What the Right Foods Can Do For You

This may seem rudimentary to the point of ridiculousness, but good food does good things to the body.... I know, I know, and water is wet.

This study caught my attention for the fact that it's a unique "tweener" as far as studies go - not looking at specific nutrients of foods and yet not a tremendously large and convoluted mess, like the Nurses Health Study.

Instead, this study - headed by Inger Björck, professor of food-related nutrition at Lund University - looked at the health effects of a diet with multiple foods that are thought to reduce inflammation. Here are the study's details;

Study ParticularsForty-four healthy, overweight people between the ages of 50 and 75 took part in the diet study.For four weeks they ate foods which are presumed to reduce low-grade inflammation in the body, a condition which in turn triggers metabolic syndrome and thus obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The test diet was high in antioxidants, low-GI foods (i.e. slow release carbohydrates), omega fatty acids, wholegrain products, probiotics and viscous dietary fibre.Examples of foods eaten were oily fish, barley, soy protein, blueberries, almonds, cinnamon, vinegar and a certain type of wholegrain bread.Study ResultsLDL cholesterol was reduced by 33 percent.Blood lipids reduced by 14 percent.Blood pressure reduced by 8 percent.A risk marker for blood clots by 26 percent. A marker of inflammation in the body was also greatly reduced, while memory and cognitive function were improved. Some ThoughtsThe study results make sense as these are healthy, largely unprocessed foods that have been shown to possess health benefits individually.It would be hasty to conclude, however that this group of foods is the optimal way to eat as any dietary change is usually a vast improvement to the average persons dietary habits.I would be willing to bet that other dietary patterns may be equally (or at least competitively) as effective as the pattern they chose - so long as calorie consumption was kept in check. A control group of some sort would be warranted to give this study a bit more credibility. One of the highlights of studying clusters of different foods is that it helps take the emphasis away from single food "cures" that runs rampant in "superfood" products.I'm curious to see what kind of weight loss the participants experienced.

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Diets Science healthy eating 4 Comments

How Can I Convince My Friend Not to Diet? [Forum]

How Can I Convince My Friend Not to Diet? By Pano Halvah on Oct 25, 2010 2

I visited a friend today for a beer. Unfortunately he just started a very strict diet. I tried to explain to him the bad things about it (e.g Metabolism).

He agrees with me, but still will continue what he does. Any ideas to convince him otherwise?

Weight Loss   2 Comments

Who Else Has Stopped Buying Diet Books?

Recently I carried two large bags full of diet books to the local secondhand store. The walk alone must have burned off at least 12 Calories. I had everything from low-budget self-published stories, right through to bestsellers like the South Beach Diet and other imitators.

I could not help thinking about how little difference these books have really made. Some are well-intentioned self-help guides, while other books are little more than money-grabbing fluff.

How many diet books grace your shelves (or Kindle, or iPad...)?

Over the past 6 years publishers have been sending me books to review. At first it was interesting - but after a few years I hit a fatigue point. The temptation to fall into cynicism was difficult to resist - there was very little new insight being written.

Most publishers would time their release date to a few days after Christmas - the "diet season". About 6 weeks later most of the books would be gathering dust on bookshelves nationwide. Despite this every year a plethora of books hit the market, and, to be brutally honest, most are the same information rehashed over and over.

The age of the "in" diet seems to be over - either that or what is "hot" falls into an increasingly shorter and quicker cycle.

To be fair there are many very interesting books that come out that offer a useful or passionate angle on diet and weight loss - but these are a minority.

There is a season for everything

I've noticed that what's popular in dieting is almost cyclical. Older diets can come back into vogue as if they were a new thing. Or older diets simply keep bringing out new editions every few years.

What the bestseller list tells us...
A perusal of Amazon's diet bestsellers shows us:

Paleo Diets are currently on the menu (Paleo Solution, the Paleo Diet, the Primal Blueprint). Props go to Mark Sisson author of the Primal Blueprint - he keeps an excellent and passionate blog.Rehashed versions of old favorites keep coming - the New Atkins, and South Beach Diet Supercharged.And... (yes the cynicism is back) - slim blond women are good at selling books...

Do You Still Buy Diet Books?

