Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Double Your Weight Loss, Save Plants and Trees
Go Green and Save Plants by Losing Weight
Seriously, hadn't really thought of it this way, but did you know your fat loss efforts actually release carbon dioxide and help out the plants and trees around you? Great reason to get fit and go green at the same time!
Big Pharma Wants YOUR Choices
Here is another great example of Big Pharma trying to take over. Apparently, it's not good enough that there is a huge market for weight loss supplements out there, so certain companies are pressing the FDA for tighter regulations. It sounds good on the surface and I'll be the first to admit most weight loss products are bunk, but do I really want the pharmaceutical industry stepping in? I don't think so ... I like the choice we have and the ability to educate ourselves. More control from Big Pharma just seems like a faster road to prescription drugs instead of educating people about the lifestyle choices they can make instead. Read about the rest of it by clicking here.
The Ultimate Pain Killer: Death?
I'm often asked why I refuse to take pain-relief medication when I have headaches or aches and pains from training, etc. My reply is that I believe in general pain is a natural response by the body and suppressing that signal isn't going to do any good for helping me heal myself. Now I do understand some people have conditions that may require the use of this medication, but for the most part people are over-medicated and overdosing on pain medication. Just read this disturbing article that covers the death toll which is on the rise from people taking prescription pain-killer (the emphasis being on "killer") medications.
Diary Doubles Weight Loss
Lots of buzz out there about keeping diaries, and how they can double your weight loss. All the more reason to get on our forums and start writing down your success!
Back Pain Round Table
What are the specific treatments that cover various types of back pain? Listen to a free audio that covers a panel discussion with some of the best in the business when it comes to your back. Click here to listen to Back Pain Treatments Reviewed.
Weight Loss Surgery for Teens? What Were They Thinking?
According to Dr. Thomas Inge, "I think the average person who is hearing about weight loss surgery for teenagers, and thinks, 'Oh my gosh, what are (they) thinking?' are not able to put themselves in the shoes of the people we are seeing."
Oh, wait, isn't that what I just said?
Seriously, though, this is one we have to think long and hard about, because they are seeing children who weigh 400 pounds. It's one of those calls that is, "Despite the risk, can this save a life?" Read the rest here.
Cinnamon to the Rescue
I've always been a fan of cinnamon. It tastes great, adds almost no calories, and has numerous health benefits. In fact, it may be the perfect spice for those looking to lose fat, as it has properties to help stave off insulin resistance.
How Low Can You Go?
It's not enough that millions of Americans have been duped into taking cholesterol-lowering medication by the cholesterol scare (more on that at Truth About Cholesterol). Now we're targetting children as well — read how cholesterol drugs recommended for some 8-year olds.
Are Vitamins Killing Us?
This topic seems to keep coming up, which is why I have a permanent article at my website. Now there is a great post about this online that has some interesting statistics. The media keeps covering how dangerous these are, yet "According to statistics compiled annually by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, multivitamins kill no one. On the other hand, in 2003, there were 59 deaths from aspirin alone." Hmmm ... we don't seem to keep hearing about the horrors of aspirin, do we?
Less Calories Means More Years
I'm always given a hard time for my lower calorie nutrition plans. The fact is, I hardly ever trim down unless I'm at less than 2,000 calories. It seems every trainer wants to advertise how cool it is to lose fat while eating large amounts of food. I'm not sure if that's to appeal to the psychology of bigger portion sizes and irrational fear of starvation, but evidence time and time again poitns to the fact that fewer calories means longer lives. I think one problem is people think of 1800 calorie diets and look at protein bars and shakes and say, "That's not much." When you eat 1800 calories with nothing but raw fruits and vegetables and lean proteins, it's a different story entirely.
That's it for now ...
Seriously, hadn't really thought of it this way, but did you know your fat loss efforts actually release carbon dioxide and help out the plants and trees around you? Great reason to get fit and go green at the same time!
Big Pharma Wants YOUR Choices
Here is another great example of Big Pharma trying to take over. Apparently, it's not good enough that there is a huge market for weight loss supplements out there, so certain companies are pressing the FDA for tighter regulations. It sounds good on the surface and I'll be the first to admit most weight loss products are bunk, but do I really want the pharmaceutical industry stepping in? I don't think so ... I like the choice we have and the ability to educate ourselves. More control from Big Pharma just seems like a faster road to prescription drugs instead of educating people about the lifestyle choices they can make instead. Read about the rest of it by clicking here.
The Ultimate Pain Killer: Death?
