Wednesday, July 30, 2008
An Issue More Pressing than Terrorism
An Issue More Pressing than Terrorism
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona said, "Obesity is a terror within. It's destroying our society from within and unless we do something about it, the magnitude of the dilemma will dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist event you can point out ..." This is part of the synopsis of a new film in the works called Killer at Large.
The Power of Healing
Can miracles be found under the microscope? One research student has published papers in two scientific journals that claim just that ... evidence of "energy healing." One dish of cells was treated by a trained healer. A second set of cells was treated by untrained students who were instructed to hold their hands over a petri dish for 10 minutes twice a week. A third dish of cells stood ignored in its metal stand.
After the treatment, the dishes were returned to an incubator. Scientists who later examined the cells under the microscope didn't know which group each dish had been in.
To the researcher's astonishment, the cells treated by trained Therapeutic Touch practitioners grew faster and stronger than those that received the sham treatment, or none at all. Read the rest.
Low Fat is Old Fad
Low fat diets, while an old fad, are still quite popular despite an overwhelming amount of evidence that they just flat out don't work and can in fact be more harmful than helpful. Yet another study demonstrated that risk of diabets has more to do with calories than fat. I believe if we take most assumptions made about cholesterol, saturated fats, and other macronutrients, we'll find the story is completely different when examining individuals who are gaining weight compared to individuals who are maintaining or losing weight.
12 Reasons to Fire Your Trainer
Yes, advice to nix the competition from a coach himself ... seriously, I thought this was a great blog entry about knowing when your relationship with a personal trainer isn't working out. Remember, just like anyone else, there are good trainers and there are bad trainers. Click here to figure out the bad apples.
172 Pounds Couldn't Hold Him Back
Yes, you read it correctly. He was on 11 medications and could barely walk 150 feet at a time. From a starting weight of 360 pounds, and WITHOUT surgery, Joel Marsh shed 172 pounds of fat. Let's put that in perspective. 172 pounds is 602,000 calories. It's enough energy to brew 1,679 pots of coffee. It would light a 60-watt light bulb for 1 1/3 years. It's the same thing as skipping 1,864 Snickers Bars. Here's the real deal: to burn enough calories to shed 172 pounds of fat, you would need to walk the length of England 11 1/2 times nonstop. So, how about a WAY TO GO for Joel!
Weight Loss Surgery of a Different Kind
This woman lost 140 pounds from surgery. However, they weren't trimming fat. While she was told for years that she had to lose weight, it turns out she was carrying a 140 pound tumor. Another great example of traditional medicine: she had to pick a different doctor before someone thought to check for the stomach cancer that had been growing for several decades.
Pain Killers, People Killers
More research continues to surface regarding the dangers of falling prey to the pharmaceutical marketing engine. A recent analysis of 50 million death certificates showed that 224,000 — a quarter million — died from medication errors. More disturbing is that medical mistakes at home, such as the one that supposedly caused the death of Heath Ledger, have increased 700 percent over the past 20 years. As the report suggests, living healthy is a far safer choice than living unhealthy and trying to correct it through medication.
Exercise More to Keep it Off
A recent study suggests there are multiple benefits to exercising more than the suggested 30 minutes daily. The study, which followed two groups who both restricted calories but one group exercised more, found that those who exercised longer kept the weight off longer as well, and were more likely to stick to their healthy eating plans. Perhaps they felt they "earned" the right to eat healthy through all of that treadmill work?
Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona said, "Obesity is a terror within. It's destroying our society from within and unless we do something about it, the magnitude of the dilemma will dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist event you can point out ..." This is part of the synopsis of a new film in the works called Killer at Large.
The Power of Healing
Can miracles be found under the microscope? One research student has published papers in two scientific journals that claim just that ... evidence of "energy healing." One dish of cells was treated by a trained healer. A second set of cells was treated by untrained students who were instructed to hold their hands over a petri dish for 10 minutes twice a week. A third dish of cells stood ignored in its metal stand.
After the treatment, the dishes were returned to an incubator. Scientists who later examined the cells under the microscope didn't know which group each dish had been in.
To the researcher's astonishment, the cells treated by trained Therapeutic Touch practitioners grew faster and stronger than those that received the sham treatment, or none at all. Read the rest.