Books Diets 9 Comments Anya on 26 Oct 2010

None. I've never subscribed to them or their view of healthy living.

Reply

Chris Voigt's Potato Only Diet

In what's been dubbed "a bizarre PR campaign," Chris Voigt, director of the Potato Commission, has been eating only potatoes for 25 days (and aims to reach 60).

Chris's aim is to prove that potatoes can be part of a healthy lifestyle. But is such a limited diet going to make him ill?

Chris is highlighting the nutritional content of potatoes, although counted as a "starch" not a "vegetable", they are rich in several vitamins and minerals:
Voigt hopes his pro-spud stunt will educate the public about many healthy aspects of the maligned potato: an inexpensive source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, and with the skin left on, dietary fiber.

The monotony of a potato-only diet would leave most of us feeling incredibly bored with our food, even with seasonings allowed. Chris claims to be enjoying himself though, with some innovative recipes like "potato ice-cream" and "potato lasagne".

Twenty days in, however, he posted about some of the psychological difficulties of the diet on his blog:
It was just one of those days where you really wonder what the heck you're doing. While I know I love potatoes, it was hard to keep eating them. I hung in there but I was the star of my own little pity party yesterday.

Chris has lost some weight on the diet (he's a few pounds overweight), finding his daily 6.5 pounds of potatoes so filling that he can't always finish them. He insists that he won't suffer any ill-effects from living off potatoes alone for two months.

What do you think - is this a crazy diet, or a genius PR stunt? And, if you could only eat one food item for sixty days, what would you pick?

Weird diet potatoes 12 Comments Ann on 26 Oct 2010

I wonder if he's including a multivitamin in this? And it sounds from this post like he must be including SOME other foods - how is it potato lasagna if there is only potatoes in it? There must be cheese and a sauce? Otherwise it's a stack of potatoe slices. Or mashed potatoes?

Reply Ann on 26 Oct 2010

I apologize for the Quayle-reminiscent moment ... I think I was originally going to say "stack of potatoes" but then opted for "potato slices" without fixing my spelling.

Reply Ryan on 26 Oct 2010

It's actually not so crazy. Potatoes, though not generally thought of as nutritious because of their association with French fries, are actually quite so.

I would gladly go on a pure grass-fed raw milk diet. The Mayo Foundation actually used to do this as a sort of cure-all. Whether it works is up for debate, but it is abundantly clear that a pure raw milk diet will at least keep you alive perfectly well by itself.

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What Exercise Can I Do With Shin Splints? [Forum]

What Exercise Can I Do With Shin Splints? By Lizardlip18 on Oct 28, 2010 2

Im almost 18 and im 5'8" and I weigh 191lbs. I run at least twice a week and walk almost every evening and do ab workouts. But I've gained weight. I used to weigh 150lbs until I was taken off of my A.D.D. medicine which helped control my hunger as well as help me pay attention. I've gained 41lbs in a year and I just keep gaining more weight.

I want to lose weight before college but im having trouble finding ways to help suppress my hunger and when i find something that will possibly help me lose weight I have trouble sticking to it, especially since my scheduel is so screwed up.

Can anyone please give me advice on how to handle my hunger and lose weight. Also Ive just recently gotten shin splints in both legs and so whenever I run or do too much with my legs they feel llike they are about to explode. My boyfriend says I should just ignore the pain, but I dont want to mess up my legs forever.

So if anyone has any way I could get cardio without running I would appreciate you sharing that, and if you think i should ignore the pain then tell me that too. Thanks.

Weight Loss   2 Comments Caroline on 10/28/10

I've struggled with shin splints since high school and used that as an excuse as to why I didn't jog or run. Like you, I gained some weight over the years and am currently working to get it off. But with shin splints, what are you supposed to do?

1) STRETCH. Stretch your legs a lot. Here are the stretches I do:
-sit on the floor with your legs out in front. Point your toes and lean forward reaching for your toes. Then, one leg a time, flex your foot and reach again. If you can, grab your toe and GENTLY (VERY GENTLY) pull back a little bit. Sometimes, just grabbing the toe will apply enough pressure to create a good stretch.
-Stand facing a wall, about a foot away. Standing on one leg, prop your toe of the other leg against the wall, heel against the floor. Lean towards the wall. You should feel this stretch in your calves and shins. Switch legs and do this again.

