The High Cost of Cheap Fast Food
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments
The latest study of obesity rates in the US is out and the news is not good. Some states increased, and no state decreased. When you look at the longer term problems that obesity causes, it becomes clear that health care reform will have to address this underlying problem before it can make significant strides in controlling costs. The irony is of course that America’s prosperity and cheap fast food is killing us…
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It’s time for the nation’s annual obesity rankings and, outside of fairly lean Colorado, there’s little good news. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and didn’t decline anywhere, says a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
And while the nation has long been bracing for a surge in Medicare as the boomers start turning 65, the new report makes clear that fat, not just age, will fuel much of those bills. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds — the oldest boomers — than among today’s 65-and-beyond.
Fish Oil and Vitamin D to be Studied for Benifits
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Spiritual/Emotional, Sports, Supplements, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments
The government is sponsoring a new study to determine the effectiveness of 2 very popular supplements- Fish Oil (the best source of Omega 3’s) and vitamin D. Both supplements have evidence that they may help protect against cancer, heart disease and a host of other diseases. But most of the evidence is anecdotal so this study seeks to put some hard numbers to the claims. At any rate, we do know that many people are deficient in vitamin D (and most other nutrients) and really should take a supplement, but the best way is to let your body make its own by getting about 15 minutes of direct sun on at least 30% of your body several time a week. Vitamin D is made by your skin in large quantities when exposed to sun light.
Grilled Salmon
The same is true of fish oil- eating oily fish like tuna and salmon a couple of time a week may be better than taking a capsule.
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The new study, which will start later this year, will enroll 20,000 people with no history of heart attacks, stroke or a major cancer — women 65 or older and men 60 or older. They will be randomly assigned to take vitamin D, fish oil, both nutrients or dummy pills for five years.
The daily dose of vitamin D will be about 2,000 international units of D-3, also known as cholecalciferol, the most active form. For fish oil, the daily dose will be about one gram — five to 10 times what the average American gets.
Participants’ health will be monitored through questionnaires, medical records and in some cases, periodic in-person exams.
“We’re hoping to see a result during the trial, that we won’t have to wait five years” to find out if supplements help, Manson said.
Researchers also plan to study whether these nutrients help prevent memory loss, depression, diabetes, osteoporosis and other problems, Buring said.
The $20 million study will be sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and other federal agencies. Pharmavite LLC of Northridge, Calif., is providing the vitamin D pills, and Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is providing the omega-3 fish oil capsules.
Anti-aging Drugs and Supplements
Posted by: Curt | Under: General Fitness | (0) Comments
Debate over the helpfulness of anti-aging drugs and supplements like DHEA, HGH (human growth hormone) and a host of others has raged for the past several years. HGH is extremely expensive, so only very rich people can get it, but there are a lot of other pro-hormones and supplements that people take to try and slow the aging process. While some of these may have a very slight effect, most are a waste of money and the AMA has just released a statement to that fact. The truth is, that absent real disease, the best anti-aging formula is found in a healthy lifestyle and not in a bottle. Eating right, exercising, getting enough sleep and de-stressing your life are by far the most effective anti-aging methods. There are some men and women that need hormone replacement therapy as they get older, but that is a relatively small group- and most would not need it if they followed my diet, exercise, sleep and de-stress formula. But as a whole, people usually want to take a pill rather than change their bad habits and lifestyle. So, be honest with yourself and admit that there are a lot of things you can change without resorting to dangerous drugs and supplements.
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CHICAGO - The American Medical Association says there’s no scientific proof to back up claims of anti-aging hormones.
At their annual meeting in Chicago on Monday, AMA delegates adopted a new policy on products such as HGH, DHEA and testosterone used as aging remedies.
With HGH, or human growth hormone, the AMA says evidence suggests long-term use can present more risks than benefits. The risks include tissue swelling and diabetes.
