Fitness Philosopher

Picture Perfect Weight

Consider this scenario. . .

You dedicate 12 weeks to improving your nutrition habits, managing your stress and training hard . . . and the results are in:

• The hypertension and high cholesterol you had?  Gone.
• Your energy levels are consistently through the roof.
• You sleep better.
• You look refreshed, awake, younger.
• You can see a tangible improvement in your physique and the clothes that once tightly clung to you are falling off.
• Your friends and family can't take their eyes off you and are amazed at the transformation you've made.
• You never imagined that you could sustain a healthy lifestyle for 12 weeks, let alone achieve it. . .  and then have a desire to maintain it.
• You are living life to the fullest and filled with happiness.
• You LOVE the way you look.

Can you picture this?  Do you have this image burned into your mind?

Now, you step on the scale in front of you for the big weigh in.  You look down with anticipation and discover. . . that you weigh 2 pounds more than when you started.

Does that change anything?

Too Much Weight on Weight Loss?

Christopher's Commentary:

We can't seem to shake this obsession over calories in vs calories out and scale weight, can we?

In terms of energy, a calorie is a calorie - whether that calorie comes from fat or carb (or protein).  It does not matter what the source is if we're only discussing food in the context of energy.

In regards to "what you weigh," that number tells you next to nothing outside of, well, what you weigh.  There are more important variables to consider -- body composition, cardiovascular health and overall metabolic function -- and they are determined more by the quality of the food you eat, not the quantity. (Thankfully, this article does point this "quality factor" out.)

So, neither the fat nor carb calories showed an advantage over the other in terms of weight loss?  No big deal.  Be wary of headlines like this that sensationalize the link between calories - whether they come from fat or carbs - and scale weight.  It's akin to judging a book by it's cover. . . and one of the reasons why Eugene and I, in our book Unlock Your Strength, suggest that you throw your scale out the window. . .

Which Are Worse: Calories from Carbs or Fat?
Time.com Consultations

(July 15, 2008) -- If you're one of millions of Americans trying to lose weight, you probably wish you had a more effective diet than the one you're on now. And if you're wondering whether Dean Ornish's low-fat diet will help you shed pounds better than Dr. Atkins' low-carb menu, the answer is simple: it doesn't matter. Scientists know that on a molecular level, different types of starch and different types of fat have varying effects when they hit the body. But in terms of weight loss, low-fat diets and low-carb diets overall are equally effective (and, most of the time, neither will help you keep the weight off long-term), says Walter Willett, chair of the department of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health.  (More. . . )

How To Experience Heart Failure Without High Cholesterol.

Read the article below.  It'll do the trick. . .

Christopher's Commentary:

Will the insanity ever end?  Apparently, the memo still hasn't gotten out that healthy fats and cholesterol are not the enemy -- despite countless studies that have pointed this out.  Or that there are plenty of alternatives to giving synthetic drugs to anybody, let alone children.  Anybody around here ever considered processed foods, refined carbohydrates or sugar to be a problem?

At least the American Academy of Pediatrics had the wherewithal to suggest that "the first course of action should be weight loss, more physical activity and nutritional counseling."  Hmmmm.  As long as the nutritional counseling is not "heart healthy" as determined by the ADA or FDA (read: low fat, high carb), these obese kids might have a fighting chance.

Cholesterol Drugs Recommended for Some 8-year-olds
By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (July 7, 2008) -- For the first time, an influential doctors group is recommending that some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems.

It is the strongest guidance ever given on the issue by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which released its new guidelines Monday. The academy also recommends low-fat milk for 1-year-olds and wider cholesterol testing.

Dr. Stephen Daniels, of the academy's nutrition committee, says the new advice is based on mounting evidence showing that damage leading to heart disease, the nation's leading killer, begins early in life.

It also stems from recent research showing that cholesterol-fighting drugs are generally safe for children, Daniels said.  (More. . .)

Supernatural Intelligence.

