The Road to Ultra: July 2008

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?

Labels: exercise, healing, low fat, massive weight loss, obesity epidemic, pain killers

posted by Jeremy Likness | 8:07 AM | 0 comments

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Slow or Grow

Each day we are faced with choices. How we make those choices not only determines the outcome of the day, but plants seeds that may not grow to fruition for many years to come.

I think back, for example, at my own career. Just one example is how I left my first software company on good terms, and almost ten years later was contacted by the founder of that company to help launch a new business. 10 years is a long time, but the seeds that were planted grew to help shape our lives in the present.

I was out for a jog today. I do three cardio sessions every week. Two of those are on the treadmill. Succeeding there is fairly "cut and dry" because it simply involves upping the speed or the incline and is a very measurable progression.

My weekend jogs are purposefully not so detailed. I have a great GPS watch that measures distance and pace, but I don't wear it. My jogs are to connect with myself, a spiritual journey that I can take the time to reflect, meditate, pray and really plan the week to come.

There is a loop I take that is fairly hilly. I have two options, one is an out-and-back that may be anywhere from 4 to 5 miles, and the other is a full loop that is around 4 1/2 miles with some great hills. I'd been doing the loop for awhile, so when I started my run, I decided I would shoot for the out-and-back.

As I approached "the point of no return" (or rather, the turnaround point) I decided that I didn't want to just retrace my steps and come back, so I opted to make a turn and pursue the loop.

Going that direction leaves me with a rather extreme hill near the end. It was a hot day and I haven't been running in the heat, and I was still sore from some intense training routines, so after 4 miles, coming to the hill I was feeling spent. I had already determined that I would beat that hill, so as I approached, I slowed my pace, took a few drinks from my water bottle, then braced myself for the ascent.

I pushed hard and after what seemed like forever, I made it to the top. If I had any more energy I would have jumped up and down and cheered because it is a tough hill to tackle ... I haven't always made it to the top and sometimes it is a very slow pace, but this time I really nailed it.

After the hill, it was a nice downhill jog for a bit, then a bit of uphill.

My jogs finish on a downhill towards our house, so to make them interesting, I purposefully add a little side trip up a side road that adds a steep hill at the very end (this one is much shorter). It only adds about three blocks to the run but for me, the psychology of having that last little challenge makes the run more interesting.

I was just coming out of the downhill portion and beginning the approach to my neighborhood when I realized that I was aching all over. I was happy about the victory on the hill, but the heat was getting to me, my water bottle was empty, and it felt like every muscle in my body was sore.

It was tempting to just "throw in the towel" and I could have easily justified it by saying, "Hey, I had a great run on that hill .. that's good enough." So my mind explored the thought of walking a short distance, skipping that last little spur, and just finishing there.

That's when I realized it was an opportunity: slow or grow.

I could go it slow. It could finish with a whimper, not a bang. Heck, that last little bit probably won't amount to many extra calories or change how fast I run my next race. But is there something more to it?

Last year I attempted my first marathon. It was an inaugural marathon and everything went wrong. Being a slower runner, I was in the wave of joggers who found that the race wasn't prepared for the unseasonal heat (it was 86 degrees in March) and had actually run out of water and Power Ade. I ran the first 10 miles with no fluids and was feeling it. By the time I did get fluids I had confused my schedule ... any one who runs distances knows that fluid intake can be an art in itself ... too much and you end up bloated and cramping, too little spells danger. I was confused and tried to drink what I could but hit a turn around mile 20 and just felt like I was going to have heat stroke.

You can read about my humbling experience here:

Inaugural ING Marathon Race Report

In hindsight, I think I made the right choice ... many people had to be taken away by ambulance for the exact reason I decided to cut it short.

So today, I reflected upon that challenge and how painful that last leg of the marathon was.

And then it clicked.

I was in pain at the end of this run, but this was a perfect opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone. Even just those last four blocks represented not the physical difference of taking my body to a new level, but the mental difference of having what it takes to see something through to the end.

This was JUST the opportunity to take something challenging and work through it. So what if I was sore, tired, hot, and aching? I knew in my heart I had what it took to finish the loop as planned, so why was I trying to make excuses in my mind? It wasn't about cardiovascular fitness anymore, it was about heart and spirit.

If I stopped there, what about my next race? What about my next marathon attempt? Why wouldn't I just say, "Hey, I've made it 21 miles, that's 1 mile more than the last attempt, so why keep going?"

Not me. I've said it before, I'll say it again: life is like going up the down escalator. If you stand still, you fall behind.