Also, I've found that your speed will affect your shins. You have to build up the muscles in your legs that support the area of your shins in order to get rid of the shin splints (this was told to me by a trainer and has worked for me). I use a leg press machine twice a week at a gym and I use one leg at a time on the machine. But I only put my toe on the press and push off with the ball of my foot. Obviously, only 5 pounds of weight are used. Going back to speed, if you use a treadmill, the fastest I walk is at 3.7. The fastest I jog is at 4.8. Any faster and I can feel my shins tighten up.

I've also found that ignoring the pain and "pushing through it" is dangerous. This has caused me to have such bad shin splints that I had to be carried home. Don't do that.

Also, ICE YOUR SHINS DOWN EVERY TIME YOU WALK OR JOG. Even if they don't hurt, apply ice afterwards for at least 20 minutes. This has helped me out tremendously.

Two months ago, I couldn't walk two miles wihtout my shins acting up. Yesterday, for the first time in my entire life, I jogged for half a mile straight. And my shins felt fine.

Good luck!

Reply Doug on 10/28/10

I've had problems with shin splints in the past, usually after a long break of not running. For me, they go away after one or two days of getting back into it, but if you continue to have the problem, there are tons of great alternatives.

- Swimming
- Biking
- Rowing
- Any low weight/bodyweight workout circuit (ie 50 pushups and 50 pullups for time)
- Barefoot running may also help

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Moving Unhealthy Food Is Better Than Banning It

An intriguing study from Cornell University found that strategically re-positioning food in school cafeterias is a formidable strategy for encouraging healthier choices.
Healthier, more visible and more "cool" was the idea behind the strategy, which aimed to improve the eating habits of school-aged children.
These findings are the result of six different studies with more than 11,000 middle and high school students. (Source)http://sixpacktrainingmethods.blogspot.com/
Here are some examples of how the changes made a difference;In one set of schools, the study found sales of fruit increased by 100 percent, when it was moved to a colorful bowl.Salad bar sales tripled when the cart was placed in front of cash registers.In other schools, creating a speedy "healthy express" checkout line for students not buying calorie-dense foods, like desserts and chips, doubled the sales of healthy sandwiches.Ice cream kept in a freezer with a closed, opaque top, significantly reduced the amount of ice cream taken.Moving chocolate milk behind plain milk increased sales of plain milk.CommentaryI have to say I really like this idea - not only for schools, but in homes and offices as well. The out-of sight, out-of-mind, out-of-mouth strategy is certainly universally applicable.This study echo's the results of Brian Wansink's 2006 study, which found that office workers ate fewer candies when they were in opaque rather than clear candy jars on their desks. And, even fewer when the opaque jars were six feet away from their desks.This kind of strategy is also far more appealing than the idea of "banning" foods. People still have options, they just have to look for them.
I hope they implement this kind of strategy in schools across the nation. It's certainly a very economical way to guide youth towards making healthier choices. To quote Chris Wallace, food service director for the Corning, N.Y. School District, It's not nutrition until someone eats it. You need to have foods that kids will eat, or they won't eat -- or they'll eat worse".

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Psychology Teens and Kids healthy eating school lunches 1 Comments John on 28 Oct 2010
In Junior High we had a choice of either going through a salad bar, or going though the main lunch line - many people chose the salad bar (it was easier to get through).
When I went to the high school, if you wanted a salad you had to write your name down on a sheet of paper before school started, and it would be made for you; I asked why they didn't have a salad bar, the only response was "Not enough interest, we only get two names on the signup sheet as it is".
If the high school had a salad bar, like the junior high school did, then they would have had a large turnout for it - but instead they chose to make it difficult for the students to eat healthy.
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I Need Help Losing 130 Pounds [Forum]

I Need Help Losing 130 Pounds By bri323 on Oct 28, 2010 4

i'm only 15 years old and i'm in desperate need of help losing weight. at first i didnt feel fat because i dont look it, cause im mixed with black & white. i have a huge butt (i wear like a 18 i think). but i have other things too like a stomach and some thighs. but i want to be rid of them. i weigh 224. thats too huge. and im very self concious. i dont take being mean to me well so please be nice.

