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July 25, 2010

Weight Training For The Inexperienced

Body building looks like an incredibly difficult activity. This is because most of the publicity goes to individuals who are capable of lifting hundreds of pounds (sometimes thousands) and whose muscles are huge-much larger than the well proportioned muscles you are probably hoping to develop. This type of thing is not what the sport is really about, which is building your health, increasing your energy and strengthening your stamina. It will keep you in shape while working all of your muscles. When paired with a healthy diet and good lifestyle choices, body building is an amazing activity. Here are some helpful body building tips and tricks to help you learn how to body build properly.

Have someone teach you the correct way to breathe. Proper breathing is essential when you are doing body building exercises. Holding your breath is a bad idea. Oxygen is important for keeping muscles healthy so you want to take in as much as you can. Use your diaphragm to help you breathe correctly instead of your lungs. Breathing with your lungs makes it harder to work the muscles in your chest because your chest will be expanded as you breathe. When you breathe with the diaphragm you are able to get the correct amount of oxygen without having your chest expand.

Body building relies quite a bit upon proper protein intake. It is very important that you get enough protein so that your muscles will be able to build back up correctly after you work out. Body builders are well known for using protein powders to help them make sure that they take in enough protein calories to keep their bodies healthy. When you are first tarting the sport this probably won’t be as important to you. Eating a well balanced diet should be all you need to do when you are new to the sport. If, however, you find yourself really enjoying body building and you want to intensify the duration and frequency of your workouts, upping your protein intake is a good idea (it will help compensate for the needs of your muscles). You should ask your doctor about the different types of protein powder.

See your doctor regularly. Your doctor can help you make sure that you are getting the work out you need while still keeping your muscles in check. A doctor will be able to help you take steps to prevent causing yourself accidental harm when you work out while still making sure that the workouts are having the effect on your body that they should be having. A doctor can also help identify problems as they develop and keep them from getting out of hand. At the very least you should see a doctor when you start your body building to make sure you take the right approach to your new fitness routine.

Body building is a perfectly legitimate way to work your muscles, build your strength and increase your health. Lots of people chalk body building up to nothing more than a hobby. It is actually a wonderful way to strengthen and tone your muscles as you work to increase the healthfulness of your lifestyle. If you have the right mindset, you can strengthen and reward your whole body with body building.

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Who Would Have Thought That Walking Could Deliver So Many Health Benefits?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 8:25 am

A lot of people avoid exercise because they think that it will be too strenuous for them. It’s almost as if they are too unfit to get fit. It’s perfectly understandable that most of us associate getting in shape with a high intensity workout – getting all hot and sweaty in other words.

Using similar logic, many people find it hard to imagine that a low intensity, low impact, low injury risk workout could deliver very significant health benefits, help you to lose weight and get in much better shape. However, that’s exactly what walking – an activity which requires no special equipment, training or expertise, and one which we all do on a daily basis – can do for you if you do it on a regular basis.

And when you take a look at the list of health benefits which regular walking can provide, your sense of disbelief is only likely to grow still further.Walking can help to reduce your blood pressure level. It can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke whilst simultaneously improving lung capacity. It can release endorphins and help to combat depression, make you feel more energetic and help you to sleep better. It can be effective against different forms of cancer. Recent research in the UK suggests that it may even help to stave off Alzheimer’s disease. It can raise your metabolic rate and help you to lose weight.

Reading that list you might think that it was an ad for some new wonder drug, or maybe an expensive health supplement. Small wonder that it’s hard to credit it. Don’t forget, you can get started on your walking exercise plan without any special exercise equipment. All you need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes and you’re all set. Neither are there any expensive monthly membership fees to pay – walking is free. What’s more, you can slot walking into your day whenever it suits you best.

The general consensus is that, if you can take 10,000 steps a day, you will achieve all of the health benefits previously mentioned. For most people, that equates to a distance of between four and a half and five mile a day – depending upon your height and stride length. It sounds a lot, but it’s easier to achieve than you might think. Leave the car at home and walk to work. Get off the bus or subway a stop or two early and finish your journey on foot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. It all adds up.