The physical organism, your body, has its own intelligence, as does the organism of every other life-form.  And that intelligence reacts to what your mind is saying, reacts to your thoughts.  So emotion is the body's reaction to your mind.  The body's intelligence is, of course, an inseparable part of universal intelligence, one of its countless manifestations.  It gives temporary cohesion to the atoms and molecules that make up your physical organism.  It is the organizing principle behind the workings of all the organs of the body, the conversion of oxygen and food into energy, the heartbeat and circulation of the blood, the immune system that protects the body from invaders, the translation of sensory input into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain, decoded there, and reassembled into a coherent inner picture of outer reality.  All these, as well as thousands of other simultaneously occurring functions, are coordinated perfectly by that intelligence. You don't run your body.  The intelligence does.  It also is in charge of the organism's responses to its environment. (emphasis mine)
     -- Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose, p. 132

Eckhart's description of universal intelligence reminds us. . .

• Why we can't out-train consistently lousy nutrition.
• Why negative thoughts can kill your training, whether it's before a session or during a rep.
• Why we have to train intelligently.
• Why awareness is a principle that must be developed and applied. . . and
• Why a foundation of health is critical for reaching (and maintaining) our maximum potential.

The more we understand and respect this concept, the greater the odds that we'll experience the results we're striving for.

Five Misconceptions of Exercise.

Heidi, Health Nut Wannabe Mom and one of my "online training" success stories, recently interviewed me about five common misconceptions of exercise.  To top things off, she shared the interview as a guest post on EZGreatLife.com -- a blog authored by John that focuses on "family, fitness and finances." 

Are you training smart, or have you fallen prey to one of the many misconceptions that exist?  Learn more by reading the article below!

Many thanks to Heidi and John for this opportunity and their support!

Five Misconceptions of Exercise
Heidi Cudnik

(7/1/2008) -- Exercise, exercise, exercise. Sometimes that word makes me want to throw the covers over my head and pretend I never heard it. Now, keep in mind that I am health nut wannabe mom and not health nut you-got-it-down mom so sometimes the whole exercise and nutrition thing can be a bit overwhelming. The great thing is that there are experts out there to help guide the wannabe’s like me until we can actually become the real thing. I decided to go to the best fitness professional that I knew of to get to the bottom of what is really going to make you lose fat and make you healthier in your exercise/training routine. I did a really informative and shocking ( I thought it was shocking because I had for years been doing most of the exercise misconceptions) interview with Christopher Warden , a New York City fitness professional and co-author of the fitness book Unlock Your Strength. This is a terrific list put together by Christopher Warden that I hope will help you as much as it has helped me to get my exercise and training routine to be its most efficient.

Five Misconceptions Of Exercise

1. Steady-state cardiovascular training (“cardio”) is the best way to lose body fat. Going out and running long distances may be great for a couple of things – pure enjoyment and, well, getting better at running long distances – but burning fat is not one of them. Why?  (More. . . )

The Magic Pill for Improved Health and Fitness.

Unfortunately. . . there isn't one.

Actually, that's not true.  There is a magic pill, but it's not the source most of us think it is:

• the "best" professionals and practitioners sharing our wealth of knowledge
  

• the "best" training equipment and technology
  

• the "best" supplements or medications

• the "best" clothing and shoes
  

None of these are the answer, the magic pill that will bring us all of the improvements that we desire.

None of these.

The answer, the medicine, the magic pill for our progress is within us.  We have to find it - and use it - to enable the above-mentioned tools to work best toward our cause.

Carbohydrate Q & A

I recently began working with Heidi -- a woman in Kansas who's on a mission to achieve optimal health.  She's so driven that she created a blog - Health Nut Wannabe Mom - to share with others what she's learning in the process.

Heidi, not unlike many others in the early stages of training, is trying to grasp the confounding subject of nutrition. . . and carbohydrates in particular.  She asked me to share our discussion(s) with her readers, and the result is my first guest post.  Check out the article below.  You'll get some answers to common carbohydrate questions while showing support to Heidi and her fitness quest (which is probably strikingly similar to your own, yes?).

Thanks for this opportunity Heidi!

The Most Common Questions about Carbohydrates, Part I
Christopher Warden, CSCS

(5/19/2008) -- Invariably, every fitness professional gets asked about the topic of nutrition. And why shouldn't we be? After all, sound nutritional habits are the foundation of enhanced performance, aesthetics and health -- as much, if not more than strength training itself. One of the most confounding topics for the fitness enthusiast -- carbohydrates. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the topic.  (More. . .)

Take a Step Back. . .

. . . perhaps to a time when we walked Mother Earth barefoot.