Low Fat is Old Fad
Low fat diets, while an old fad, are still quite popular despite an overwhelming amount of evidence that they just flat out don't work and can in fact be more harmful than helpful. Yet another study demonstrated that risk of diabets has more to do with calories than fat. I believe if we take most assumptions made about cholesterol, saturated fats, and other macronutrients, we'll find the story is completely different when examining individuals who are gaining weight compared to individuals who are maintaining or losing weight.
12 Reasons to Fire Your Trainer
Yes, advice to nix the competition from a coach himself ... seriously, I thought this was a great blog entry about knowing when your relationship with a personal trainer isn't working out. Remember, just like anyone else, there are good trainers and there are bad trainers. Click here to figure out the bad apples.
172 Pounds Couldn't Hold Him Back
Yes, you read it correctly. He was on 11 medications and could barely walk 150 feet at a time. From a starting weight of 360 pounds, and WITHOUT surgery, Joel Marsh shed 172 pounds of fat. Let's put that in perspective. 172 pounds is 602,000 calories. It's enough energy to brew 1,679 pots of coffee. It would light a 60-watt light bulb for 1 1/3 years. It's the same thing as skipping 1,864 Snickers Bars. Here's the real deal: to burn enough calories to shed 172 pounds of fat, you would need to walk the length of England 11 1/2 times nonstop. So, how about a WAY TO GO for Joel!
Weight Loss Surgery of a Different Kind
This woman lost 140 pounds from surgery. However, they weren't trimming fat. While she was told for years that she had to lose weight, it turns out she was carrying a 140 pound tumor. Another great example of traditional medicine: she had to pick a different doctor before someone thought to check for the stomach cancer that had been growing for several decades.
Pain Killers, People Killers
More research continues to surface regarding the dangers of falling prey to the pharmaceutical marketing engine. A recent analysis of 50 million death certificates showed that 224,000 — a quarter million — died from medication errors. More disturbing is that medical mistakes at home, such as the one that supposedly caused the death of Heath Ledger, have increased 700 percent over the past 20 years. As the report suggests, living healthy is a far safer choice than living unhealthy and trying to correct it through medication.
Exercise More to Keep it Off
A recent study suggests there are multiple benefits to exercising more than the suggested 30 minutes daily. The study, which followed two groups who both restricted calories but one group exercised more, found that those who exercised longer kept the weight off longer as well, and were more likely to stick to their healthy eating plans. Perhaps they felt they "earned" the right to eat healthy through all of that treadmill work?
Labels: exercise, healing, low fat, massive weight loss, obesity epidemic, pain killers
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
"Normal Weight" Obesity?
Bigger Bodies = Bigger Deception
It seems as we get bigger, our exaggerations are growing as well. A recent study in Britain found that while the number of overall overweight people increased the past decade, the number who think they are overweight actually went down.
Is overweight becoming the new "average weight"? Only time will tell.
The study also confirmed what self-help gurus have been claiming for years: that your circle of friends has a huge impact on your success. People with more overweight friends and family tend to be more overweight, even when other factors such as diet and genetics are factored into the equation. The take home? Find friends who care about their health and are willing to support, rather than sabotage, your success.
NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships
For those who aren't familiar with the organization, the NPC is the National Physique Committee. The show is coming up July 25th and 26th and there is full coverage over at Bodybuilding.com.
Lose Weight With Yogurt?
Another study that on the surface seems to support the dairy industry has surfaced. It turns out that people who included yogurt with their diet lose more weight, more body fat and specifically more belly fat than others who ate similar calories but didn't include yogurt. Sounds like a reason to go out and grab some right away, right? Sounds great, but if you read between the lines, you'll find the key wasn't the yogurt. It was the calcium. The yogurt-eating group got twice as much calcium as the other group. I can buy calcium for fat loss ... and I can buy it in places other than dairy. Did you know that leafy green vegetables and nuts contain huge amounts of calcium? They just don't have a multimillion dollar advertising campaign ("Got Lettuce?")
100 Pound Weight Loss Journey
I can claim 100 pounds lost ... if I include my wife's weight (you can see her before/after in the testimonials section of the Lose Fat, Not Faith Transformation Guide. Jenn, however, did it all on her own! Read her inspiring story and how she did it (Congratulations, Jenn!).
Normal Weight Obesity?