i need tips on losing like 130 pounds as quick as humanly possible. i want to be at the very least 100 pounds and at the very most 129. i hate being huge. the only reason my weight caught my attention is because only two and a half years ago at this time i was 180. i'm only 5'6.5. so i know that i'm really huge. people at school have even brought it to my attention that i'm getting bigger, even my boyfriend, but he said it in a nice way. please help me out.

i thought about vomiting and the whole laxative thing but i dont know the outcome. different people say different things. i dont feel the whole exercise thing going on in my life cause i never have time for anything. and i dont eat that much. oh and i'm on the birth control depo shot if that helps anything.

Any suggestions???

Weight Loss   4 Comments whattyathink on 10/28/10

... first check with a doctor for a complete physical, ask for his/her advice on weight loss and whether there are any underlying issue to consider. If you get any advice other than consult with a physicial first don't follow that advice because whoever is giving it to you is just blowing smoke.

... at 12 years of age I weighed 212 lbs. I was basically lazy and my parents ran a small store. I loaded up on chips and icecream and that's all she wrote.

... at 16 I had enough and started to increase my exercise, I cut out the sweets but continued to eat regular food. I cut all my servings in half.

... at 25 I was healthy enough to join a police force where I stayed for the next 37 years. I am now 62.

... I'm still heavy but according to my doctor will likely make it to 90. Blood pressure is excellent but I recently decided to cut out all extra salt. Took it off the table and never put it on food.

... I am still healthy enough to enjoy my four grand-daughters.

Good luck

Reply Stephanie on 10/28/10

First, like 'whatyathink' said, you need to check with your doctor and get a physical.

Second, you do not need to lose 130 lb. For a 5'-6" person, the recommended weight range is 120-159 based on frame size. Trying to get to 100 lb is unrealistic and will just make you unhappy in the long run.

Third, please don't try to lose the weight "as fast as humanly possible". Everyone I know who has lost weight quickly always ended up gaining it back because they didn't change the way they were eating and working out on a permanent basis.

I lost over 50lbs (from 190 to 135), but I took nearly two years to do so because I wanted to do it in a way I could maintain. I have now been at this weight for over two years and am still maintaining.

Please talk with your doctor and set up some realistic goals for yourself. I think aiming to lose 10% of your bodyweight (approx. 22lbs) is a good starting point. It may seem daunting, but every little step helps and you will eventually get there.

Just remember you are beautiful no matter your size and losing weight will never solve all your problems.

Good luck!

Reply Bonnie on 10/28/10

I'm going to agree with the others and say see your doctor. If you don't have access to a doctor can you make an appointment with your school nurse? Wanting to weigh only 100 pounds for a 5'6" person is unhealthy, as Stephanie says. A nurse or doctor can help you formulate a realistic plan. Try focusing on shorter term goals. I lost 100 pounds, and I did it by focusing on 5 pound increments. When I was at my heaviest, even 10 percent seemed like a long ways to go, but 5 pounds felt manageable. Good luck.

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Poll: Is a 2 Year Old Too Young to Diet?

It was recently reported in Parentdish.co.uk that a mother started her daughter on a Calorie restricted diet at the ripe old age of two.

She explained that she didn't want her daughter to grow up and look like her, weighing 238 pounds. This story is sure to create some controversy as it beckons the questions of how young is too young to diet and how much Calorie restriction should be considered child abuse.

Aly Gilardoni started her now 8 year old daughter on a Calorie restricted diet when she was just a toddler. She continues to only allow her daughter to have 700 Calories a day which is well below what is recommended for a growing 8 year old.

The daughter says she doesn't want to be a fat child and grow up to look like her mother. The mother still eats whatever she wants snacking on junk food after the daughter goes to bed. Gilardoni was even quoted saying,
"I feel some guilt about having treats, but Corleigh's not bothered. I'm glad I've trained her. I want her to grow up happy and do things I never did. When I look in the mirror I still see a huge, monstrous woman. Corleigh's not so under

Super Slim Pomegranate

A Chinese herbal slimming supplement that claims to suppress hunger and burn fat. So what are its ingredients? Does it work? and What are the side effects?http://slimmingpillsreview.blogspot.com/

Yerba Mate

is a weight loss herb similar to tea and coffee but without the unwanted side effects associated with caffeine

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The Diet Rule Experiment

How do you know which diet regime is right for you!