Christopher's Commentary:

Having foot, ankle, knee, hip, back and/or shoulder problems?  It may well be a direct result of the shoes you choose to wear.  This topic is one you'll hear about more frequently, and it's one you'll want to take to heart in your quest to keep your kinetic chain healthy.

You Walk Wrong
It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take.
by Adam Sternbergh
Published Apr 21, 2008

Walking is easy. It’s so easy that no one ever has to teach you how to do it. It’s so easy, in fact, that we often pair it with other easy activities—talking, chewing gum—and suggest that if you can’t do both simultaneously, you’re some sort of insensate clod. So you probably think you’ve got this walking thing pretty much nailed. As you stroll around the city, worrying about the economy, or the environment, or your next month’s rent, you might assume that the one thing you don’t need to worry about is the way in which you’re strolling around the city.

Well, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you: You walk wrong.

Look, it’s not your fault. It’s your shoes. Shoes are bad. I don’t just mean stiletto heels, or cowboy boots, or tottering espadrilles, or any of the other fairly obvious foot-torture devices into which we wincingly jam our feet. I mean all shoes. Shoes hurt your feet. They change how you walk. In fact, your feet—your poor, tender, abused, ignored, maligned, misunderstood feet—are getting trounced in a war that’s been raging for roughly a thousand years: the battle of shoes versus feet.  (More. . . )

The Fallacy of Good vs Bad.

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."  -- Shakespeare

Christopher's Commentary:

The synopsis of the article below?  Most foods (manufactured foods notwithstanding), are not inherently good or bad -- it's our individual physiological environment that determines a food's "value" to our system.

What does this mean to you?  It's imperative that you understand your body's environment, that you respect it and that you cultivate it in a way that will promote optimal health and performance.   Making informed decisions (beyond "the mentality of third grader") about the type and quality of food you consume is important.  Understanding and being "tuned-in" to your body is equally important.

(Thank you to Dr. John Berardi, founder of Precision Nutrition, for his weekly newsletter and this article.) 

Good vs Bad Food -- It's Time To Grow Up
by John Berardi, PhD, CSCS

I'm always amazed at what people set up in their minds as "good" food and "bad" food. "Healthy" food and "guilty" food. "Lean" food and "fat" food.

  For some, bread is bad.  And anyone who could possibly eat bread isn't very healthy.
  For some, eggs are bad.  And anyone who could possibly eat eggs isn't very healthy.
  For some, meat is bad.  And anyone who could possibly eat meat isn't healthy.
  For some, alcohol is bad.  And anyone who could possibly drink alcohol isn't healthy.
  For some, pasta is bad.  And anyone who could possibly eat pasta isn't healthy.
  For some, soy foods are bad.  And anyone who could possibly eat soy isn't healthy.

And the list goes on...and on...and on.  (More. . . )

"Repetition is the Mother of Learning."

"Repetition is the mother of learning."  -- Latin Proverb

Chris Melton shared this video, courtesy of yrgworkout.com -- it beautifully illustrates a few of the essentials for enhancing fitness:

Motivation to change -- driven from within. Motivation of all types is extremely important for success.  Motivation from the core of your being, however, can be the most powerful -- and best derive long-term change.

Training with intensity.  This video oozes with Arthur's will to work.  Work Hard.  There was nothing lackadaisical about his training.  (Smart) hard work, with intensity, will enhance your performance.  Without it, getting results becomes difficult, if not impossible.

Strength Training.  In this case, in the form of yoga with an added emphasis on body-weight training.  The key here is that there was a strength component to Arthur's work, and that component was challenging enough to stimulate change including enhanced physiological function and maintenance/increase in muscle mass.

Goals.  Arthur began with fat loss and improved health.  He included the desire to walk without crutches and leg braces.  Then he moved on to the ability to run.  By clearly defining his final destination, Arthur gave himself the opportunity to know how to get there.

A good plan. . . and determination.  Nothing stopped Arthur.  Not his 70+ hour work week.  Not his disability.  He set his mind to the task, worked his plan, and, well, the rest is history.

Consistency.  Consistent training.  Consistent commitment.  Consistent repetition of a well-thought-out plan. . . and getting progressive results almost becomes a formality.

Dedication to a new lifestyle.  Arthur Boorman committed to a healthy lifestyle - to a change in his mindset - and this decision gave him a foundation for radical change. . . and life-long results.