So I decided then and there that I would be a winner, that I would exercise not just my speed, or endurance, or strength, I would exercise my will and my tolerance for pain and begin training for those tough last few miles before the finish line. I know from my prior training what that feels like, and that even though my goal is many months away, the soil is rich and ready and THIS is the time to plant seeds. Right now.

So I looked up and realized how far I still had to go, and it overwhelmed me. Not good enough. Not the right way to finish. Nope, instead, I would break this down into pieces. So I picked something closer ... that street crossing just ahead. No problem, I'll just make it there and then we'll worry about the rest.

So I pushed forward. Every step felt like I was wading through molasses ... my whole body felt heavy and sore and like each footstep was jolting me, but I did it ... I kept pushing. I made it to the intersection.

Sometimes I think it helps to have cues to reward ourselves for those small goals. This may sound silly, but I decided I would break down that last part of a mile into little chunks, and every time I succeeded, I would shift my water bottle. That's it, something simple, but a sign to myself I'm progressing ... one goal met, so I shifted the bottle from my right hand to the left.

Now I picked the edge of the guardrail. Again, one step at a time. Not worried about everything else - the distance, the heat, only can I make it to the guardrail? YES ... so I got there, now I shifted the water bottle from my left hand back to my right.

Now it was the next intersection. Yes! I had the energy, even up the hill. I made it. Great, turn and head to the next corner. There. Now some down hill, and then that spur I mentioned. I was doing it! I hit the spur, looked at the uphill, and focused on the summit. It was a much smaller hill than the one before, but I was determined not to break my pace and keep pushing. I made it. One last shift of the water bottle, then the downhill. Then the finish line.

And here's something special that happened ... instead of falling into my comfort zone and taking it slow, I decided to grow. And I could walk home knowing I had given it my all. I can relax and feel GREAT this evening because I accomplished something and earned the right to relax.

You see, if I had given up, walked it in, skipped the spur, I would have said, "I did great on that hill" but then that would be it. No victory, no growth, just a mediocre run no different than the other runs. But I don't want any mediocre workouts. I want every one to be the best one. So I would have just settled down, satisfied that I actually trained, but not feeling this elation that comes from not just training my body, but training my mind and will to prove we truly can test and push limits and achieve more than we initially intended.

So I came home a victor, and I knew something even more profound and important: I just planted a little seed for success, because the next time I am on a long run and face a tough challenge, I'll have that experience to draw upon. I can take the energy from that victory and use it as inspiration to overcome the next barrier. I will remember this victory, and the other victories to come, when I need them most at my next marathon attempt ... when it's those last few miles and I have to draw on spirit and place myself in God's care and ask Him, "Thy will be done" there will be that memory that His gift of free will helped me overcome before and will empower me to overcome then.

How exciting! Do you realize you can make every workout, and turn it not into something you DO, or just calories burned, but a truly life transforming experience? The power is within us all.

Labels: growth, transformation, willpower

posted by Jeremy Likness | 9:36 AM | 0 comments

Saturday, July 26, 2008

50 Tips to Help Overweight Children Stay Healthy

It's been a great week.

I began integrating CrossFit training into my workout schedule and it is leaving me barely able to walk after some workouts! Lots of variety, little equipment needed, and the workout is right there to pick from every day.

My wife has been busy attending local councils from various organizations devoted to raising awareness about healthy living. One meeting involved a specific program that is looking for new teachers for their six-week course that teaches entire families about steps they can take to live healthier. The other meeting was about a grant for the state to create a program that targets low income families. Not only will the program involve education about eating healthy and exercising, it also includes financial advice about how to budget for healthy foods and meals. All exciting projects to consider!

50 Tips to Help Overweight Children stay Healthy

I was emailed this article and immediately enjoyed the title. It wasn't "how to make your child skinny" or "here is out toolkit to combat the obesity epidemic" but focuses on healthy habits including tips like "let your child know you love them at any weight." Now that's important! Lots of great links to other content as well. Read the entire article: 50 Tips for Helping Your Overweight Child Stay Healthy.

Skinniest Places Also Best Places to Live?

CNN recently released its list of places to live where people have the lowest average body mass index (BMI). What is interesting is that many of the cities that made the list, also consistently have made lists for "best places to live" based on a variety of factors.

So what is it that makes "nice" cities to live in, also cities that appear to help people stay lean and healthy?

Something to discuss in our forums perhaps.

Don't Forget to Eat Your Veggies, Or You May Forget a Lot More...

