sesame seeds to make the crust and use low fat cream cheese as your first layer and add your favorite fruits and you can also add a few dark chocolate chips too!
   
6. Green tea, Blueberry and Banana Smoothie- Add some honey to your green tea and mix the banana, blueberries and non-fat milk with the tea in a blender and blend and enjoy! 
   
7. Pineapple Passion Smoothie- One cup of non-fat Greek yogurt, one cup of sliced pineapple, and some ice and blend and enjoy!
   
8. Quick Baked Pears- This simple dessert of pears topped with granola and dried fruit topped with a scoop of low fat frozen yogurt is not only healthy, but delicious! Also, adding a little bit of cinnamon can't hurt either, especially when cinnamon has the power to lower your cholesterol level.  
   
9. Vanilla Bean Angel Food Cake- This dessert has zero grams of fat and zero grams of cholesterol and tastes great and a bit tangy due to the lemon juice.
   
10. Mocha Phyllo Cups- Phyllo is just as flaky as all the other pastries except this one doesn't have any saturated fat and only 80 calories per cup!

Just looking at these pictures make me hungry, I hope you all enjoy! Don't have time to cook? Then use restaurant.com for excellent places to dine!

Blog alert: My next blog will be about exercises you can do that are actually fun!

Building Muscle By Eating The Right Foods

Protein is by far one of the most important nutrients in order to achieve a lean and toned body. Protein rich foods are very easy to find and you probably already have some in your refrigerator or cabinet. If you incorporate these foods into your diet you will see real results and be very pleased with your new body image.

1. Black Beans- This particular bean is rich in vitamins B, K, C and A and low in saturated fats. Along with its high protein and fiber content, this bean has 15 grams of fiber and protein per cup. Black beans provide a caloric dense carbohydrate perfect for muscle building.
2. Olive Oil- This may seem strange, but olive oil is a great source of monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fats. These good fats are heart healthy. Olive oil also contains oleocanthal, which in an anti-inflammatory component. This helps with muscle pain and inflammation, aiding recovery.
3. Buffalo- Some people say it tastes better than beef and has 80% less fat and 50% less cholesterol. It’s also higher in protein, iron, and amino acids. Sounds like a deal.
4. Turkey- 9 grams of protein per ounce. Low saturated  fat content. Plus, it’s a fairly cheap meat!
5. Eggs- Eggs are inexpensive and have about 7-8 grams of protein per egg. Boiled, scrambled or pouched it doesn't matter.
6. Peanut Butter- Calorie dense, packed with good fats and it has protein. An essential food for growing mass and muscle. Drop the cheese-burger and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This will help you pack on pounds needed for sports or getting stronger.
7. Chicken- A 4oz serving of chicken is 27 grams of protein. Has loads of amino acids, and you can make chicken several different ways (to keep it from getting boring). The chicken breast is low in fats, while the dark meat has higher fat content. The chicken is perfect for muscle building needs.
8. Oatmeal- Eat a bowl for breakfast or mix it in with your post workout shake. This carb helps you power through training. Also easy to prepare and can be a cornerstone to your muscle building diet.
9. Beef- Beef should not be excluded from this list. Beef contains iron, zinc and creatine. As mentioned earlier, Zinc is great for increasing testosterone, iron is one of the most abundant metals in your body and creatine aids in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP or energy). Beef is a perfect food for building muscle.
10. Sweet Potato- Easy to make and sweet to eat. Sweet potatoes are a complex carbohydrate with B vitamins. Great for a post workout or even before.

     Including these foods (in moderation, of course) into your reduced calorie diet using my fat burning foods and exercise plan will get you looking lean and fit in no time! 

Stay alert for my next blog where i talk about Delicious, low sugar and low fat deserts, including tasty smoothies that you will absolutely love after your healthy meal.  

Dieting The Right Way

   
     A lot of people struggle to lose weight because they are unsure what foods to eat and what foods not to eat. Well, i'm here to help and after reading this you'll have the right idea of how to shed those unwanted pounds for summertime. You must keep in mind how important moderation is. Even eating too many vegetables can be bad so that's why it's so important to keep the right portion sizes. First, I will list ten fat burning foods that you need to add to your diet in order to help you lose weight.