Let Down by an Expert?

Occasionally, I'll come across a prospective client who's got a know-it-all persona. . .

who's got the world in the palm of their hand (read: no problems whatsoever). . .

who claims (s)he's absolutely driven to succeed. . .

and who hasn't needed help from anybody, but if they did seek the services of a professional -- an expert -- they only hired THE BEST. 

"My psychiatrist?  Doctor?  Nutritionist?  Trainer?  Got his/her degree from XYZ University.  Charges $500 an hour.  Has worked with hundreds of big named clients. . ."   (you know, all the truly significant elements used to decipher an expert's qualifications. . . )

All of this information comes out during the introduction and initial assessment.  Then, suddenly, as our training sessions commence, an alter-ego materializes -- one filled with head-to-toe negativity, who has lots of blame to pass around to everybody else outside of her/himself. . .

My psychiatrist/doctor/nutritionist/trainer didn't know what (s)he was talking about.  (S)He didn't understand my condition. . . didn't grasp that my body is different from the rest. . . didn't know how to develop a program that would fulfill me, my body type, my goals. . .

I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I hear commentary like this. Why?  Because I feel like I'm listening to an individual who's completely lost, who I want to help. . . but who, based on the character traits (s)he's presented, may be unreachable.
_____________________________

My question to you is this -- do you embody the person described above?  If so, here's my to-the-point response to your dilemma:

So. . . you only hire the best?  And virtually none of the best have been able to help you?  Then one of two things is happening here, and they both center around you. . .

1)  The experts you hired aren't as qualified as you as you thought and for some reason you've decided to stick with them.  Well, more power to you.  Presumably, nobody is forcing you to stick with substandard service.  Do some more research and find the experts who are truly capable and qualified to help you.

2)  The experts are giving you the best advice out there, and you're just not willing to listen and apply their knowledge.  In this case, all I have to say is, "WAKE UP!"  It's highly unlikely that you have all the answers.  If you do, why are you bothering to hire expert assistance?  If you've gone through the trouble to ask scores of professionals for their expert help, the least you can do is make a diligent effort to apply their advice.

As I've said before, the ability to create positive change -- whether it be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, professional or personal -- comes down to accountability.  If you're not accountable to yourself, it doesn't matter how much technical knowledge you have or how much expert advice you receive -- you'll still struggle to succeed.

Stop struggling by utilizing the expert wisdom that you've invited into your life.  Stop struggling by making application, not theory, your practice.

Drinking Soda Can Make You Fat. Boy, There's a Surprise.

Here's some news that should be no news -- especially to all of us not living under a rock for years -- as provided by the tabloid, er, world news giant CNN.com:

Nutritionists:  Soda Making Americans Drink Themselves Fat

I'll be looking for articles tomorrow about water being wet and the sky being blue. . .

All kidding aside, the article's key points:

1.  Sugar in soda is a major contributing factor to the obesity problem -- must be due to the erratic hormonal response it induces.

2.  Soda delivers a high amount of calories -- empty calories -- which are problematic because they don't make you feel full, despite having just drained a 2 liter bottle of soda.  This, of course, increases the probability that you'll consume a surplus of calories for the day . . . consume more calories than you burn off and, well, you know the story.

My point of contention with this article?  Dr. David Ludwig, Harvard endocrinologist, proclaiming that the first step to eradicating obesity is clearly "giving up sugary soda for diet drinks, or water. . ."

Diet drinks?

Dr. Ludwig must not have seen the recently published study on Diet Soda's link to heart disease, and the risk factor associated with drinking diet soda -- increased waist circumference(!).

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking that diligently sticking to water and green tea consumption will  best serve you in your fat loss efforts.  Cast that soda - regular and diet - aside.

Still Shaking My Head in Disbelief. . .

It never ceases to amaze me when I hear somebody say, "I don't care about health -- I just want to look good."

I heard it again today and, unfortunately, I know I'll hear it in the future.  And this person even went so far to say that he'd willingly decide to sacrifice his health in order to obtain the body that he wanted.  Are you kidding me?!?!?

Would his sentiment be the same if he looked great, but was spending 25% of his life in and out of bed due to illness?

Would he feel the same way if he was lying on his death bed, wishing he had more time to walk around, looking good?  Or would he simply be thinking, "Hey, at least I'll look good in my casket."