If you are over forty years old, if you have any medical conditions, or if you just haven’t exercised for some time, then it would be wise to seek your doctor’s advice and opinion before you launch any new fitness regime. However, as long as you start off slowly and build up over time, walking will improve your health and fitness levels. More importantly, you will both look and feel much better.

Have a look at the wide selection of styles available from Fit flops – sandals, boots, clogs and slippers. Try using an Omron pedometer to monitor your performance and help you to stay motivated.

July 13, 2010

Losing Weight Fast

Apart from physical appearance, weight affects a person in various ways. This could be the overall quality of life, self-confidence, depression, health risks, and physical incapabilities. There are a lot of advantages to losing weight. It is for this reason that a lot of people are searching for a weight loss program that will trim down those excess pounds and get a beautiful, jaw-dropping body.

First of all, an overweight individual ought to do is find a doctor to provide the best weight loss program for you. This will only be done after a complete physical examination, which then to the recommendation of a proper weight loss plan. To lose excess weight fast and effectively, four aspects of your life should be altered: what to eat, how to eat, behaviour and amount of exercise.

Here are a few fast recommendations that can change an over-weight person’s whole life:

1: Quick weight loss is achieved by a multi-faceted technique that is made up of mindset, exercise, and, in some cases, dietary supplements. Commence by following a food regimen that can be easily adopted into your current way of life. Choose an exercise plan that includes at least fifteen minutes a day brisk walking, running, swimming and/or dancing.

2: Set yourself realistic targets. The ability to focus and have a proper mindset allows a person on a diet to quickly shed those extra kilos. You have to develop discipline and a proper mind set, a dieter will never get disheartened and pack the diet in

3: Listen to what your body is saying. everyone’s metabolism reacts in a different way to the various fast weight loss programs. Try substituting one program for another to gauge the body’s reaction. The exercise regimen must be suited to one’s body, as some are not able to exercise as strenuously as others. If walking is all that you can do, then walk, for this is one of the best exercises. Remember that muscles burn calories so it’s definitely a good idea to put on a little more muscle – it looks sexy too.

4: Eat more fibre since it makes a person feel full sooner and stays in the stomach longer, slowing down the rate at which you will want to eat again. For example whole grain bread will remain in the system longer and stave off hunger longer than white bread, which converts to sugars faster. giving you a quick sugar spike, which soon passes, leaving you hungry again.

5: Keep away from fried food especially deep-fried, as it contains a large amount of fat. But remember, although fish and chicken are considered to be much leaner than beef, these white meats can retain even more fat than beef if it is fried. It is advisable those on a strict diet choose grilled food, since it does not have much fat after the food has been prepared.

6: Drink plenty of fluid. Drinking at least six to eight glasses of water a day keeps the body ‘flushing’ and because weight loss depends on how the body gets rid of bodily waste, the body must stay hydrated.

So, all in all, discipline and consistent application is still the way to quick weight loss. Light dieting, workout, and the right amount of nutritional supplements performed in regularly everyday will result in a quicker weight loss than having a massive, but short-lived campaign that is followed by a return to your bad old ways, as this only leads to adding more weight than before the diet was started.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with our blog why can’t I lose weight? If you have an interest in losing weight, please go over to our website now at Why Can’t I Lose Weight? This article, Losing Weight Fast is released under a creative commons attribution licence.

July 5, 2010

How Walking Can Help You To Get Fit

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 9:56 am

Walking is a fantastic way to take exercise – and it’s a form of exercise which most people can take part in and enjoy. There’s no requirement for any special equipment, it costs practically nothing and you can slot it into your daily routine whenever it’s most convenient for you. The health benefits to be obtained from walking read like an advert for the latest miracle drug – and you can get them with fairly minimal effort.

A target of 10,000 steps daily is often quoted as being the magic number required in order to achieve the health benefits on offer. That’s roughly equivalent to a distance of between 4.5 and 5.0 miles for the average person. It does sound like a fair old walk – but it’s a lot easier to achieve than you might imagine. Besides, when you think about the possible health benefits, it’s worth a little extra effort.