Posted by Jane   on August 15, 2009
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Garcinia Cambogia

extract HCA is a herbal weight loss ingredient found in many popular herbal weight loss products
Posted by sean  on August 16, 2010 Under Weight Loss Herbs
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Damiana

is a herb that can aid weight loss when mixed with other weight loss herbs

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Lipozap

What is ? is a non-invasive procedure developed by MedAesthetica Medical Group inc. that claims to reduce fat in specific fatty area of the body without any surgical procedures involved. is said to have minimal side effects and needs barely any recuperation time. But, there are sceptics who feel that may not be a long term solution for people with obesity problem.

Procedure Overview can be used on any part of the body. procedure involves the use of the VelaSmooth anti-cellulite machine, infrared heat and radio frequency (RF) waves. The VelaSmooth device massages the skin and the heat and RF waves break down the fat cells under the skin. This procedure is followed by administering a fat-dissolving drug called Phosphatidylcholine is to the patients.

Does work? claims that four sessions are usually enough to deliver results. However, some users who tried reported little or no change after the procedure.

Side Effects

Many people who tried said that they felt slight discomfort during the procedure but no pain. However, most of them reported soreness, intolerable pain and some disfigurement for many days after the operation.

Is worth trying? may work to temporarily get rid of some bulges. However, negative customers’ reviews and the fact that does not improve your health or provide a healthy approach to long-term weight loss make lower the value of .

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Mothers Underestimate Influence On Their Kids' Weight

A survey of 1,037 women has uncovered a knowledge gap when it comes to certain weight issues - including their influence on their children's weight.

Here are some of the findings of the survey - conducted by HealthyWomen.

Not surprisingly, most respondents know that obesity leads to an increased risk for health problems, such as high blood pressure (93%), type 2 diabetes (89%), and heart disease (88%).Less than one-third of the women, however, know that obesity is associated with increased risk of colon cancer (26%), gallstones (30%), and breast cancer (23%).While 87% of women believe a parent's obesity affects a child's risk of becoming obese, only 28% assign that responsibility to themselves.Only 11% of respondents know that a child's risk of becoming obese more than doubles if the mother is obese during her first trimester of pregnancy.

Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, Executive Director of HealthyWomen says this:From an early age, children tend to eat the same foods as their parents, especially mothers, so exposure to nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables is not only setting a good example, but also positioning your child on a lifelong course of good health. Source

What we can learn from thisEducation is central to change, but knowledge is only power if you choose to use it. To be sure, prevention of childhood obesity and healthy children begins at home - with BOTH parents (if there are 2 parents involved).

It goes without saying that mom and dad need to change their ways to become the healthy role-models for children.

While growing healthy habits in children starts at home, it would be folly to put 100% of the responsibility on parents. I firmly believe in the idea that it takes a village to raise a child, and in this case to raise a healthy, active child. The culture and environment children are exposed to nowadays may be one that sets them up for failure. Change needs to take place in communities, schools and various levels of government, especially for higher risk children.

Battaglino Cahill sums it up nicely when she says; Empowering and educating women is the best way we know to break the cycle of obesity and promote healthy habits for the life of any woman and her loved ones.
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Teens and Kids childhood obesity motherhood women 14 Comments

Some Obese People Don't See Themselves as Fat

Many obese people don't see themselves as fat and in fact, they think they're healthy - or so says a new study.

Talk about being a "glass is half full" type of person. I wish I was like that!

The problem is this positive attitude doesn't dispel the fact that obese people are at a heightened risk of death, i.e. heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, etc.

Published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, scientists gauged body awareness of 2,056 men and women already participating in a study, surveying the individuals on their body perception.

Researchers asked participants to look at pictures and choose their ideal body size. People who picked figures that were the same or larger than their actual body size were classified as "misperceiving" their body size, but these people were also more likely to be happier.