I understand that it's entirely possible to build an incredible physique without a care in the world about personal health -- gyms are filled with members that are amazing physical specimens hosting a full spectrum of health problems.  I understand and appreciate that not every client cares to hear about the health benefits or repercussions of their training.  Plenty of people would rather just have a great training session while the trainer keeps all the underlying "important stuff" to himself.

But where did the link between health and fitness get lost?  When did individuals start willingly treating health and fitness as mutually exclusive from one another?

Have you considered that you'd benefit from training more -- that you'd have an easier time achieving and maintaining a great physique, that you'd more efficiently enhance performance -- if your body was healthier, and functioning optimally first?

Have you considered the fact that you might look better than good if you have a foundation of health underlying your level of fitness?

Let Go.

"Every muscular rigidity retains the history and meaning of its origin."   -- Wilhelm Reich

Let Go. . .

. . . of the tension in your neck and shoulders.

. . .  of your fears.

. . . of your restrained breath - let it flow.

. . . of your anger.

. . . of the tension in your abs, back, butt and thighs.

. . . of your sadness.

. . . of the tension in your hands and feet.

. . . of your frustration from work.

. . . of your serious demeanor, if only for a minute.  Allow yourself to have fun and live freely, even as you withstand the demands of a hectic schedule.

This doesn't imply that you shouldn't experience your emotions or that you shouldn't acknowledge your stressors. 

Experience your emotions.  Acknowledge your stressors.  But don't bottle them up, fail to deal with them and enable them to wreak havoc on your body.

Instead, use them.  Let them evolve through you.  Turn them into a constructive energy that fuels you, that forces you to look at yourself and grow -- that provides you enhanced self-empowerment.

Otherwise. . .

. . . your drive may suffer.

. . . your performance may suffer (you can't move well when you're excessively tense).

. . . your motivation may dwindle.

. . . you'll put yourself on the path of perpetual stress, leaving you open to fatigue, apathy or illness.

Master the art of letting go, so all that you strive for can more easily become a reality.

Protect Your DNA by Controlling Chronic Stress

Back in the mid-90's when I was practicing biomedical research for a living, I remember being completely fascinated by the field of neuroimmunology and the quest of its scientists to learn and describe the framework of communication between the nervous and immune systems.  As I saw it, scientists were making great efforts to understand the very real, but enigmatic concept of the mind-body connection. 

Fast forward 10 years, and there's a great NY Times article that exemplifies how far we've come in further understanding the mind's influence over the body.

The gist of the article?  Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, professor of biochemistry at the University of California-San Francisco,  explains the concept of telomeres and telomerase and their significant role in the aging process.  Beyond providing a basic description of the telomere's structure, function and importance, Dr. Blackburn discusses study results that have shown that "psychological stress actually ages cells, which can be seen when you measure the wearing down of. . . the telomeres.  It's proof . . . that the brain is influencing the body."
______________________________

There's talk all the time about stress and how it effects the body on a grand scale, physically, mentally and emotionally.

But did you ever stop to consider that chronic stress impacts our genetic code -- the critical blueprint for our existence?  And that when our genetic sequence is disrupted -- due to the reduction/loss of telomeres, in this case -- the door is opened to an entire host of issues: cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity. . . and aging.

Just a little something to think about if your mind is feeling perpetually burdened by chronic stress.  Don't underestimate the importance of a positive mindset -- its influence can literally add years to your life.

Make Excellence Your Minimum Expectation. . .

. . . Not Your Maximum (if You Want to Breed Success).

(Special thanks to Dax Moy, fellow fitness professional, for his cool perspective on "Excellence.")

If you're on life's path striving for success in the fitness game, you've gotta have heart, consistency, will-power, fortitude, drive, specific goals, a good work ethic . . . and a good pair of shoes -- hopefully a pair of shoes running with a campaign stronger than the (potentially) confusing one proposed by Reebok.

**You'd think I work in marketing or something, with all the ad campaigns I'm critiquing lately as I dole out my fitness perspective.  (Of course, we should be thankful for these ads - and every other "inspiration" that I come across - as a source for these wonderful blog posts.)**

Back on course. . . .

I'm frustrated.  Here I am, a fitness professional trying to motivate my clients.  Trying to teach them to tap into their inner strength and take their bodies to their highest potential, and I've got Reebok, a sport shoe company(!), advertising the following messages:

Why run 'till you can't walk?  Run Easy.