I'm often asked why I refuse to take pain-relief medication when I have headaches or aches and pains from training, etc. My reply is that I believe in general pain is a natural response by the body and suppressing that signal isn't going to do any good for helping me heal myself. Now I do understand some people have conditions that may require the use of this medication, but for the most part people are over-medicated and overdosing on pain medication. Just read this disturbing article that covers the death toll which is on the rise from people taking prescription pain-killer (the emphasis being on "killer") medications.
Diary Doubles Weight Loss
Lots of buzz out there about keeping diaries, and how they can double your weight loss. All the more reason to get on our forums and start writing down your success!
Back Pain Round Table
What are the specific treatments that cover various types of back pain? Listen to a free audio that covers a panel discussion with some of the best in the business when it comes to your back. Click here to listen to Back Pain Treatments Reviewed.
Weight Loss Surgery for Teens? What Were They Thinking?
According to Dr. Thomas Inge, "I think the average person who is hearing about weight loss surgery for teenagers, and thinks, 'Oh my gosh, what are (they) thinking?' are not able to put themselves in the shoes of the people we are seeing."
Oh, wait, isn't that what I just said?
Seriously, though, this is one we have to think long and hard about, because they are seeing children who weigh 400 pounds. It's one of those calls that is, "Despite the risk, can this save a life?" Read the rest here.
Cinnamon to the Rescue
I've always been a fan of cinnamon. It tastes great, adds almost no calories, and has numerous health benefits. In fact, it may be the perfect spice for those looking to lose fat, as it has properties to help stave off insulin resistance.
How Low Can You Go?
It's not enough that millions of Americans have been duped into taking cholesterol-lowering medication by the cholesterol scare (more on that at Truth About Cholesterol). Now we're targetting children as well — read how cholesterol drugs recommended for some 8-year olds.
Are Vitamins Killing Us?
This topic seems to keep coming up, which is why I have a permanent article at my website. Now there is a great post about this online that has some interesting statistics. The media keeps covering how dangerous these are, yet "According to statistics compiled annually by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, multivitamins kill no one. On the other hand, in 2003, there were 59 deaths from aspirin alone." Hmmm ... we don't seem to keep hearing about the horrors of aspirin, do we?
Less Calories Means More Years
I'm always given a hard time for my lower calorie nutrition plans. The fact is, I hardly ever trim down unless I'm at less than 2,000 calories. It seems every trainer wants to advertise how cool it is to lose fat while eating large amounts of food. I'm not sure if that's to appeal to the psychology of bigger portion sizes and irrational fear of starvation, but evidence time and time again poitns to the fact that fewer calories means longer lives. I think one problem is people think of 1800 calorie diets and look at protein bars and shakes and say, "That's not much." When you eat 1800 calories with nothing but raw fruits and vegetables and lean proteins, it's a different story entirely.
That's it for now ...
Labels: back pain, cinnamon, counting calories, pain killer, vitamins, weight loss, weight loss journal
Friday, July 04, 2008
Obesity on the Map
Obesity on the Map
And I mean literally. I found this little gem today: a map of the United States showing the distribution of obesity by state. The clear winner who could stand to be the "biggest loser" is Mississippi. The winner? Colorado. The catch? Obesity maps are based on Body Mass Index (BMI), which doesn't take into account how muscular you are. I wonder how California would place if they charted it based on body fat and lean mass instead? Click here to view the map.
Food Gets Fatter
While the debate rages for how and why we have an "obesity epidemic" one thing most people agree on is that portion sizes have steadily climbed the past few decades. Take a look at this food photo gallery and see how things like the bagel and cheeseburger have grown in size. The bagel is 210 calories heavier, which means if you have one of these every day for breakfast you are consuming enough calories to put on an extra pound of fat every other week.
Free Calorie Tracking Done Right
There are two issues I've always had with online nutrition tracking programs: the first is that you seem to either get "here is your meal plan generated for you" or "here is where you track your meals" as opposed to "this is a recommendation, but tell us what you really ate." The second is that it's tough to enter foods, and when I do take the time to enter all that information from my nutrition facts label, it would be nice if other people using the system could benefit as well.
The other stay I found a page that does all of this — and the best part? It does it for free. So check out The Daily Plate for a solution that I think is done right. You can enter your own foods, people can rate and vote on them, you can receive a suggested calorie recommendation, key in your exercises, and network with others. I keep talking about building my own software but if I keep finding gems like this one I might never have to ... it's a great site and while I'm not tracking calories in my current program, I keyed in a few days to see how it worked and the user interface is fantastic.