It sounds like a contradiction, but it's true. Just as those of us who have hefted quite a few weights in our day might be declared "obese" by body mass scales when in fact we are fit and trim, the reverse is also true. A growing number of people might look fine on the scale, but they are what we would call "skinny fat" or lacking muscles and still holding a higher percentage of weight from fat. Antonio De Lorenzo coined a more politically correct term when he called this condition "normal-weight obesity." Learn more about the sneaky fat attack.
Blame it on the Rain
We blame everything for obesity: the fast food restaurants, larger portion sizes, and increased viewing of television (heaven forbid any of us fesses up, takes responsibility, and says, "I am why I am overweight, and I am the one who has to do something about it" ... oh, wait, that IS what those who DO something about it tend to say) ... anyway, here's the latest: the Scots can blame it on the rain.
Cure Your Headache and then Kill Yourself
I know it sounds harsh, but that's just what is happening. A slew of drugs designed to treat migraine headaches, biopolar disorder and even epilepsy have been shown to double the risk of suicide but our friends at the FDA don't think this warrants a major "black box" warning (after all, letting people know they will be twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts might lower sales, and we can't have that, can we?)
Crossfit Olympics
Check out these fit individuals banging it out at the 2008 Crossfit tournament. I have been researching this style of training for some time now, and have some good friends in the area who have started a gym. It is an interesting concept that a lot of people are following ... but very intense!
Your House is on Fire and You're Still Smoking in Bed
The Wall Street Journal said it best in their health blog update.
Some highlights: "Our members were advertising life-saving medicines like it's Pepsi, and that hurt us." and ... A hearing in the House in May on DTC advertising was so painful for companies (and observers) that a few weeks later, Pfizer, Merck, Schering-Plough and Johnson & Johnson, all suddenly announced a six-month moratorium on ads for new drugs, and volunteered to limit how they would use doctors in their ads.
Warmly,
It seems as we get bigger, our exaggerations are growing as well. A recent study in Britain found that while the number of overall overweight people increased the past decade, the number who think they are overweight actually went down.
Is overweight becoming the new "average weight"? Only time will tell.
The study also confirmed what self-help gurus have been claiming for years: that your circle of friends has a huge impact on your success. People with more overweight friends and family tend to be more overweight, even when other factors such as diet and genetics are factored into the equation. The take home? Find friends who care about their health and are willing to support, rather than sabotage, your success.
NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships
For those who aren't familiar with the organization, the NPC is the National Physique Committee. The show is coming up July 25th and 26th and there is full coverage over at Bodybuilding.com.
Lose Weight With Yogurt?
Another study that on the surface seems to support the dairy industry has surfaced. It turns out that people who included yogurt with their diet lose more weight, more body fat and specifically more belly fat than others who ate similar calories but didn't include yogurt. Sounds like a reason to go out and grab some right away, right? Sounds great, but if you read between the lines, you'll find the key wasn't the yogurt. It was the calcium. The yogurt-eating group got twice as much calcium as the other group. I can buy calcium for fat loss ... and I can buy it in places other than dairy. Did you know that leafy green vegetables and nuts contain huge amounts of calcium? They just don't have a multimillion dollar advertising campaign ("Got Lettuce?")
100 Pound Weight Loss Journey
I can claim 100 pounds lost ... if I include my wife's weight (you can see her before/after in the testimonials section of the Lose Fat, Not Faith Transformation Guide. Jenn, however, did it all on her own! Read her inspiring story and how she did it (Congratulations, Jenn!).
Normal Weight Obesity?
It sounds like a contradiction, but it's true. Just as those of us who have hefted quite a few weights in our day might be declared "obese" by body mass scales when in fact we are fit and trim, the reverse is also true. A growing number of people might look fine on the scale, but they are what we would call "skinny fat" or lacking muscles and still holding a higher percentage of weight from fat. Antonio De Lorenzo coined a more politically correct term when he called this condition "normal-weight obesity." Learn more about the sneaky fat attack.
Blame it on the Rain
We blame everything for obesity: the fast food restaurants, larger portion sizes, and increased viewing of television (heaven forbid any of us fesses up, takes responsibility, and says, "I am why I am overweight, and I am the one who has to do something about it" ... oh, wait, that IS what those who DO something about it tend to say) ... anyway, here's the latest: the Scots can blame it on the rain.