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Sports, Supplements, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments
Salad- High in Fiber
There is no doubt that eating a diet rich in fiber has many positive benefits which include a reduced susceptibility to diabetes and in some cases lower cholesterol. Add to that list weight loss. The problem for most Americans is that we eat foods that are highly processed and also high in sugar and fat. So we lose the important benefits of eating whole foods. But, it is not that hard to eat whole foods that are good for you- you just need to know what to eat. So, check out this article from Prevention on MSNBC to get some ideas. You will be surprised at a lot of the foods they list… you probably like most of them!
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A half century of research has proven fiber to be the Swiss Army knife of nutrients. Name just about any health problem — high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes, for example — and a high-fiber diet probably can help treat it, if not prevent it in the first place.
Trying to lose weight? Then fiber-rich foods definitely are the way to go. Case in point: Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people who ate the most vegetables, fruits, and other fiber-rich foods lost 2 to 3 pounds more per month than those on lower-fiber diets.
With all the good things it has going for it, fiber ought to be a dietary mainstay. Yet a full two-thirds of us are getting 15 grams a day, at most. That’s about half of the recommended 25 to 30 grams a day!
Why are so many of us coming up so short? The answer, at least in part, is that fiber-rich whole foods must compete with processed foods for our dietary favor. The latter’s very name suggests their inherent weakness: Processed foods are pretty much devoid of fiber.
Prevention’s Diabetes DTOUR Diet, a science-backed eating plan to lower blood sugar and reduce the risk of developing diabetes and its complications, is all about whole foods — fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grains. They’re the staple ingredients of the Diabetes DTOUR Diet’s menus and recipes, which are as easy to make as they are fabulous to eat! You’ll enjoy stir-fries, bean tostadas, pasta primavera, and pancakes — yes, pancakes! — on this plan. And no worries about fiber: You’ll be getting between 26 and 29 grams every day on DTOUR, depending on your calorie level. You’ll eat great, lose weight, and rein in your blood sugar That’s the DTOUR promise!
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health | (0) Comments
Fat Cop
Here is an interesting article about how the Ohio state highway patrol is trying to control obesity and overweight officers. While it is rare, officers can be dismissed for exceeding their target weight for 24 months in a row. Honestly, of all the people who need to be in decent physical condition, I would put police and fire/rescue at the top.
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Ohio’s highway patrol is among just a handful of state patrols that allow punitive measures against troopers and sergeants who fail to meet weight requirements. Union contracts in Alaska and Massachusetts also allow for removing overweight troopers from duty, although that rarely happens, said National Troopers Coalition chairman Mike Eades.
The rate of police officers who are overweight or obese has grown along with the general American population in recent years, said Dr. Steve Farrell, who teaches police agencies how to implement fitness programs at the nationally respected Cooper Institute in Dallas.
Police officers and troopers may spend most of their workday sitting, either in patrol cars or at desks, but they must be prepared for sudden, extreme amounts of physical effort, such as running after a suspect, Farrell said.
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Some states like Alabama have begun surcharging obese employees for their health insurance since there is a direct correlation between obesity and health care costs. This is a good way to encourage people to take responsibility for their lifestyle choices. But interestingly enough, one of the police officers that was interviewed said this- “If you say to people, ’We’re going to punish you,’ you’re not going to get people to volunteer to comply,” said Weisman, a retired Columbus police sergeant. “It doesn’t motivate them.” I find that to be a very ironic statement coming from a police officer. While we certainly need to encourage people to make the right diet and exercise choices, I think it is entirely appropriate to “punish” people who refuse to do so- either through higher premiums or through “time off” like the Ohio state patrol uses. I think the threat of losing your pay is a very effective incentive. In fact, I’m pretty sure that money is the only incentive that people really respond to because it is obvious that poor health and obesity related diseases have no effect on most folks.
Diet or Exercise for Losing Weight?