Of course, we live in a society which is increasingly sedentary – so it may very well be that you currently miss the recommended 10,000 daily steps (possibly by quite some way). If you’re not sure how many steps you currently take then it might be a good idea to get hold of a pedometer in order to find out what your daily average is. You can pick these up pretty cheaply these days – but be certain to choose one which has a double axis sensor fitted as these tend to be more accurate.

Once you’ve established exactly how many steps you average per day, you should look for ways to make up any difference between your daily average and the 10,000 step target. There are many different ways to do this – but be sensible and build up gradually – don’t try to do everything all at once.

If you have enough time in your daily routine to fit in a dedicated walk then that’s ideal of course. However, if you can’t manage this, then there are many other ways to increase your daily step count. At lunchtime take a ten or fifteen minute stroll around the block instead of sitting in front of your computer. Get off the bus one or two stops early and finish your journey on foot. Leave your car at home and walk now and again – or, if that’s not possible, then park your car in the far corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to the entrance.

Make modern technology work in your favor by walking around whilst you talk on your cordless or mobile phone. You can squeeze in an extra 1500 steps during a fifteen minute telephone call. Opportunities for fitting walking into your day are plentiful – and they soon add up.

If you have any medical conditions, if you haven’t taken regular exercise for a while, or if you’re over forty years old then it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor prior to embarking on any new fitness program. However, walking is a low injury risk, low impact form of exercise which will, as long as you are sensible and build up slowly, provide you with many positive health benefits. You will be feeling better, enjoying increased energy levels and losing weight before you know it – and you won’t need a pedometer or a set of scales to tell you how well you’re doing. You will both feel the results and see them as well.

Boost the effectiveness of your walking workout with Fitflops fitness shoes. They’re scientifically designed to increase the amount of work your lower body muscles perform during normal walking activity. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide range of colors and styles.

June 13, 2010

Walking – A Great Way To Shed A Few Pounds

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 9:07 am

If you are one of the many people who would like to get in shape and lose a few pounds, then this is a goal which is readily obtainable. It really is very simple – if you wish to lose weight then you must take on fewer calories in the form of food and drink than you use up in the form of physical activity. Consistently burning off more calories than you take on will, over time, result in weight loss. There is no magic formula, pill or wonder drug that will modify that simple equation.

Basically, if you want to lose weight, then you need to eat and drink less (diet), burn more calories (exercise) – or both. In fact, the best solution is very definitely to do both simultaneously. Taking regular exercise will increase your metabolic rate – the rate at which you burn calories. As long as you exercise on a regular basis then you will burn calories at a greater rate when you’re not exercising, for example sitting watching the TV, typing on your computer or even sleeping.

For may people the very thought of taking exercise conjures up unpleasant and unattractive images – but there’s really no reason to shy away from exercise – it needn’t mean that you have to get all hot, sweaty and out of breath. Walking is a form of exercise that we all do every day – to some extent at least – and it’s also one of the best exercises that you can take.

Current medical advice suggests that we should all be trying to take around 10,000 steps on a daily basis. That’s equivalent to a distance of somewhere between four and a half and five miles for most people. It sounds like a long way – but you will probably be pleasantly surprised at how achievable it actually is. After all, you’re not starting from scratch. Those 10,000 steps include the normal walking that you would be doing every day anyway.

Walk to work or school instead of taking the car – or if you travel by bus then get off a couple of stops early and complete your journey on foot. If you do take your car then park it in a distant corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to reach the entrance. At lunchtime, go for a short ten or fifteen minute walk instead of slumping in front of your computer. Small changes like these soon mount up.

Other than a good pair of comfortable shoes, you require no specialized equipment to start a walking workout. However, you may find a pedometer to be a useful investment – especially if a lot of your walking is done in short bursts throughout the day. It will help you to record and monitor your progress. You will find it easier to keep motivated – and also to find new ways of increasing your step count.

If you are able to fit longer walks into your day then you might also want to think about getting an mp3 player if you don’t already have one. Listening to your favourite music as you walk along will make both the miles and the time fly by much more quickly.