Cure Your Headache and then Kill Yourself
I know it sounds harsh, but that's just what is happening. A slew of drugs designed to treat migraine headaches, biopolar disorder and even epilepsy have been shown to double the risk of suicide but our friends at the FDA don't think this warrants a major "black box" warning (after all, letting people know they will be twice as likely to have suicidal thoughts might lower sales, and we can't have that, can we?)
Crossfit Olympics
Check out these fit individuals banging it out at the 2008 Crossfit tournament. I have been researching this style of training for some time now, and have some good friends in the area who have started a gym. It is an interesting concept that a lot of people are following ... but very intense!
Your House is on Fire and You're Still Smoking in Bed
The Wall Street Journal said it best in their health blog update.
Some highlights: "Our members were advertising life-saving medicines like it's Pepsi, and that hurt us." and ... A hearing in the House in May on DTC advertising was so painful for companies (and observers) that a few weeks later, Pfizer, Merck, Schering-Plough and Johnson & Johnson, all suddenly announced a six-month moratorium on ads for new drugs, and volunteered to limit how they would use doctors in their ads.
Warmly,
Labels: crossfit, distorted body image, lose weight, npc bodybuilding, obesity epidemic, pharmaceutical danger, self image
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Moms' Obesity Harming Babies
Moms' Obesity Harming Babies
Life expectancy among some American women has fallen in 1,000 counties. More disturbing is the news that poor health habits are hurting babies. The infant mortality rate is rising because "fetuses growing in grossly overweight mothers are often undernourished."
Safety Concerns but Money Trumps
The FDA is actually focusing on safety and slowing the process to approve new drugs. Of course, this isn't good news for the companies that are "saving lives" because it slows the new medicine pipeline. This lowers the odds that a drug will make it to the market "without a lot of extra time and money." And of course that extra time spent caring for our lives by determining possible side effects, well, just cuts into the profits, don't you know?
Researchers Find Source of Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers have found a single molecule that may be linked to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune supression. They believe it may be the missing link to understanding obesity. While it's exciting to hear what they've discovered from rats, I wouldn't get too excited. So far I know of three discoveries that were supposed to "unravel the obesity myth" but thus far they haven't been able to boil it down to a single hormone, gene, or enzyme. Maybe this won't fit in a neat little box?
Pharmaceutical Companies Conspire with Mosquitos, Possibly Kill Thousands
Many overseas pharmaceutical companies lack the regulations necessary to ensure quality. The result? Almost 48% of the drugs manufactured in Africa failed quality tests while masquerading as the real thing. Researchers couldn't determine what was real, what was not, or even what was expired. They also fear "the sale of these inappropriate or ineffective drugs is virtually guaranteed to increase the prevalence of drug-resistant malaria."
Fat Can Still Mean Healthy
A recent study found that despite regular exercise, several hundred children in the United Kingdom were still overweight. While the exercise did not have an impact on their waist circumference or skin-fold thickness, "children who did more physical activity were healthier when they measured the fat levels in their blood and blood pressure."
This is just more evidence why exercise is so important even if you are struggling with shedding the extra pounds. It's about more than just appearance, but truly does impact overall health. The fat is going to require more focus on nutrition and not just exercise to get rid of.
People Die From Weight Loss Surgery
That is one title I stumbled upon as I was browsing blogs related to weight loss. Why not stop by and offer some encouragement to a woman who is "fighting back." Her journey will give you incredible insights into how hard it can be certain people and what drives the decision to do something that can seem very risky and dangerous.
That's it for today,
Life expectancy among some American women has fallen in 1,000 counties. More disturbing is the news that poor health habits are hurting babies. The infant mortality rate is rising because "fetuses growing in grossly overweight mothers are often undernourished."
Safety Concerns but Money Trumps
The FDA is actually focusing on safety and slowing the process to approve new drugs. Of course, this isn't good news for the companies that are "saving lives" because it slows the new medicine pipeline. This lowers the odds that a drug will make it to the market "without a lot of extra time and money." And of course that extra time spent caring for our lives by determining possible side effects, well, just cuts into the profits, don't you know?
Researchers Find Source of Metabolic Syndrome
Researchers have found a single molecule that may be linked to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune supression. They believe it may be the missing link to understanding obesity. While it's exciting to hear what they've discovered from rats, I wouldn't get too excited. So far I know of three discoveries that were supposed to "unravel the obesity myth" but thus far they haven't been able to boil it down to a single hormone, gene, or enzyme. Maybe this won't fit in a neat little box?