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Sports, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments
One Leg Squat
Wrong question! Obviously both- and a new study confirms that. There has been a training misconception that if you exercise, you can eat anything you want. But that only applies to Michael Phelps! Actually, the “Afterburn” effect has been written and talked about quite a bit and it turns out that for the average exerciser, the effect is very minimal. But, keep in mind that the average exerciser really doesn’t do very much. I still think that the afterburn effect is valid, but only for people who are exercising with a high intensity level. For instance, on days that I train arms, the afterburn effect is minimal. But on the day after I do legs, the afterburn effect is noticeable and even my appetite is much greater. So, if you are a 30 minutes on the treadmill or bike type of person, don’t count on your body burning extra calories due to afterburn. But if you are a powerlifter or bodybuilder with a high intensity workout, it does have an effect. At any rate, read the article, learn what you can from it and adjust your workout and diet accordingly. The final word is this- for weight loss, it is diet first and exercise second. You can eat more calories in 5 minutes than you can burn off on the treadmill in 2 hours! Eat smart.
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The new paper offers additional evidence that exercise does not boost metabolism as much as widely believed, Endress says. In addition to the misperception that exercise greatly hikes fat burning after exercise, there is also the false belief that weight training dramatically increases metabolism by adding muscle, he notes.
While it’s true that a pound of muscle burns more calories than a pound of fat — about seven to 10 calories a day versus two calories — most people don’t put on enough muscle to make much of a difference, Endress says.
“Building muscle is very difficult for most individuals because it requires heavy weight workouts and a higher intake of calories,” he says. “Average fitness enthusiasts [who are working out to gain muscle] will only add four to five pounds of lean mass,” he says, and burn an additional 28 to 50 calories a day. (Men tend to gain more muscle, on average, than women.)
Getting a Good Night’s Sleep- Essential for Training
Posted by: Curt | Under: 40's/fit, 50's/fit, Children/fit, Diet and Weight Loss, General Fitness, Health, Ladies/fit, Prime/fit, Quick Tips, Seniors/fit, Spiritual/Emotional, Sports, Travel/fit, Youth/fit | (0) Comments
We all know how good we feel when we get a good night’s rest and we all know how tired and crappy we feel when we don’t sleep well or get enough rest. But it actually goes further than that since getting enough quality sleep is essential for your body to heal and grow- especially for athletes. I can attest to this since my chronic back problems often wake me during the night to roll over and change positions. For a lot of other people, it is just anxiety and stress that keeps them from sleeping well. The irony is that when you do sleep well, you are usually a lot less anxious and stressed. So here is a good article from Prevention that can probably help most of us sleep better and be more productive during the day. While not all of the suggestions apply to everyone, you will find some good advice that will help you sleep better, feel better, train harder and grow faster!
Unplug an hour before bed. That includes the television, computer, cell phone, and any other glowing tech tools. Research shows that the brain misreads artificial light as daylight, so it doesn’t release melatonin, a sleep-regulating chemical, which is normally triggered by darkness.
Take a warm shower or bath. Your body temperature goes down when you get out, which makes you feel sleepy. That’s because it mimics what occurs deep inside the body at night, when internal temperature drops to its lowest level.
Meditate or pray for 10 minutes. Several studies show that it can help reduce anxiety, release negative thinking, and improve sleep. Sit quietly in a comfortable position and repeat a phrase you find relaxing, such as Keep letting go.
Limit liquids after 6 p.m. The reason she wakes up so often to use the bathroom is simply because she drinks too much fluid during the second half of the day. After 6 p.m., have just one to two glasses of water…
Set a bedtime and stick to it. Going to bed at different times throws the internal body clock out of whack. It’s better if she hit the sack at the same time every night and set the alarm for the same time every morning — even on weekends, suggests Naiman. This will help get her body on a regular pattern, which makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.
Try a small dose of melatonin. The brain makes this chemical naturally, but it’s often in short supply in people with insomnia. Studies have shown that taking a melatonin supplement helps improve sleep, but you need only a small amount: 0.5 mg, 15 minutes before bed.