Why hit the wall?  It hurts.  Run Easy.      

What are you "just doing?" Run Easy.

Did you beat your best time, or just beat yourself?  Run Easy.

Run to the beat of your own drummer.  Run Easy.

Stop and smell the garbage.  Run Easy NY.

A ten minute mile is just as far as a six minute mile.  Run Easy.

This kind of campaigning from a SPORT shoe company?  Sport?  As in, let's compete whilst having fun?  Give 100% for individual or team victory?

What message are they trying to send here?

Enjoy life?  Relax, and improve your chance of winning?  Settle for average, don't worry about excellence?  When the going gets tough, sit down and avoid the obstacle(s)?

In all fairness, the Reebok "Run Easy" campaign illustrated on their corporate website does open it's message with,"There's no point in doing if you don't enjoy it.  Stay fit how you see fit."  So, chances are that all of the above slogans are, in fact, aimed at telling us to enjoy life -- to live (and exercise) in a way that makes us happy.

Wouldn't it be better, though, if Reebok sent their message with a clearer example, one that leaves less chance of confusion amongst the target audience?  (I've heard too many people come away with the wrong message -- i.e. "Maybe I shouldn't work so hard." or "I should lower my expectations and not get caught up in competition.")

By all means, wear Reebok's shoes if they're the right fit for your activity.  Find pleasure in what you do (or in knowing that the activity you're doing is good for you).  But don't allow yourself to step into a mindset that leaves you content with mediocrity, average results and a lack of determination to reach your fitness goals. (And use this blog as a reference to avoid misinterpretation of their ad campaign!)

Training for enhanced fitness is a competitive battle between your will and your fatigued body in the face of adversity and hard work.  Cultivate a strong will and sense of purpose so you'll achieve excellence and success while lunging, walking or running along the path of your fitness marathon.

Gina Kolata Is Back.

Is that good for our fight against obesity?

In a world that's increasingly fatter, every attempt to examine and understand obesity's root cause, with the intent to understand and stop the epidemic, is important.  In Rethinking Thin, NY Times science writer Gina Kolata tackles the issue, but I'm concerned that the message isn't necessarily a good one.

Essentially, her message is that a majority of individuals trying to lose weight are wasting their time because genetics has predisposed them to a specific weight range.  This (dangerously) has the potential to send out a "why bother?" message to scores of obese people striving to lose fat.

Picture average Joe vegetating on a couch, stuffing his mouth with crappy food, sitting on his ass 8 hours a day, getting fatter by the second.  Miraculously, though, he's come to the realization that he's killing himself with his bad choices.  He decides he's going to try changing his lifestyle and shed the excessive blubber from his frame.

And then a news report flashes on the screen, reporting a link between genetics and obesity. . .                                                                                                            

The anchors open their story with:

Ever wonder if all that exercise and dieting is worthwhile?  Well, new studies have shown that trying to burn body fat with all your hard work and healthy eating may very well be a ginormous waste of your time.  Why?  Because your weight is determined by your genes. . .

They continue on with an abridged version of the actual scientific facts, leaving an opening for Joe (and everybody else watching) to misinterpret the issue and fail to recognize his reality.  Joe suddenly thinks, "Wow.  My genes are what make me fat, not my couch potato, face-stuffing lifestyle.  So, why bother doing anything?  It won't help me anyway. . ."  And just like that, he goes from motivated to improve his health and fitness to motivated to find a beer and bag o' chips.

That's just great.

Too far fetched, you say?

People misinterpret "low carb" as "no carb." 

They misinterpret "dark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate" as "dark chocolate is good for you so eat a lot of it." 

They misinterpret "wine is good for cardiovascular health" as "alcohol is good for you. . . Bottoms up!"

So, if a large percentage of the population has trouble discerning between reality and ridiculous for such topics as carbs, fat and alcohol, how are they going to define the fine line between "genetically determined body type" and "obesity due to overconsumption of sugar and processed food?"

Gina Kolata is always good for a thought provoking read and, personally, I appreciate how she motivates me to further explore the topic she's covered.  But in this case, I think the book's message may be more harmful than good to the obese people who read it.