Pharmaceutical Companies Conspire with Mosquitos, Possibly Kill Thousands
Many overseas pharmaceutical companies lack the regulations necessary to ensure quality. The result? Almost 48% of the drugs manufactured in Africa failed quality tests while masquerading as the real thing. Researchers couldn't determine what was real, what was not, or even what was expired. They also fear "the sale of these inappropriate or ineffective drugs is virtually guaranteed to increase the prevalence of drug-resistant malaria."
Fat Can Still Mean Healthy
A recent study found that despite regular exercise, several hundred children in the United Kingdom were still overweight. While the exercise did not have an impact on their waist circumference or skin-fold thickness, "children who did more physical activity were healthier when they measured the fat levels in their blood and blood pressure."
This is just more evidence why exercise is so important even if you are struggling with shedding the extra pounds. It's about more than just appearance, but truly does impact overall health. The fat is going to require more focus on nutrition and not just exercise to get rid of.
People Die From Weight Loss Surgery
That is one title I stumbled upon as I was browsing blogs related to weight loss. Why not stop by and offer some encouragement to a woman who is "fighting back." Her journey will give you incredible insights into how hard it can be certain people and what drives the decision to do something that can seem very risky and dangerous.
That's it for today,
Labels: metabolic syndrome, obesity epidemic, pharmaceutical safety, weight loss surgery
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Weight Loss Surgery Not a Magic Bullet
First, I have to say this week has been going great. I had a phenomenal set of workouts so far ... I track my daily training in my online training journal for anyone to follow. I found that my struggle in the past was waking up early to train. My mentality was "Oh, I have to get up" and then there's always the flood of excuses (too tired, too weak, etc). This time I changed my strategy and instead of going straight to training, I go downstairs, settle in with a cup of coffee, and wake up first. So far it's worked ... no matter how beat down, sore, or tired I feel, it's not tough to get up just for a cup of coffee, and by the time I'm done, I'm awake and ready to train.
More on Obesity: Epidemic or Not?
There is an interesting twist to the entire obesity argument in this blog entry (click here to read) — in a nutshell, the author agrees that more people ARE getting obese, but the question is this: if you are overweight, but eat well and train consistently, are you truly at risk for health issues? I tend to agree, that there is a vast difference between being sedentary and eating poorly vs. being overweight. In the former, you might not even BE overweight, and can still have your health at risk, while in the latter, some research suggests an overweight person who exercises is still 2 1/2 times less likely to suffer a heart attack than a person of "ideal" weight who doesn't lift a finger. Interesting.
Alternative Medicine and Crohn's Disease
Finally! There is now a study being conducted to examine alternative treatments for Crohn's disease. The article reports that almost half of people suffering try "natural" or alternative remedies, but cites that there are not many studies to support whether or not these treatments are effective.
Tasty Food Helps us Lose Weight?
There is an interesting article that foods altered by adding artificial flavors called "tastants" may help overweight people shed extra weight. Dr. Alan Hirsch says, "This approach uses natural physiology to help people lose weight." Supposedly the people with the additives felt full faster and lost 30 pounds over a trial period as opposed to 2 pounds from a control group. The study is intriguing but why do we keep insisting on altering our foods? Let's make this artificial, add this chemical, create this pill ... all for a good cause, right? How about just eating wholesome, healthy, natural foods? It's interesting that people will acquire a taste for coffee, beer, and wine, but when it comes to healthy foods, instead of trying to acquire a taste, we'd rather strive to have it added from a test tube. I've got a more novel idea: why not take the bland foods typically associated with weight loss, and instead spice them up naturally with recipes like the ones my daughter teaches at LizzieMarieCuisine.com?
Weight Loss Surgery Not a Magic Bullet
I have known a few people who have tackled weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, that's all they tackled. They refused to really transform their eating habits or exercise, and so they end up slowly gaining the weight back ... and what's worse, eating a half cookie instead of a whole one because your stomach is smaller doesn't help improve overall health one whit. Doctors at Duke University Medical Center now caution that weight loss surgery not a magic bullet for diabetics. So much for the angle of hype that the rapidly growing weight loss surgery industry tried to heap on us ... the worse underhanded advertising in my opinion is the ones that play on health fears — for example the dairy industry convincing you that there product is the only way to prevent osteroperosis or helps you lose weight (consumers often think this is a health message from the government instead of a multimillion dollar advertising campaign from the dairy industry).