A recent talk in Virginia focused on ways of avoiding dementia. While many people know Alzheimer's is a risk for seniors, there are many other forms of mental impairment that can manifest as well. However, the goods news, according to the article, is that people who eat four servings of fresh vegetables a day slow mental decline by 38%. That's very significant! They also found a 66% lower incidence of Alzheimer's from people who took daily folic acid and vitamin B6 supplements, such as what you would find in a quality multivitamin. In fact, the advice was that "even people who eat a balanced diet should take a multivitamin," something I've been saying for a decade now.

Weight Loss Surgery Kills

Another sad story about a father who risked weight loss surgery and died weeks later. How long would he have had without the surgery? We don't know ... but this is more reason why I believe people should always focus on the natural means to lose. While I know some people feel it is the only option, people have successfully dropped from as heavy as 700 pounds to a healthy weight without invasive surgery.

Weight Loss to avoid Prison Time?

One inmate found that losing weight could help them avoid prison time. That's because they dropped enough weight to escape through the air conditioner vent. Unfortunately, he was later caught performing aquatic exercises in a hotel swimming pool and is now back behind bars (presumably with a smaller air conditioning vent).

Coffee Key to Recovery

As a fan of coffee myself, I was excited to read that it may help us recover after exercise. Maybe I should start adding sugar as well?

Until next time,

Labels: coffee, nutrition, overweight children, vegetables, weight loss surgery

posted by Jeremy Likness | 2:22 PM | 0 comments

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

The Truth about Low Carb and Illegal Happy Meals

More Death by Medication News

You might have heard that there are issues with counterfeit pharmaceuticals. I covered one story that showed how tens of thousands of Africans were impacted by poor quality drugs. Unfortunately, this issue doesn't just hit "far from home." In fact, "Between November and February, 95 Americans died after experiencing an allergic reaction to heparin, the FDA has reported. The blood-thinning medication contained an active pharmaceutical ingredient from China that the FDA suggests was likely to have been 'intentionally contaminated.'" Read more about stopping killer counterfeits.

Brittle Bones No More

We've been brainwashed into thinking that our bones are doomed to become brittle and breakable. The only solution is to drink lots of dairy and take special pharmaceutical drugs, right? Christine Northrop blows the lid off osteoperosis drugs and shares a better, more natural way to keep strong, healthy bones.

Don't Work Yourself to Death (Literally)

It turns out that exhaustion can be fatal ... and may cause you to become obese. At least that's what research conducted with 14,000 men and women found. Read more about the study that links exhaustion to obesity and heart attacks.

The Truth about the new "Low Carb" Study

The media has been going crazy with news of a recent study that was published. It compared several diets over a two year period and measured how well people lost weight and stuck with the program. Most of the headlines have been claiming that the results indicate "low carb is the way to go." Headlines like "study tips the scale in Atkins' favor" and "low carb beats low fat" were all over the place. It all sounds good until you dig beneath the surface and see what REALLY happened. I was waiting to prepare a piece on this, but my good friend and fat loss coach himself, Tom Venuto, author of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle beat me to the punch. In fact, he said it better than any other place I've seen cover this, so I'm just going to share Tom Venuto on what the new "Low Carb" study REALLY says.

Ban the Hand that Feeds Us

There is no doubt that many people are overweight. The latest CDC report indicated that as many as 1 in 4 adults may be obese and at increased risk from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more. In an effort to combat this, many local and state governments are taking action. Are they going too far? The Wall Street Journal published an article, Exiling the Happy Meal that covers an attempt by the City of Los Angeles to ban new fast food restaurants in an attempt to curb obesity.

Labels: diets, exhaustion, fast food ban, low carb, osteoperosis, pharmaceutical safety

posted by Jeremy Likness | 5:29 AM | 0 comments

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,

Labels: crossfit, distorted body image, lose weight, npc bodybuilding, obesity epidemic, pharmaceutical danger, self image

posted by Jeremy Likness | 9:26 PM | 0 comments

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 ...

Labels: back pain, cinnamon, counting calories, pain killer, vitamins, weight loss, weight loss journal

posted by Jeremy Likness | 10:15 AM | 0 comments

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!

Labels: counting calories, diet, muscle, nutrition software, obesity map, portion sizes

posted by Jeremy Likness | 8:52 AM | 0 comments

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,

Labels: metabolic syndrome, obesity epidemic, pharmaceutical safety, weight loss surgery

posted by Jeremy Likness | 5:54 AM | 0 comments

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