Check out Fit flops fitness sandals. They are specially designed to help to boost the effectiveness of your walking to lose weight exercise program.

June 9, 2010

Why You Should Consider Nordic Walking As Part Of Your Exercise Program

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 11:03 am

Physical exercise, taken on a regular and consistent basis, is an important factor in improving health and reducing the risk of – or even avoiding – many diseases and health problems. This is something that we are all aware of – nevertheless, it can be difficult to find the motivation to take regular exercise. Apart from the fact that exercise can be perceived as tiring, boring and expensive (gym membership fees can be very high), many people will struggle to find the time to fit exercise into their schedule.

Walking is a form of exercise that is carried out by most people on a daily basis. It is a very important factor in determining the general health and fitness level of any particular individual. It walking is carried out on a regular basis, then it can deliver a great many health benefits. It has the potential to lower blood pressure and to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It will help to combat both depression and anxiety. Walking will help you to sleep better, and you will have more energy and feel less fatigued during the day. It can reduce the probability of contracting certain forms of cancer. It will help you lose weight and build muscle.

All that you need to get started is a good comfortable pair of shoes. There’s no need for any special equipment and you can fit walking into your day as and when it suits you. If you can walk for 30 minutes a day, 3 or 4 times a week, you will soon start to see – and feel – results. If you can gradually build up to 10,000 steps a day – roughly equivalent to 5 miles – you will really notice a difference. You will feel better and look better.

If, after slowly increasing the time and distance that you walk for each day, you feel that you might like to get a little extra from your walking workout, then you could consider Nordic walking. Nordic walking is a relatively recent innovation which was started in Finland by skiers who needed a method of keeping their fitness level up during the summer and a way to get ready for the winter skiing season. Basically it’s walking with modified ski poles. It’s just like skiing – but minus the skis (and the snow).

Nordic walking has two main advantages. First of all, it uses the upper body and encourages the use of muscles which would not be heavily employed during conventional walking. Secondly, it decreases the load on the lower body joints and muscles.

These two factors result in even further benefits in comparison with conventional walking. There is a 20 to 40% increase in the rate of energy expenditure – and the additional upper body movement promotes agility and flexibility.There is less stress in the lower body muscles and joints as a consequence of reduced lower body loading. For some walkers, the use of poles might have safety benefits – and this could allow people recovering from injury or illness to get a higher intensity workout than would otherwise be possible.

Whether you go for Nordic or conventional walking, the prospective health benefits are very worthwhile for you. Before you start out on any new exercise program you should seek the advice of your doctor – especially if you haven’t exercised for a while or if you have any medical conditions. However, if you’re sensible and start off gradually, then you will be able to gain some very real and significant health benefits by walking.

Have a look at the huge selection of styles on offer from Fitflops – sandals, boots, clogs and slippers.

Is Walking An Exercise Form That You Should Consider?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 10:47 am

The health and fitness market is a gigantic multi-million dollar industry. There are any number of miracle drugs and health supplements on offer – usually for a hefty price. Neither is there any shortage of diet pills and slimming aids – also at high prices more often than not – as many people consider exercise as an activity whose primary focus is weight loss.

More traditional options – such as gym membership for example – are also expensive. Monthly membership fees can be surprisingly high. A lot of people will have a preference to exercise at home. However, home exercise kit – like treadmills, stationary bicycles, cross trainers and rowing machines, to name but a few – tend to have a fairly high ticket price – and they also occupy a fair bit of space.

Those who don’t have enough space to make home exercise equipment a viable proposition are still well catered for. There’s a never ending supply of home fitness DVDs available on the market – usually endorsed by TV fitness gurus or celebrities cashing in on their fame. A recent addition to the home fitness industry which is proving to be very popular, is the Nintendo Wii – or, to be precise, the Wii Fit program for use on the Nintendo Wii. Many people find the option of exercising at home, in the familiar surroundings of their own living room to be an extremely attractive one. The fact that the Wii can be used as a computerised personal fitness trainer, monitoring progress and setting goals, is another big selling point.