Here is the "money paragraph" from the above article:
"We're a culture of quick-fix people," he adds. "Everybody loves the idea that diabetes is gone the day after surgery. But we know that an important mechanism in place when the operation fails over the long term is poor behavior. High-fat junk food and sweets, grazing or constant eating between meals, lack of exercise, those are major contributors to failure, and failure causes recurrent diabetes. If it were purely a metabolic effect, one could argue that the metabolic effect should still be present."
I agree!
Fat Loss Myths
Here's a short, but sweet, article about workout myths.
Are Detox Diets Magic Cures?
As I wrote about in my own article about How to Juice Fast, I don't believe these are miracle cures and certainly shouldn't be used specifically for weight loss. However, these programs do have their place and it's great to see some more balanced articles about detox diets (click here).
Safe Exercise in the Heat
It's summer ... while we've had a reprieve here in Georgia (it's been nice, staying the 80s for the most part), it can be hot, hot, hot, and your exercise should incorporate this fact. Read about how to keep cool and stay fit. I also have an article about proper hydration on the site called The Long Haul.
That's it for now ... off to do my next cardio session!
Warmly,
More on Obesity: Epidemic or Not?
There is an interesting twist to the entire obesity argument in this blog entry (click here to read) — in a nutshell, the author agrees that more people ARE getting obese, but the question is this: if you are overweight, but eat well and train consistently, are you truly at risk for health issues? I tend to agree, that there is a vast difference between being sedentary and eating poorly vs. being overweight. In the former, you might not even BE overweight, and can still have your health at risk, while in the latter, some research suggests an overweight person who exercises is still 2 1/2 times less likely to suffer a heart attack than a person of "ideal" weight who doesn't lift a finger. Interesting.
Alternative Medicine and Crohn's Disease
Finally! There is now a study being conducted to examine alternative treatments for Crohn's disease. The article reports that almost half of people suffering try "natural" or alternative remedies, but cites that there are not many studies to support whether or not these treatments are effective.
Tasty Food Helps us Lose Weight?
There is an interesting article that foods altered by adding artificial flavors called "tastants" may help overweight people shed extra weight. Dr. Alan Hirsch says, "This approach uses natural physiology to help people lose weight." Supposedly the people with the additives felt full faster and lost 30 pounds over a trial period as opposed to 2 pounds from a control group. The study is intriguing but why do we keep insisting on altering our foods? Let's make this artificial, add this chemical, create this pill ... all for a good cause, right? How about just eating wholesome, healthy, natural foods? It's interesting that people will acquire a taste for coffee, beer, and wine, but when it comes to healthy foods, instead of trying to acquire a taste, we'd rather strive to have it added from a test tube. I've got a more novel idea: why not take the bland foods typically associated with weight loss, and instead spice them up naturally with recipes like the ones my daughter teaches at LizzieMarieCuisine.com?
Weight Loss Surgery Not a Magic Bullet
I have known a few people who have tackled weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, that's all they tackled. They refused to really transform their eating habits or exercise, and so they end up slowly gaining the weight back ... and what's worse, eating a half cookie instead of a whole one because your stomach is smaller doesn't help improve overall health one whit. Doctors at Duke University Medical Center now caution that weight loss surgery not a magic bullet for diabetics. So much for the angle of hype that the rapidly growing weight loss surgery industry tried to heap on us ... the worse underhanded advertising in my opinion is the ones that play on health fears — for example the dairy industry convincing you that there product is the only way to prevent osteroperosis or helps you lose weight (consumers often think this is a health message from the government instead of a multimillion dollar advertising campaign from the dairy industry).
Here is the "money paragraph" from the above article:
"We're a culture of quick-fix people," he adds. "Everybody loves the idea that diabetes is gone the day after surgery. But we know that an important mechanism in place when the operation fails over the long term is poor behavior. High-fat junk food and sweets, grazing or constant eating between meals, lack of exercise, those are major contributors to failure, and failure causes recurrent diabetes. If it were purely a metabolic effect, one could argue that the metabolic effect should still be present."
I agree!
Fat Loss Myths
Here's a short, but sweet, article about workout myths.
Are Detox Diets Magic Cures?
As I wrote about in my own article about How to Juice Fast, I don't believe these are miracle cures and certainly shouldn't be used specifically for weight loss. However, these programs do have their place and it's great to see some more balanced articles about detox diets (click here).
