We all know that if you live in the USA you need to have medical insurance to cover any nasty surprises that come around. The last thing anyone wants to think about when they are ill is how to finance their stay in hospital, or how to cut corners on essential medical treatment.

As a reader of this blog focusing on your physical health it stands to reason that you are exactly the type of person who cares about their well-being and so wants to make sure they get their medical insurance just right.

So I though you might be interested to know about a health insurance comparison site I just discovered which offers no medical term life insurance among other things.

Equotes specialises in these no medical exam life insurance policies which have two major benefits. The first of these of course is that there is no need for a medical so you can avoid all the hassle and expense of such an experience. Secondly, as they offer term life insurance you are insuring yourself for a particular period of time (such as the next decade) which can prove more cost effective than medical cover for the rest of your life.

The way Equotes gives out it’s free no medical life insurance quotes is that you simply fill in their no obligation form, click the button and a variety of quotes are provided to you to compare and contrast. When you find the quote you’re ahppy with, just sign up and you’re done. They claim the whole process takes under 20 minutes so may well be worth a look.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Body Mass Index (BMI) isn’t 100% perfect but it at least helps to work out how over weight (if at all) you are - and hence how much weight you need to lose to be at a healthy weight.

It’s also a statistic used by doctors so clearly the medical professional place a lot of emphasis on it as a measuring tool.

Now I should say that by “fitness model standards” a healthy BMI is unlikely to win you prizes. You likely won’t have a six pack stomach etc. but you *will* be slimmer and healthier and if you *want* to go that extra mile then you’re better placed to have a go at it.

Well I’ve just discovered a useful, interesting (and free!) tool that will let you calculate your own BMI based on just your height and your weight.

(Actually while this isn’t the main point here, they also have a range of other health and fitness articles that might be of interest to you at the site too).

So why not go and have some fun now. Type in your own details to the little cculator of the following web page and see how healthy your weight is… click here to calculate your BMI now.

Popularity: unranked [?]

OK so this is  something of an off-topic post, but it’s pretty good fun all the same.

I’ve found a little service that tells you (allegedly) what your blog is worth.

As of today the little box that is currently in the right-hand side of this page says that apparently this blog is worth $6,774.48.

Not bad for just talking about things I love. Incase you’re interested I accept Paypal, credit cards or checks ;-)

Popularity: 7% [?]

When I was at school I never liked any of the typically British sports - football, rugby and so on. Basketball was my game. I’m not saying I was great at it, but I loved it.

No doubt at least in part because we played it indoors rather than out in the cold, basketball is a great choice for staying fit, losing weight and improving your cardiovascular system.

One of the best things is how much (and how often) you’re on the go. In soccer, as an example, there are long periods of time without the ball due to the size of the pitch while with basketball the smaller court means you’re in play far more often so you get far more exercose (and fat burning) in the same priod of time.

Like HIIT of course, there are times when you slow it down so your body gets a full “interval training” style workout.

Once you’ve left school finding places ot play basketball can be a little harder due to the requirements of the court but you can always set things up in your garden if you have the space.

One example of a basketball supplies company is Dadazi that offers products such as inground basketball hoops and the more standard style of basketball hoop together with advice on such things as basketball court dimensions.

Popularity: 5% [?]

We’ve all been there - a new member at the gym - and you know how out of place you look.

It just doesn’t feel “natural” to be there.

But if you’re keen to get over that “bump” and start looking like a gym pro as quickly as possible then there are a few things you can do:

1) Get Yourself A Proper Workout Kit

Many gym newbies haven’t yet quite decided if it’s for them or not so they wear an old t-shirt and pair fo shorts from the back of their wardrobe.

Appreciate that you are going to get hot and sweaty, and that the majority of the serious gym goers will be wearing “proper” gym stuff and go buy yourself something so you blend in. Best bet - pay a lot of attention when you’re shown round the gym before you actually sign on the dotted line so you can get an idea of what the other members are wearing.

2) Get Inducted Out Of Peak Hours

Most new gym goers will have a gym induction - in many gyms it’s one of the rules.

So don’t aim for peak time. Struggling trying to learn to use the various machines and do the various exercises with a instructor right next to you while the gym is packed couldn’t scream “newbie” any more if you tried.

So go some time between 10am and 4pm on a weekday for the quietest times and do your induction then. If you want to be smart, even ask them when you’re being shown round when the quietest times are and make a mental note.

3) Focus On Your Workout Not Other People

Serious gym goers tend to be there to work out. Newbies tend to feel self conscious and spend a lot of time looking around the gym watching what other people are doing. Sometimes even mimicking them. It’s OK to go ask someone what that exercise is that they’re doing and what muscles does it work - but try in general to focus on what you’re doing not what everyone else is doing.

Popularity: 28% [?]