1. Berries- Berries are high in nutrients including antioxidants. When you buy them frozen their freshness is locked in and they can be kept for some time and used in a variety of ways. In summer thaw a few berries in your mouth. Just like ice cubes, only tastier. Add them to your oatmeal, cereal, low fat, no sugar added ice cream or yogurt.
2. Whole Grain Bread- The fiber content of wholegrain bread is high along with the nutritional benefits of the seeds within. Wholegrain toast makes for a satisfying and low GI breakfast and wholegrain bread is excellent for sandwiches or as the side carbohydrate for a meal like soup.
3. Green Tea- Make green tea your drink of choice to quench that thirst, satisfy your minimum daily fluid intake while at the same time burning those calories. Green tea contains the anti-oxidant EGCG which works to burn calories throughout the whole day.
4. Salmon- It is packed with good fats which are conducive to weight loss. It is super easy to prepare and a cost effective, satisfying meal with a plate of vegetables and brown rice for example. A steak of salmon can be covered in a bowl and cooked in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Try the condiment Chermoula if you can find it, 
5. Brown Rice- Once you go brown you’ll never want to go back to white. It has substance and is covered in fiber. The nutty taste and texture of brown rice goes beautifully with your meats (such as lean chicken) and vegetables and is very filling. Note: Be sure to drink plenty of water when you have something as fiber rich in your diet as brown rice. 
6. Avocado- You can boost your fat burning metabolism by eating foods that contain L-carnitine. Avocado is a rich source of L-carnitine. As an added bonus, it is also an aphrodisiac. L-carnitine is  an amino acid found in your body in the liver. It helps to facilitate fat metabolism and promotes fat loss.
7. Grapefruit- A study from the Scripps Clinic (San Diego, California) reported that subjects eating half of a grapefruit or drinking 8 oz of grapefruit juice three times a day while maintaining their normal diet lost an average of 4 pounds over 12 weeks - and some lost more than 10 pounds without even dieting! 
   Results were likely due to grapefruit's ability to reduce insulin levels and to a chemical in grapefruit known as naringin, which prevents fat from being stored in the body. 
8. Chili Pepper Flakes- Chili pepper flakes have the active ingredient capsaicin, a chemical that can enhance calorie fat burning at rest as well as reduce hunger and food intake. The boost in calorie burn is particularly enhanced when capsaincin is used with caffeine. 
9. Spinach- Fights free radicals and improves recovery for better muscle building ability and is also filled with important nutrients as well as every other green vegetables!
10. Nuts- Fat alpha-linolenic acid are in all nuts, but most only contain trace amounts. The real hero in nuts is the mono-unsaturated fats. Almonds are a rich source of Omega-3's and only once contains about 3 grams of alpha-linolenic acid.

          Always remember to stay clear of any drinks that contain calories. Drinking calories is one of the worst things to do on your diet. No alcohol, soda, high in fat milk. If you have cereal in the morning, make sure it's whole grain and low in sugar and read the serving size on the box and stick to it. As for milk, always use unsweetened almond milk or any skim milk will be fine. Water, water, water. Our body needs about 2 liters of water DAILY! Yes, it seems like a lot, but it helps tremendously in helping you feel fuller longer. Most of them time we feel "hungry" it's actually us feeling dehydrated because of the lack of water, so drink lots of water and stay clear of soda's and other drinks that contain sugar and unwanted calories. At night, drinking herbal tea with a bit of mint and cinnamon is very helpful in your sleep and can actually help you burn more calories while you sleep. 

Blog Reminder: In my next blog I will talk about the very important protein-rich foods you need in your diet and also some healthy, tasty deserts to satisfy your after-dinner cravings.  Don't forget to visit teavana.com for delicious fat burning teas!

Losing Weight- It Can Be Easy

   By now we all know that exercising and eating right are vital in order to lose weight, maintain your weight, and stay healthy, but what we sometimes overlook is the way we are exercising. Many people have the idea that doing 1000 crunches are going to magically make you skinny and toned. Well, that's simply not the case. Doing crunches strengthens your ab muscles, yes, but they do not remove the fat that is covering them up. So, in order to shed the fat and show off those ab muscles we must run, sprint, bike, swim, etc. If you are just starting out then I suggest you just start out walking. Walking is a great way to burn calories and over time it will burn fat. Try to aim for about 10,000 steps a day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and park way in the back at the grocery store, it sounds silly, but it really can work! The fastest and most effective way to lose fat is running, especially sprinting. Sprinting can be pretty tough to sustain a solid pace, but as long as you are jogging in between your sprint bursts you are on the right track. This is called High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), it is by far the most effective, enduring way to lose weight, but it pays off in the end, BIG-TIME. Doing this for about an hour five days a week is extremely good. Keep in mind that if you can't handle a full hour that's okay, you will build up to it! Everyone moves at their own pace and as long as you stay consistent with your workout and slowly increase the amount of time you will be on your way to running that elusive 5K that you always dreamed about. 



     Another vital exercise you need to do is Strength Training. A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism suggests that combining cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise with Strength training is more effective than cardiovascular training alone in getting rid of abdominal fat You can do resistance training with free weights, exercise machines or resistance bands. Strength training is one of my personal favorites because of the quick burning and sweating feeling you get. You may think that isn't a very good feeling, but once you get past the first few weeks and start seeing the awesome results of that burning and sweating you'll know what I mean. When first starting out you don't want to start lifting 250 pounds worth of weight. Not only will you not be able to lift it, but you could seriously injury yourself. 5-10 pounds of weight is the best starting point. Using weights is also great when you are walking, try using 2-3 pound hand weights when walking though. Doing squats with those weights in your hand is a very good form of strength training.  If you don't have that p90x machine, don't worry about it. There are plenty of other ways to ramp up the resistance training. Like, push-ups, jumping jacks, chin-lifts, leg-lifts, burpees, and just simple bench pressing, remembering not to overwhelm yourself with too much weight. Don't ever forget to drink lots and lots of water and stretch the muscles that you will be working out before and after the work-out, it's worth it.  Water is very vital to your diet and so is vitamins. Centrum vitamins are great supplements to take after your breakfast in the morning, you can get these at vitaminemporium.com. I'll go into more detail about the diet portion of your weight loss goal in my next blog. Dieting is about 85% of losing weight so stay alert for my next blog for crucial information that WILL help you. 