Safe Exercise in the Heat
It's summer ... while we've had a reprieve here in Georgia (it's been nice, staying the 80s for the most part), it can be hot, hot, hot, and your exercise should incorporate this fact. Read about how to keep cool and stay fit. I also have an article about proper hydration on the site called The Long Haul.
That's it for now ... off to do my next cardio session!
Warmly,
Labels: crohns, detox diets, obesity epidemic, weight loss surgery
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Is the obesity epidemic a lie?
While the excitement here in the U.S. is over the fact that the "obesity epidemic" appears to be stalling, in Australia everyone is upset about the reverse: apparently there, the obesity epidemic has been exaggerated and wasn't as bad as the government led people to believe. I've been reading the reactions to this news, for example this blog that points out the epidemic seems to be hitting the poorest the most, and that things like "junk food taxes" would really become "poor tax."
In other interesting news, most health coaches for years have agreed that it is important to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. We base this on the connection between insulin and blood sugar management and weight gain. It appears that poor management of both insulin and blood sugar can lead to weight gain, so it makes sense to look to the population who is most aware of their own blood sugar levels (diabetics) and emulate their dietary preferences. A recent study has confirmed this, finding that irregular eating leads to a greater risk of insulin resistance. This leads to what has been referred to as "metabolic syndrome" and could be a major contributor to weight gain. If we take this a step further, diets that help prevent Type 2 Diabetes are probably going work the best for losing fat and keeping it off as well. Several studies suggest that the Mediterranean Diet helps protect against diabetes — if you really break it down, it gets back to the basics of whole, natural foods and getting plenty of healthy fats. While the focus seems to be olive oil, I suspect any number of healthy fats used liberally would work quite as well.
Let's face it: weight loss is hard, permanent weight loss is even harder. There are many theories related to why this happens. While it is common to blame everyone but ourselves (the government for not regulating things like nutrition facts, the restaurants for offering larger portion sizes, the economy for its cruel joke that healthier foods are often more expensive) ... it appear our own bodies play an important role in the conspiracy to keep us overweight. Read this news story that covers why it's hard to maintain weight loss.
I had the ideal "weight loss" activity yesterday. A friend with his two girls came over and the ladies headed to the pool. We jogged about 5 miles and then jumped in and cooled off. Not only was it nice to cool down right after the run (it was 90 degrees while we were jogging) but the pool seemed to help me recover better as well.
Today is a rainy day but it never rains in my downstairs gym so I look forward to hefting some weights down there after this blog is written. So, on that note, have a fantastic Sunday!
Warmly,
In other interesting news, most health coaches for years have agreed that it is important to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. We base this on the connection between insulin and blood sugar management and weight gain. It appears that poor management of both insulin and blood sugar can lead to weight gain, so it makes sense to look to the population who is most aware of their own blood sugar levels (diabetics) and emulate their dietary preferences. A recent study has confirmed this, finding that irregular eating leads to a greater risk of insulin resistance. This leads to what has been referred to as "metabolic syndrome" and could be a major contributor to weight gain. If we take this a step further, diets that help prevent Type 2 Diabetes are probably going work the best for losing fat and keeping it off as well. Several studies suggest that the Mediterranean Diet helps protect against diabetes — if you really break it down, it gets back to the basics of whole, natural foods and getting plenty of healthy fats. While the focus seems to be olive oil, I suspect any number of healthy fats used liberally would work quite as well.
Let's face it: weight loss is hard, permanent weight loss is even harder. There are many theories related to why this happens. While it is common to blame everyone but ourselves (the government for not regulating things like nutrition facts, the restaurants for offering larger portion sizes, the economy for its cruel joke that healthier foods are often more expensive) ... it appear our own bodies play an important role in the conspiracy to keep us overweight. Read this news story that covers why it's hard to maintain weight loss.
I had the ideal "weight loss" activity yesterday. A friend with his two girls came over and the ladies headed to the pool. We jogged about 5 miles and then jumped in and cooled off. Not only was it nice to cool down right after the run (it was 90 degrees while we were jogging) but the pool seemed to help me recover better as well.
Today is a rainy day but it never rains in my downstairs gym so I look forward to hefting some weights down there after this blog is written. So, on that note, have a fantastic Sunday!
Warmly,
Labels: obesity epidemic, weight loss
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]