Good job, "Daily Plate!"
Muscle Mags May Backfire
I recently read that a study says muscle magazines may backfire. They mentioned giving false hope. Women reading magazines while training apparently become more depressed and anxious. The key takeaway is that many of the pictures are either not real or may have involved the use of illegal substances. While I'm a fan of photos for inspiration (you can see my inspirational pictures on the wall behind me in many of my gallery pictures, I do agree that most muscle magazines are not the way to build a better physique. I will give you two reasons:
1. If it were true that their "latest breakthrough program can put 2 inches on your arms in just two weeks!" then it would only take me a year to have biceps bigger around than my thighs. Sorry, it's not going to happen. Many are completely clueness when it comes to how much muscle you can TRULY gain (it's not much ... moreso when you start training, but natural bodybuilders who have been training for decades are excited to put on ONE POUND of lean mass in an ENTIRE YEAR).
2. You only have to thumb through a few advertisements to see who is funding the magazine. Here's a hint: the cover price and subscription fees have nothing to do with it. If there are dozens of ads for protein powder, guess what? You're likely to find articles that say the only way to gain mass is to eat a lot of protein. Lots of fat burner advertisements? You'll probably see a review of the "latest fat burning supplements that work" and surprisingly, several in the top ten may "coincidentally" have ads in the same magazine. Buyer beware!
Have a pleasant and safe 4th of July!
And I mean literally. I found this little gem today: a map of the United States showing the distribution of obesity by state. The clear winner who could stand to be the "biggest loser" is Mississippi. The winner? Colorado. The catch? Obesity maps are based on Body Mass Index (BMI), which doesn't take into account how muscular you are. I wonder how California would place if they charted it based on body fat and lean mass instead? Click here to view the map.
Food Gets Fatter
While the debate rages for how and why we have an "obesity epidemic" one thing most people agree on is that portion sizes have steadily climbed the past few decades. Take a look at this food photo gallery and see how things like the bagel and cheeseburger have grown in size. The bagel is 210 calories heavier, which means if you have one of these every day for breakfast you are consuming enough calories to put on an extra pound of fat every other week.
Free Calorie Tracking Done Right
There are two issues I've always had with online nutrition tracking programs: the first is that you seem to either get "here is your meal plan generated for you" or "here is where you track your meals" as opposed to "this is a recommendation, but tell us what you really ate." The second is that it's tough to enter foods, and when I do take the time to enter all that information from my nutrition facts label, it would be nice if other people using the system could benefit as well.
The other stay I found a page that does all of this — and the best part? It does it for free. So check out The Daily Plate for a solution that I think is done right. You can enter your own foods, people can rate and vote on them, you can receive a suggested calorie recommendation, key in your exercises, and network with others. I keep talking about building my own software but if I keep finding gems like this one I might never have to ... it's a great site and while I'm not tracking calories in my current program, I keyed in a few days to see how it worked and the user interface is fantastic.
Good job, "Daily Plate!"
Muscle Mags May Backfire
I recently read that a study says muscle magazines may backfire. They mentioned giving false hope. Women reading magazines while training apparently become more depressed and anxious. The key takeaway is that many of the pictures are either not real or may have involved the use of illegal substances. While I'm a fan of photos for inspiration (you can see my inspirational pictures on the wall behind me in many of my gallery pictures, I do agree that most muscle magazines are not the way to build a better physique. I will give you two reasons:
1. If it were true that their "latest breakthrough program can put 2 inches on your arms in just two weeks!" then it would only take me a year to have biceps bigger around than my thighs. Sorry, it's not going to happen. Many are completely clueness when it comes to how much muscle you can TRULY gain (it's not much ... moreso when you start training, but natural bodybuilders who have been training for decades are excited to put on ONE POUND of lean mass in an ENTIRE YEAR).
2. You only have to thumb through a few advertisements to see who is funding the magazine. Here's a hint: the cover price and subscription fees have nothing to do with it. If there are dozens of ads for protein powder, guess what? You're likely to find articles that say the only way to gain mass is to eat a lot of protein. Lots of fat burner advertisements? You'll probably see a review of the "latest fat burning supplements that work" and surprisingly, several in the top ten may "coincidentally" have ads in the same magazine. Buyer beware!
Have a pleasant and safe 4th of July!
Labels: counting calories, diet, muscle, nutrition software, obesity map, portion sizes
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