Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Double Your Weight Loss, Save Plants and Trees
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
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Mayo Clinic Says "Hold the Mayo"
I'm actually getting ready to pour myself a cup of coffee before I head out for a morning run. It's a beautiful day here and I can sneak out before it gets too hot. It's been a phenomenal week. With my focused nutrition and training, I've shed 12 pounds the past 4 weeks and lost over an inch from my waist. My running has been improving steadily so I look forward to getting back into some races and targeting another marathon.
What's new?
Weight Loss Resolution for the Conference of Mayors?
WHEREAS, there's a lot of overweight people out there, WHEREAS, bicycling is a physical activity that may help promote fat loss, BE IT RESOLVED, that there is an interesting resolution you can read right here.
Our Children Need Help
A Happy Meal isn't so friendly anymore ... did you know that because of poor diet and lack of exercise, "diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents; about 151,000 people below the age of 20 years have diabetes." That's disturbing because for the most part some smart decisions can create this from happening. This is a summary of the report from the CDC.
Mayo Clinic Says Hold the Mayo
One of the world's most respected health organizations now has their own diet: The Mayo Clinic Diet. This might sound familiar if you've read Lose Fat, Not Faith: "Mayo Clinic's approach to weight loss is not a diet. It's a lifestyle that can help you maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime." (I wonder why they call it a diet and then tell us it's not a diet?). Their pyramid is one of the best I've seen (notice that there are fruits and vegetables at the base, then it goes up from there). I'm excited to see others not only simplifying the message and focusing on healthy, natural balance, but also integrating concepts such as goals and mindset.
Be an Organic Insider
Organic can be confusing, especially when it comes to "organic" vs. "cage-free" vs. "free range." Use this article to help decipher what those labels really mean.
The Cholesterol Scare: Millions of Victims Strong
This weekend we had a terrific class at the local recreational center. I gave some nutrition advice and my wife and daughter taught how to make healthy meals in 10 minutes or less. We had "tunalini" which is tuna mixed with canneloni (a type of bean) and some olive oil and red wine vinegar, we marinated berries in balsamic vinegar, and made some high protein, high fiber pasta with vegetables. As part of my talk, I discussed cholesterol and what a deceptive scam it truly is. When a student asked about more details, I asked a simple question: "When you were put on your cholesterol-lowering medication, how much time did your doctor spend discussing the lifestyle changes you could make in order to have a natural, positive impact on your condition?" Of course the answer was that there was no real discussion — only when the patient indicated they were opposed to the medication and wanted to know if they could get off it, the reply was "most people don't make the choices they need to and therefore must stay on it." But what's amazing is that those choices were never discussed!
I've written about this before but wanted to share this article that goes into more detail about the $6 billion dollar cholesterol scam.

Labels: adolescent diabetes, cholesterol, diabetes, diet, mayo clinic, organic, weight loss
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Is the obesity epidemic a lie?
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
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Humbled on the Mountain
Today I set out looking forward to a long run. I'd rested for several days and did not feel any issues with my foot. However, upon arriving at the mountain, I had only taken a few steps up the path when the pain came back. The pain is along the side of my foot (the outside) - it's not in the ankle but below it. Not sure what it is.
At any rate my body is telling me I just haven't relaxed enough to heel. This is extremely disappointing with a race coming soon. I'm definitely NOT ruling myself out of the race ... I just need to make sure I rest appropriately and recover fully before tackling it. I made it to the top of the mountain and then limped my way back down. I actually had a good pace (the hill repeats have paid off) but I am just frustrated to not have had a quality long run in weeks now.
Perhaps the message is that I keep pushing too far, too much, too soon. I'm going to stop trying to force volume through frequency (i.e. lots of runs) and just focus on 3 quality runs (after taking AT LEAST a full week off to get rid of this injury). I'll keep my hill repeats, have a pace run, then my long run. The fourth run just seems to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me.
I also need to get more consistent with stretching and strength training. Something to focus on.
What was really nice was the time it took to head down the mountain. It was a pause to be in nature and "lost" on the mountain.
That's when I was struck with a very acute realization: I've been burning the candle at both ends a lot, and haven't taken much time to pause, slow down, and relax. I seem to keep thinking and hinting about it but not doing it. It's really what my long runs should be but haven't due to the stuggles I've been having lately with injuries, etc.
It is ironic because my latest video which I'll post below relates to how thought is creative and our thoughts help manifest much of what goes on in life. If we allow our thoughts to randomly generate as they tend to, then we give up control but not focusing on intention. I haven't "intended" much lately, instead I've set goals and gone with the flow but have let my thoughts run wild. It's time to do a few things. First is to just pause and relax. It used to be a daily ritual to meditate and relax ... it's time to get back to that. Those moments are so important. In fact, if I were my own client, that's the first thing I'd tell me to focus on ... so it's time to start listening to that inner voice!
The second is to start building a better routine. I wrote last week of dedicating the day to my family, and I had a phenomenal time this weekend. We went on a picnic, had a date, and it was great. I also need to carry that into the week. I've let some chaos creep in and it's time to focus more on organization.
I've had a few people ask me if I felt God is telling me that I'm not meant to run the ultramarathon. I don't believe this is the case. When I was training hard for a bodybuilding competition, I realized that I was only doing it for me. Not even as a positive act for me ... I wasn't pursuing the healthy benefits of training or achieving low body fat. I was in it for the vanity - here's my muscles, now "I'll show them" meaning the people who used to give me a hard time for being overweight and out of shape.
I realized this and prayed and decided that I would not pursue that goal. It was a humbling experience after committing so publicly and to so many people to stop and back out, but it was the right thing to do because I was pursuing it for the wrong reasons.
This goal, however, I feel is one I am called to. The issue is not the goal, it's the way I've been approaching it. It is a journey to learn about myself and my limits ... but instead I've been trying to force it, push it through, add mileage when I know I'm not ready or hit the long runs when I'm not fully healed. I've got to create more balance and I believe this is the lesson I'm meant to learn.
So I'm very much still in the game with the goal. What you'll find with me is that I don't mind if it takes longer or I have to try harder. That's why I was successful with dropping fat. Failure isn't falling down, it's not getting back up after you fall down. I "fell" many times - tried dozens of diets and really lived in a "limbo" for 15 months as I struggled to shed fat and found all the ways not to lose it. But because I persisted, I eventually found the right combination (which turned out to be something inside of me rather than a nutrition plan or workout) and succeeded.
This is a similar journey. I'm learning a lot about what I'm missing, what I'm doing wrong, what it feels like to face defeat ... but I'm getting back up, shaking the dust from my shoes and moving on. I will reach this goal but I also know all of the complications are part of the process and that I'll continue to learn and grow as part of this journey.
How exciting!
That brings me to the next installed in the Weightloss Mindset Series, Weight Loss Mindset Part 2: Thought is Creative. I learned something myself listening to this seminar I presented two years ago.
Have a blessed weekend,
Jeremy Likness
Labels: injury, marathon training, mindset, weight loss
Friday, April 20, 2007
The Power of Losing Fat, Not Faith
The Power of Losing Fat, Not Faith
Jeremy
Labels: lose fat, video, weight loss
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