As well as the gym memberships, the DVDs, the exercise equipment – and even the games consoles – a lot of money is spent on apparel and accessories. Fitness shoes, baseball caps, sweat bands, jogging pants – they all cost money. It’s important to look good while you’re getting in shape. With the right brand name on it lycra can cost more per square foot than silk.

However, there is a form of exercise which is practically free and which is capable of delivering major health benefits in addition to helping with weight loss. Walking is an often overlooked exercise mode, which most of us do every day and which can help you to lose weight, look better and feel better. It can help to reduce the risk of heart problems and stroke as well as lowering blood pressure levels. It will give you more energy and help you to sleep better. It can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and it can also help to combat anxiety and depression.

It’s a list of benefits that reads more like an advert for some new miracle drug rather than a low impact form of exercise that you perform every day anyway – and one which needs no special kit and which can be fitted into your daily routine whenever it suits you best. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes and you can start reaping the benefits as soon as you like. You’ll be surprised at how quickly walking produces results – the key is to be consistent and make it a regular part of your daily routine.

Maximize the effectiveness of your walking workout with Fitflops fitness shoes. They’re scientifically designed to increase the amount of work your lower body muscles perform whilst walking. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide choice of colors and styles.

June 4, 2010

The Health Benefits Of Making Walking A Part Of Your Daily Schedule

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 10:17 am

Walking is a great way to take exercise which is suitable for almost everyone. It’s a low impact form of exercise which, compared to other exercise types, carries a very low risk of injury. You can fit it into your daily schedule whenever it’s most convenient for you – there’s no need to set aside time for a visit to the gym (and no monthly membership fee to pay).

There are many of opportunities to include walking in your day to day routine. Leaving the car in the garage and walking to the shops or work is an oft-repeated suggestion. If the distance involved means that this isn’t an option for you then take the car as normal but park it in the corner of the parking lot that’s furthest away from the entrance. If you travel by subway or bus, then consider getting off a couple of stops before you reach your destination and completing the last section of your journey on foot. Go for a short ten or fifteen minute walk during your lunch break. These are just a few examples – you can probably think of plenty others.

These relatively small changes to your daily routine can, if applied consistently, provide you with some very significant benefits. Walking can reduce the risk of heart problems and stroke as well as helping to reduce blood pressure levels. It can help to combat anxiety and depression and it will help you to sleep better. It can even lower the risk of certain types of cancer – and recent studies suggest that it may help to avoid Alzheimer’s disease. Regular walking will give you more energy and leave you feeling less tired during the day. Walking on a regular basis will also help you to lose weight – which for many people will be one of the most attractive benefits.

That’s a very lengthy and impressive list of health benefits from an exercise which can be undertaken by most people and which, apart from a comfortable pair of shoes, requires no special equipment. You can get special exercise shoes which raise the effectiveness of your walking workout these days – but a comfy pair that don’t give you blisters is all you need to get started.

One piece of inexpensive equipment which you may find useful – but which isn’t strictly necessary – is a pedometer. These can be worn on your belt or tucked away discreetly in your pocket and will display your results in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned. You may find it easier to stay motivated and keep walking consistently when you have some data to work with.

If you don’t already own one, then an mp3 player might be something else to consider. It’s not strictly necessary – but the miles and the time will pass much faster when you’re listening to your favourite tunes.

Relatively small changes to your daily routine can deliver huge benefits to your health and well-being. So take the first steps to feeling good and looking great by building walking into your daily routine – starting as soon as possible.

Have a look at the wide selection of styles available from Fitflops – sandals, boots, clogs and slippers.

June 2, 2010

How To Find Time For A Walking Workout

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 10:02 am

Walking is a fantastic way to exercise. The large majority of us do it on a daily basis. Apart from a comfortable pair of shoes, it requires no special equipment – and you can fit it into your daily schedule whenever it’s convenient for you. There are no costly monthly membership fees to pay – so it’s also a very cost effective way to take exercise.

The health benefits of walking are many and varied. It’s actually hard to believe that so many benefits are obtainable from such an easily accomplished, low impact, low injury risk workout. Consistency is the key – regular low level exercise is very much better than sporadic bursts of intense physical activity.