The All Star Game Must Change For The Sake Of Baseball

      As the All Star game starters, reserves, and pitchers were being announced Saturday night, I was a bit concerned that some of the real stars in this league this year would not make it. Turns out my concerns were correct. With players like Bryce Harper with only 29 RBI's and has missed 31 games this year actually made the starting roster. To have the nerve to have Marco Suctaro, (a player who is only has 19 RBI's and 2, yes a  pathetic 2 Home Runs) in the All star game is absolutely ridiculous. We all know about this Yasiel Puig "sensation", ESPN has the audacity to promote Puig as the final vote winner. If ESPN is that desperate for media attention and thinks MLB need Puig in the game then we have some serious issues. Yes, Puig has been off to a torrent start to his very short Major League career, however to suggest that he deserves to be an all star because he has knocked in 19 runs and hit 8 home runs and struck out 31 times is outrageous. Puig went 0-4 with four strikeouts Saturday and people started saying he is just an average ball player. These "fans" aren't truly fans in my book if the only reason they pay attention to the game is to see someone go 4-5 with 2 homers and 5 RBI's every single game. True fans of the game should know that players that work hard every single day and put in the effort and show themselves on the stat sheet and in the win collumn deserve to be recognized in the mid-summer classic. 

     Teams like the Oakland A's, the Atlanta Braves only have ONE all star. Yes, one all star for two first place teams. Struggling teams like the Blue Jays, Brewers, Mariners, and Giants all get multiple All Stars, of course. The lack of respect for first place teams and guys who play every game of every season is disgusting. The Braves have to beg too get their best hitter (Freddie Freeman) into the All Star game as a "Final vote" by the "fans", of course. Brian Mccann also has a very strong case to make, he has been tearing up Major League pitching since coming off the DL. In 48 games played B-Mac has 10 homers, 28 RBI's and a blistering .304 BA. Justin Upton hit 12 homers in the month of April, yes he slowed down a bit, but he is well worthy of the nod as at least a reserve, after all he has more homers than Brandon Phillips and way more RBI's than Bryce Harper. In this stat-driven league we are in it really surprises me that Everth Cabrera with 24 RBI's and 4 home runs and a .294 BA and has spent time on the DL actually triumphed players like Ian Desmon, Adrian Gonzalez, Andrelton Simmons, Gerado Parra. In the AL you have players like Salvador Perez beating out the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury. Ben Zobrist, who is hitting a whopping .262 on the season getting in over Josh Donaldson who is hitting .319 and arguably the A's best hitter. Jed Lowrie is having a great season on a first place ball club but still gets snubbed. I don't know what's worse, the popularity contest in the All Star game or the boring, noncompetitive Home Run Derby. In 2010 Chris young was in the Derby (have no idea why) he muscled out 1 home run. That actually made me laugh. In 2011 Brandon Inge hit a staggering ZERO home runs in the Derby and guess what? Robinson Cano did the same thing in 2012! Then Matt Kmep followed it up with a grand total of one homer. So, I propose that we get away with the "captains" and start letting the fans, yes I said fans vote for the Derby contestants. Let the fans vote for the exhibition portion of the All Star festivities and let the players vote for the game that counts so it will be a fair advantage all the way around. I wouldn't even mind having captains for the All star game, let a the former MVP's of the years prior decide who makes their team. That way the players will only have themselves to blame if they lose.


      Back to the Home Run Derby, in order to intensify and make even the non-casual fans interested MLB should seriously consider head-to-head match-ups. I don't know about you but I would definitely pay money to see Evan Gattis go up against Justin Upton in a battle to see who could get the most homers out of 20 swings. How about Miguel Cabrera going up against Prince Fielder. Or Josh Hamilton against Mike Trout? Now, that is a million dollar act. It would not only attract fans of Baseball, but fans of competition. Who wouldn't want to see a battle of the best of the best? A true challenge to see who is on top of the Home Run world. That way we don't have mediocrity in one of the most exciting plays in the game. I think by allowing these changes to take place MLB, media outlets, and fans of the game will all be a lot more pleased. Deserving talent equals happy fans and the best way to do that is to change. I fear that America's favorite pastime is turning into America's favorite worst time and that is awful because I truly love the game and would really hate to see it turn into an unpopular sport. Hopefully the sports community can band together and create a better Mid-summer classic where the deserving players get to represent their deserving teams. Let's try to at least get one more deserving Brave in the game. Vote Freddie Freeman!