There is an obesity epidemic ravaging the US and consuming the rest of the developing world -- and genetics is not the root cause.  It is incumbent upon us as part of the human species -- whether obese, or helping somebody win the battle against obesity -- to take responsibility for our lifestyle choices and beware the temptation to use genetics as an unjustifiable excuse for our growing waistlines.

Coke and Pepsi, for Enhanced Worship and Health.

I'll give credit to the beverage giants Coke and Pepsi -- they sure know how to infiltrate our communities to keep their profits soaring.

Check out this story in The New York Post.

Kosher Coke?  Those members of the Jewish community must really be purchasing this soda by the truckload if Coca-Cola Bottling Co. is willing to re-create a beverage for 8 days of passover.  The Coke is still nutrient poor and contains phosphoric acid and loads of sugar, but, hey, it's kosher, so how bad can it be?

As if this story wasn't enough to knock me off my chair, we've got Pepsi launching a promotion called Smart Spot Dance! 

Ironic, isn't it?  We've got a nation-wide campaign to encourage physical activity for improved health, but it's sponsored by a company that pushes for the consumption of  processed (generally nutrient poor) foods and sugary beverages.

Picture this. . . starved, thirsty individuals come off the dance floor, having just done 30 minutes of High Intensity Metabolic Training (dancing).  And there, waiting for them, are bottles of juice, Gatorade, Pepsi and water; and snacks like Baked Lays or Doritos.  It's the equivalent of saying, "Hi.  Great effort during your training.  Now eat and drink this -- it'll all but negate the benefits of all your hard work."  This sounds logical, doesn't it?

Of course, Pepsi claims that it's "smart spot" snacks are healthier, and they illustrate it in these beautiful tables. But they're basing the health impact of their "smart spot" foods on daily reduction of calories, NOT on other more important variables like nutrient ratios (ratio of protein:carbs:fats ingested per day) and nutrient quality.  So essentially, this data (in terms of predicting health) is misleading.  Remember this:  The amount of calories you consume  vs. the amount that you expend is not the only variable responsible for weight loss, and it's certainly not the sole predictor of good health.  The type and quality of food you eat has a much greater impact on your overall well being.

This is what we get when we let these companies sponsor health initiatives -- marketing at its finest to enhance the malnutrition and fattening of our society.  Gotta love it.  At least this gives me and my peers practice -- practice at sorting through all the misinformation that's out there so that we can better serve our confused clients.                                                                         

Gastric Bypass -- NOT A Preferred Fat Loss Method

I just read a disturbing article on CNN.com regarding childhood obesity surgery.

Is it not worrisome that in lieu of providing education for our children about the importance of physical activity and quality nutrition -- and taking the time to show them how to make it a part of their lives -- we're giving our surgeons permission to remove most of their stomach in order to lose weight?

Is it just me that thinks a human being would be better off with their digestive system fully intact, thus ensuring ideal food metabolism?  Is anyone else bothered by the notion that, instead of promoting alternative options (beyond "trying every diet"), these surgeons willingly put teens under the knife for such an invasive, dangerous surgery?

Beyond the surgery issue, please don't get me started on the fact that they have a picture of Eric Decker doing what looks to be slow, long distance running "to effectively burn bodyfat."  Nothing like that kind of picture to perpetuate the myth (as opposed to a picture of him strength training) that this type of exercise is most effective in promoting fat loss.  I'll leave that topic for another blog. . .

Tags: gastric bypass , nutrition, weight loss

It's all about Balance.

I'm always telling my clients about the importance of balance.  Granted, most of the time I'm referring to muscle balance as it relates to strength, joint mobility and integrity, but there are plenty of discussions about the importance of balance in life:  balancing family and career, work and play, workouts and recovery. . .   

As it pertains to training, living a balanced life in conjunction with a well-thought-out training program can  bring you amazing results; without balance, though, progress will be much harder to come by. 

It is with this thought in mind, that I bring you the blog of Penelope Trunk, the "Brazen Careerist."  I found her one night when, ironically, I was in a state of imbalance -- procrastinating much more than I was working.  Many of her articles, centered on her desire to deliver "advice at the intersection of work and life," emphasize the importance of, what else?  Balance.  So, if you're looking for tips on topics like goal setting, knowing yourself, time management, parenting or fulfillment check out Penelope's blog. 

It may just give you the advice you need to bring you balance. . . so that you can get the most out of your workouts.