Walking for half an hour a day, three or four times a week, on a regular basis, will provide you with results that you can both see and feel. If you can gradually increase to 10,000 steps each day – which is the equivalent of somewhere between four and a half and five miles for most people – you will really start to reap the rewards. Five miles may sound like a lot – but it’s much more achievable than you might think.

There are numerous opportunities to walk a little more each day. If your schedule allows you to fit in a half hour, or even an hour, of walking daily then that’s good. If that’s not practical for you then there’s no need to despair – there are many ways to ramp up your daily number os steps taken.

Leaving the car in the garage and walking to work or school is sound advice. However, if the distance involved is too great then take the car as usual – but park it in the far corner of the parking lot so that you have further to walk to get to the entrance. If you travel by bus or subway rather than car then you could get off a couple of stops early and finish your journey on foot.

Taking a ten or fifteen minute walk during your lunch hour will be better for you than eating a sandwich slumped in front of your computer. Take advantage of modern technology and walk around when you’re talking on your mobile or cordless phone. A fifteen minute phone call should give you the opportunity to fit in an extra 1,000 steps to your day. That’s the kind of multi-tasking that’s good for you.

If most of your walking is fitted into your day on a piece-meal basis, then you might want to consider getting yourself a pedometer. These can be worn discreetly on your belt or carried in your pocket. A pedometer will let you monitor your progress in terms of the number of steps taken, the distance covered or the number of calories burned. Tracking your progress in this manner will help you to stay motivated and will encourage you to seek out ever more innovative ways of incorporating walking into your daily routine.

If you’re interested in walking to lose weight then learn more about how easy this is to do – and discover how Fitflops exercise shoes can boost the effectiveness of your walking workout.

Including Walking As Part Of Your Exercise Program

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Hamish Hayward @ 8:47 am

Losing weight is an ambition which is shared by a great many people. Unfortunately it conjures up images of starving yourself on the latest fad diet or getting hot, sweaty and out of breath down at the gym. Pounding the pavement or doing laps of the track in the rain is another image. None of these options are especially appealing to the vast majority of people.

There is an alternative method of losing weight, and gaining a whole host of other health benefits into the bargain, which is suitable, and possibly more attractive, to most people. Walking is a low impact, low injury risk workout which is ideal for a wide range of people – at all levels of health and fitness and over a wide range of ages. It is suitable for people recovering from injury or illness and is also a good way to lose weight post pregnancy.

The wonderful thing about walking is that it is a one hundred percent natural activity. There’s no need for any special equipment, expertise or training. Anybody can do it, whenever they like and where ever they like. you can fit it into your daily schedule when it’s most convenient for you. There’s no need to find the time for a special trip to the gym – and no need to pay any expensive monthly membership fees either.

The important thing to obtaining all the health benefits and shedding weight by walking is to take a consistent approach. Relatively low level exercise, performed on a regular and frequent basis, is very much better than intermittent periods of high intensity exercise – and it’s much less likely to result in sprains, strains and other injuries as well. Walking for just half an hour daily will soon produce results – as long as it’s done on a regular basis.

If you can gradually increase to 10,000 steps a day on a regular basis, then you will be pleasantly surprised – both at the results and how quickly you can see them and feel them. For most people, 10,000 steps a day will be approximately 5 miles and, whilst that may sound like a fair old distance, it’s much easier to achieve than you might imagine.

One of the great things about walking is the fact that you don’t need any special equipment. However, whilst it’s not strictly necessary, you might find that getting hold of a pedometer is a good idea. You can find these staring at less than $10 these days. These can help you to monitor your progress and will display your performance as number of steps taken, distance covered or calories burned. It might be all you need to keep you motivated and ensure that your walking workout becomes a regular part of your daily routine.

Discover how Fitflops exercise shoes can boost the effectiveness of your walking workout. They are specially designed to increase the amount of work done by the lower body muscles when walking. Both women’s and men’s Fitflops are available in a wide range of colors and styles.

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