Recession Eating is Bad for Your Cholesterol
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As the recession wears on, McDonald’s profits are increasing every quarter because people are apparently eating fast food instead of “good food”. There is probably some truth to this, but I suspect a lot of people are just eating more fast food because they like it. The guy who wrote this article sure likes it! McDonalds actually has several decent offerings on the menu and no one is making you eat fries. You actually have to order them. So don’t blame it on the recession. At any rate, his point is well taken and you will certainly see a rise in your cholesterol if you start eating 3 meals a day (or even 1 meal per day) at fast food places. My advice is to make a list of “healthy ” fast food places and go there when you need to eat on the run. Places like Subway, Chic-fil-a and the deli at your local grocery store will all have a lot of options for eating healthier than traditional fast food. It is just a choice you will have to make- don’t blame it on the economy!
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Nope, this bleak figure comes straight from my medical chart. Over the past year — while I was trying to save bucks by eating on the cheap — my cholesterol count chugged 46 points higher. Put another way — for roughly every 95 points the Dow dropped since early 2008, my cholesterol gained one point.
…For me, the cholesterol-busting binge began with a crunch — the financial kind. It wasn’t a total job loss, but I’m a freelance writer and as the market steadily snuffed one paying gig after another, I cut my spending. I sliced my grocery bill in half by dining on a tasty array of hot dogs, grilled-cheese sandwiches, chicken wings, fish sticks and the occasional $2.89 fast food monster meal.
The diet disaster wasn’t immediately obvious. My weight didn’t budge from 185 pounds and I maintained my regular gym habits. But my serum cholesterol, which stood at 180 milligrams per deciliter in January 2008, shot up to 226 by my next checkup in February 2009.
Posted by: Curt | Under: General Fitness | (0) Comments
It has been pretty quiet on the fitness scene lately, so I thought I’d post some info on how I treat common gym injuries and muscle pain. First, it is important to be honest with yourself about whether you are sore or hurt. Sore really doesn’t require anything except maybe a couple of Ibuprofen and rest. Hurt, requires a lot more. In fact, if you are hurt- pulled muscle, sore joints, tendonitis, etc, you need to be careful and do the right things. First, if you are really hurt and it is painful to do normal things, you should consider going to the doctor and getting professional treatment. But if you are sore or have tendonitis in a joint, try the old standbys of ice, ibuprofen or Aleve, rest and massage. Usually, if you do all of these, you will fell better in a few days. But it is important to give the affected area enough time to recover, so if it is still painful when you get ready to do that body part again, give it a few more days off. This is really important with tendonitis since people tend to re-injure the same area over and over because it never gets enough time to heal. These are simple steps, but they can really help most common gym aches and pains!
Hydroxycut Weight Loss Pills Recalled by FDA
Posted by: Curt | Under: General Fitness | (0) Comments
Bodybuilders have been using Hydroxycut for decades to get ready for shows. For years is was basically a mix of ephedrine and caffeine that simply turned up the thermostat on your body. It was relatively safe back then although some people did not tolerate that much ephedrine and caffeine well and found that it caused jitters and even heart problems. And of course a lot of people abused it and took way more than the recommended dosages. When the government banned the sale of ephedrine since it is the basic material used to make methamphetamine, Hodroxycut changed their formula. This was generally thought to be a good thing since people did become dependent on the old formula. Well, now the FDA has discovered that the new formula causes liver problems and well as other unnamed problems- From MSNBC Health:
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WASHINGTON - Government health officials are announcing the recall of popular weight loss pill Hydroxycut, after reports of liver damage and other health problems.
Food and Drug Administration officials said Friday the manufacturer of Hydroxycut has launched a nationwide recall of the dietary supplement, used by people trying to shed pounds and by body builders to sharpen their muscles.
Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. It accounts for about 90 percent of the market for weight loss supplements, with sales of about 1 million bottles a year.
The bottom line is simple- there is no free lunch. The short cuts almost always have unintended negative consequences. So my advice is the same as always- diet with strict portion control and exercise. Adding 30 minutes of exercise toy your daily routine will be far more effective and far safer than supplements like Hydroxycut. So if you do have some in your cabinet at home make sure you return it for a refund or simply throw it away. Hyrdoxycut’s website is down right now, but check back in a few hours and they should have info available. I can feel the lawsuits coming…