However, worry warts who acknowledge they're fat and out of shape tend to be less happy. I'm willing to guess that only exacerbates the problem. For you Shaun of the Dead fans, that means "to make things worse."

Important factors were considered. Scientists found people with higher incomes and better education were no more likely to perceive their body weight accurately, than less educated people, or those with lower incomes.

And here's the problem with that. Those who misperceived their size, saw their health risks as the same as people who more accurately identified their body size; which is a problem. Obese people are at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and the list goes on and on.

All this reminds me of the scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral - no I don't like girly movies, I saw it in a film class in college - where the overweight, smoking, drinking, jovial guy drops dead from a heart attack after boozing, eating, and dancing at the wedding reception.

I think this is a personality thing. If you're happy go lucky and have a fun social network, you spend less time being introspective and worrying about all the nitty-gritty. I'm a miserable, cynical, depressed mess, so I spend a ton of time worrying about my health, but one of my happier and - as coincidence may have it - overweight friends enjoys life more and doesn't sweat the small stuff. Well, the not so small stuff.

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Body Image Weird body image body shape obesity 14 Comments O. on 16 Oct 2010

Even worse are people who "overblow" a slight weight weight gain in other people. I'm going to be candid here....it's usually guys against their girlfriends/wives.

When I was in college I was dating a guy then he moved to another college so I only saw him in the summer. I had gained 1 dress size( from 10 to 12) the exact pounds I don't know but he was not pleased.

The funny thing was I was working at Macy's during that time in a misses(that's regular size womens clothing) department. But my department was next to the womens ( that's plus size) department and sometimes I cleaned that department if no one else was around.

One day I picked up a size 1x shirt to put it on a rack and I stoped and held it in front of me and looked in a mirror. It was huge on me. But I thought "WHY AM I LETTING THIS GUY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I AM 300 POUNDS!"

But back then (late 90's) there wasn't any internet dating, or I would have droped him like a hot potato!

Reply O. on 16 Oct 2010

Nowadays I could wear a 1x shirt. But last month I bought 3 different shirts at 2 different stores all from the misses department.

I know how big I am, and I know how big I am NOT.

I can't speak for all people who need to loose weight. But that's what it comes down to, is knowing where you are and what you need to work on and not let somebody else ( who's likely got a boat load of issues themselves) dictate the status of your body.

And men seem to use the word "fat" anytime they can't crush a woman with their bare hands.

I remember someone on this site literally said that Serena Williams was "fat" even though her body is all muscle! Huh?

I heard someone call Khloe Kardashian "fat". Huh?

She may be somewhere around 6 feet tall. She may not have as "classic" a face as Kim and Kourtney. But fat??????

Reply

Trying to Find a Dietitian/Nutritionist [Forum]

Trying to Find a Dietitian/Nutritionist By O. on Oct 21, 2010 16

Today I tried to find a dietitian or nutritionist near me. Silly me, I thought it would be like finding a local dentist. I wouldn't call it a complete failure. But you'd think that in a major metro area there would be plenty of them. Well I found some, but not very close and it wasn't easy.

First off I tried the phone book. If you look up nutritionist or dietitian in the phone book you will see big full color ads for Nutrisystem and other popular diet programs followed by a few other listings in tiny print. How nice.

So I tried typing the word nutrionist into the online yellow pages. What I got ranged from listing for GNC's and other vitamin stores, to listing for centers that supply food to low income mothers, to listings for actual nutritionists . But several of the phone numbers I called didn't work, and those that did were for nutritionist that worked for certain health insurance plans that I wasn't on.

So I called my health insurance provider and asked them can they find me dietition or nutritionist that is on my plan. The operator asked me "Is this for diabities?". I said "No this is for weight loss". She said "Ok, dietitians for weightloss isn't covered".

Now this is interesting because the overweight are blamed for raising everyones premiums and whatever else.... but weight loss isn't covered at least by my company.

But the operator did let me know they have coupons and discounts to Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, gyms, and other services. So I guess that saves face a little.

I did find one place I really liked , but it's a little far just to go to a doctors office. I'd hate to think what would happen if I lived in rural area.

Now I see why Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, and Weight Watchers are so popular.

