chrisandniki

I've been working writing novels for years now. I finally have one I think I'd like to take a shot at getting published (or at the least, professional feedback). Do you fellow writers know of any good writing contests for first novels?

Would this exercise routine allow me to build lean muscle? Let me know your thoughts.

Workout

- Monday: Full body, heavy lifting.

- Tuesday: Sprint/Interval cardio

- Wednesday and Thursday: Easy cardio

- Friday: Light full body lifting (bodyweight exercises)

- Saturday and Sunday: Easy cardio

Diet

2500 calories (with ~ 1 g of protein per my bodyweight)

Carbs mainly from fruits and vegetables

Sleep

7 - 8 hours a night

Let me know your thoughts. I'm trying to balance work and family life. I'm also in my late 30's, so recovery is important to me as well (I can't do what many of you early 20-year olds have recommended in the past).

Anyway, let me know your thoughts.

I recently saw a TV on the history channel called "Life After People." Basically, it did not take long for nature to remove any signs of human life.

So it got me to thinking? Is it possible that past civilizations (perhaps ones that there are no evidence ever existed) had developed to a technological point we are now (maybe even past it). And then they blew themselves up or some other cataclysmic event happened. I'm talking about civilizations even before the stone age.

After that point, the survivors (maybe 10% of humans would survive) would return to a stone age again. And the cycle would repeat over and over. And the past civilizations would either become lost to memory or the stuff of legends.

We like to think time moves in a linear fashion. But everything else around us seems to point that life is cyclical.

What do you think? I know this sounds awfully science-fiction like, but anything's possible.

I believe humans have the wonderful gift of adaptability, which has allows us to survive throughout history. So even if I'm right, we will survive and be better off for it.

With that said, have you noticed how the word 'depression' is never said or written? Yet, all around me I see businesses failing. It's slow and subtle, but it's there. There are more and more houses for sale and even some foreclosure signs.

And then there are tons of people I know who have been laid off, unemployed, and having trouble finding work.

Am I being paranoid? Does anyone else thing the U.S. is actually in a depression right now and just in denial? I have no proof but my gut feeling, so if my gut is wrong, please explain to me why.

I'm so confused and frustrated -- please help me out.

- Why is there evil and suffering in the world?

- How can we rid the world of such things?

- What is it that man is supposed to be doing here on earth (besides making a mess of everything)?

Let me know your thoughts . . .

I'm a writer's who's trying my hand at some historical romance novels. I have some ideas for a book, but can't figure out the time period (the story would work in a couple different times).

What time period do you like best for historical romance novels?

I was thinking putting it in the old American west (with a Native American protagonist). But then I thought it could just as well take place in the Civil War, the Medieval period, the Roman empire, or perhaps even Feudal Japan.

Help . . . you historical romance fans -- what time period do you like best? Or does it matter?

What's the best weight lifting workout to gain muscle. I'm at a good body fat % and don't really need to lose weight.

Would you recommend full body workouts 3x/week, splits (say M,T, Th, F), HIT, or something else?

I'm 30-something, plus I used to run a lot, thus . . . muscle tends to come on slow for me. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I'm a 30-something, 6'2", 195 lbs, male. I'm in good shape, but would like to get up to around ~215lbs. But I want the gains to be muscle.

Here's what I'm doing now. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

- My calories are right now around 3500/day.

- Monday/Thursday: I do weights (all body parts). I do 3 sets x 6 - 12 reps.

- Tuesday/Friday: I do 20 minutes of jump rope and then 30 minutes of shadowboxing.

- Wednesday: rest

- Saturday: I go for a 45 minute run.

- Sunday: rest

Any advice you might have would be appreciated. I like to exercise (it's kind of my meditation). But I may be doing too many different things.

Any suggestions on why I'm not making any gains.

Which Saturday Night Live cast member is your favorate of all time?

- John Belushi

- Chevy Chase

- Dan Aykroyd

- Bill Murray

- Eddie Murphy

- Joe Piscopo

- Billy Crystal

- Martin Short

- Mike Myers

- Dana Carvey

- Will Ferrell

- Jimmy Fallon

- Al Franken

- Phil Hartman

- Julia Louis-Dreyfus

- Jon Lovitz

- Tina Fey

- Amy Poehler

- Chris Rock

- Adam Sandler

- Norm Macdonald

- Dennis Miller

- Jay Mohr

- Other (who?)