Weight Loss   16 Comments

How to Keep Weight Loss Simple [Forum]

How to Keep Weight Loss Simple By easyfitveronica on Oct 18, 2010 4

When trying to lose weight having goals will help you achieve great results. How much do you want to lose each week? Areas to improve your diet? Exercise? These goals should be set each week.

I have lost 20lb & my husband has lost 43lbs. Having too many goals will just confuse you.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Weight Loss   4 Comments

Top 10 Weight Loss Myths [Forum]

Top 10 Weight Loss Myths By Raffy on Oct 18, 2010 7

Myth 1 - Starving makes you lose weight fast

Myth 2 - Low carbohydrate diets make you lose weight quickly.

Myth 3 - Eating sugar free or fat free foods will promote weight loss.

Myth 4 - Wearing rubber or plastic based belly wraps will help burn fat.

Myth 5- Salads are healthy so I can eat all the salad I want.

Myth 6 - Working out allows you to eat whatever you want.

Myth 7 - Juice diets help you to burn fat.

Myth 8 - Magic weight loss pills allow you to lose weight while not dieting or exercising.

Myth 9 - Exercising for hours a day is good for losing weight.

Myth 10 - Sit ups are the best way to lose belly fat.

Weight Loss   7 Comments bijou on 10/18/10

#5 deserves a caveat: One certainly can eat all the salad s/he wants provided it's not doused in gallons of high-calorie dressing and/or spiked with high-calorie fixings such as nuts, croutons, bacon, avocado, etc. If it's just leafy greens and other raw vegetables, feel free to eat a bathtubful of it if you can.

#9 caveat: Exercising hours a day certainly is good for losing weight, but be sure you can keep it up for the rest of your life if you want to keep the weight off. Oh, and said hours of exercise will be useless if one does not change eating habits as well.

Reply Dan on 10/18/10

I would say that it would take hours of exercise to lose weight without changing one's eating habits. When I was a teenager, when I swam with the swim team several hours a day, I could lose weight, no matter how much I ate, nor how badly. If a person changes their eating habits, they can lose weight without exercising so much. One cannot eat "all"
that one wants to eat if one exercises vigorously, but one can certainly eat more than if they were completely sedentary. I lost 100 pounds hardly ever going below 2000 calories for the day, since I exercised regularly. I also found I lost weight at any calorie level less than 3000. I maintain my new weight of 6 foot and 158 pounds with over 3000 calories a day, since I still bike at least an hour everyday. However, eating "all" that I would like to eat would probably be in the neighborhood of 10-20,000 calories a day. Also, many people would have to practically starve themselves to lose weight if they didn't exercise. Exercise and some calorie restriction have to balanced out. Exercise enables persons to lose weight without severe caloric restriction, but there has to be moderation. It is difficult to lose weight by either diet or exercise alone, although exercise alone works better in youth than at my age of almost 50. Diet alone would work better in persons who have higher metabolic rates. Remember that 95% percent of people who do diet alone gain their weight back.

Reply Lana on 10/19/10

Agreed, starving yourself does not help you lose weight. I like you Dan have lost 15lbs just by eating around 1800-2500 cals of clean food a day and exercising regularly. Cutting calories like crazy won't help you loes weight. I could never survive off of only 1500 cals. Im 5'5" 125 lbs and that's what is always recommended to me. Crazy!

Reply Auden on 10/19/10

I think all of these myths point to one of the largest problems that people face trying to lose weight - the desire to find a simple, catch-all solution to what is probably a very complicated issue. Very few severely overweight or obese people are in such a state simply because they eat too much sugar, or too many carbs, or are sedentary. It is probably a combination of all of those things, and a host of other physical/emotional factors. Most successful, long-term weight losers probably draw on aspects of a number of the "myths" you have written about, Raffy, but simply in moderation.

For example, I added exercise while cutting back on carbs (still eat plenty, though, believe you me), trying to stay away from the sugary/sweet foods (while simultaneously attempting to shun artificial sweeteners, save for the occasional diet Coke relapse), loading up on salads, and even allowing myself to feel hungry sometimes. All of those are moderate offshoots of the 10 myths, but none of them were the solution in itself (and bijou's caveat about salads is a good one). But I think one also has to have a good filter about what works for the individual. Some diet advice makes sense for some people, but not for others. For example, while many Americans probably eat too many fatty foods, reducing fat intake was the last thing I needed to do. I was one of the victims of the low-fat, high-carb diet that I believe has made so many Americans overweight. I actually saw dramatic results once I INCREASED my fat intake...