I'm in my mid-30's, married, have two great children, and have a good day job.

Yet, all of a sudden I've had this strange urge to try stand-up comedy. I don't know where it came from. I like watching stand-up, but the thing is, I'm really kind of an introvert, and not very funny. I can make my laugh and kids laugh, but that's hardly stuff that would make a killer set.

So what do you think? Do you think the universe is trying to tell me something? Or am I just having a midlife crisis?

And if I do decide to try it, how to I make sure I don't crash and burn?

I've been following some boxing conditioning workouts to get in shape (they work, believe me). This includes things like roadwork, jump rope, bodyweight exercises, shadowboxing, and weightlfiting.

I want to get some type of punching bag now to really start hitting something :)

My problem is, there are a million different types of bags available: heavy bags, speed bags, slip bags, freestanding bags, etc.

Which do you think is most beneficial for someone who never plans to step in the ring, but wants to work on their punching technique and basically just get (and stay) in shape?

I am a 36 year old male in good health (I have a healthy BMI and weight, and exercise 5 days a week). However, my blood pressure is high (around 147) and continues to rise. I have high blood pressure in my family.

I really don't want to get on medication. Do you all have any suggestions on what I can do to lower my blood pressure naturally (without medication)?

I've been thinking about the huge cost of electricty just for our appliances. Is it possible (and cost effective) to use some solar (or other alternative power) to run just some items like our clothes drawer, water heater, oven, dishwasher, refridgerator, and AC unit?

I don't need something that will power my whole house . . . rather just run some of these items so I can get off the grid.

Let me know your thoughts.

I am 6'2" and 190 lbs. I've been a runner for a long time, but would like to start hitting the weights more and reducing the cardio. I've been lifting for most of this year, but my gains are slow. It could be that I'm in my 30's, and that until recently I've been running 6 days/week.

How many calories should I be getting in a day to gain muscle without gaining fat? And how much protein should I be consuming?

Right now, my lifting program is 5 days of lifting with no more than 3-4 cardio sessions (of 30 minutes).

Any advice you might have would be appreciated?

I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year and working on a plot outline. You romance novel lovers: would you mind telling me if you'd be interested in a plot like this, or you think it's been done (to death) before . . .

# # #

A handsome male angel is sent to earth to protect a beautiful woman. The woman is targeted by an ancient evil that has targeted her family for generations.

The angel soon finds himself falling in love with the woman. Not only does he want to keep her safe, but he also wants for find a way to stay with her forever.

# # #

If you have any suggestions let me know. This is just for fun: I'm trying to come up with a book my wife (my #1 fan) would like to read.

I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year and am working on an outline. What do you think about this plot?

A young woman is involved in a car terrible accident. She almost dies and is in a coma for a couple weeks. When she awakens, she can see there's actually a terrible war going on between angels and demons (although I might try to not use those terms and stay away from idealogy from specific religions). These creatures are all around us which she can see.

She also learns that her fiance, who was killed in the car accident, still loves her and is still with her as a sort of guardian angel.

Any suggestions you might have on this would be appreciated. Again, I just am looking for enough of a blueprint to get through my rough draft.

I'm working on a time travel story. What's are some good devices I could use as my time machine. Any ideas?

Right now I've got a crazy dad character who's made a time machine out of a Rubix cube. But if you have any other ideas I'd love to hear them.

Is it illegal to put out-of-print books on the Internet? How about just excerpts from out-of-print books?

I'm an ex-band geek and now computer guy who's following Hershel Walker's exercise program in his book: Basic Training. It's hard as hell.

My goal is to dominate next year at our annual company's flag football competition.

Any suggestions on a good title for a blog (I want to write and track my progress)? Also, what's a good, free blog site I should use?

My wife has taken up running with one of her 'experienced-runner' friends. Unfortunately, this friend has pushed my wife too far too fast.

Anyway, my wife now has this pain in her right knee. The pain is the soft area right under the knee cap. She cannot walk very well with it, let alone run.

She's been putting ice on it at night, along with Icy Hot.

Any ideas what this injury is, how to treat it, and how long such an injury usually lasts? My wife is very frustrated with it. She's on a mission to lose her baby weight, but has not eased into running. She and her friend are doing these crazy Flo-Jo speed runs, followed by lunges, etc.