Reply Dan on 10/19/10

Were you on a low fat, high refined carbohydrate diet? Dean Ornish actually proscribes refined sugars on his diet. I think what actually didn't help were these high sugar, but low fat snacks that people thought they could eat all they wanted of. A naturally low fat diet is a Vegan diet, like the Ornish, or the diet that Neal Barnard has helped persons reverse type 2 diabetes on. It only includes non-refined, high fiber, complex carbohydrates. The only simple carbs included are those from fruit. Studies actually show that Vegans generally weigh less and have less heart disease than persons eating high saturated fat meat and dairy.

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Parental Feeding Style: Is It Important?

We talk so much about the obesity epidemic, and the soaring rates of overweight children these days.

But, did you know that your parenting style impacts your child's relationship with food, both now and in the future?

It's not difficult to imagine this to be the case -- think about the sheer amount of feeding interactions you have with your children throughout the course of their lives.

My little girl is now 1-year-old, and sometimes I feel like all we ever do is prepare food, eat food, and clean up said food from the floor! According to Jill Castle, paediatric dietitian:
Throughout an 18 year childhood, a parent will feed their child over 28,000 times.

That's an amazing statistic!

Feeding StylesIn her article, Jill goes on to discuss the four parenting styles. Here's a short overview:

#1 Authoritative
This style promotes independent thinking and self-regulation in how much to eat, although the parent determines what is eaten, when and where, etc. It's thought that this style of feeding fosters the ability to self regulate intake, and to feel secure about food and eating. Children also tend to be leaner.

#2 Authoritarian
Where the parent makes the decisions about what, and how much will be eaten. Think the "clean your plate club". It's thought that both underweight and overweight problems are associated with this style.

#3 Permissive
This is the type of parent who tries to set limits, but ultimately gives in after some whining from the child. It's thought that this style of feeding may lead to children being overweight.

#4 Neglectful
This is where the parent is irregular in food planning and preparation, failing to stock cupboards, etc. It's thought that this style of feeding may lead children to feel insecure about food, and become overly focused on food.

No doubt this is an extremely sensitive issue. But, do you think it's now important that parents are provided with guidance on how, as well as what, to feed their children? Do you think your parental feeding style is affecting your child?

Image source: Lenscap

For further information see, "Child Feeding Behaviours and Child Weight".

Teens and Kids childhood obesity Eating Habits 15 Comments

Why You Should Keep Your Goals Secret

Think of the day when you decided on a life change. You can't wait to share it with all your family and friends. Maybe you announce it at a party, or share it on-line for all to see:

"I'm going to lose 20 pounds by Christmas, and be fit enough to go running every day!"

Everyone congratulates you on a job well done.

But wait a minute -- you haven't done anything yet?

In a recent TED talk, Derek Sivers talks about keeping goals secret. According to research, telling someone your goals makes them less likely to happen.

There is some research to back this up. Peter Gollwitzer of New York University specializes in goal-setting. In his article (PDF) about announcing intentions he discovers (in Study 3) that people who have announced their goals give up on them quicker than people who haven't.

This flies in the face of some thinking. Many people share their goals and believe the disclosure helps to keep them accountable.

Do you keep you goals to yourself? Or do you announce them to the world?

Photo credit Dana Lookado

Psychology goals 15 Comments Heather on 21 Oct 2010

I do better, historically, if I announce my goals. To good people to announce my goals, those who have similar things they consider important and thus are supportive.

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Depression Eating, It Gets Insane

I'm sick in the head. No seriously, I am. I'm medicated and everything. Bipolar, clinically depressed, angry all the time, and riddled with anxiety and self-hate.

It's a serious condition, but being crazy does have its perks. Jehovah's Witnesses know not to knock on my door.

But sometimes depression can really suck, especially if you're trying to live a healthy life. It can be hard to eat right and exercise when you're a miserable wretch.

Mental illness is much different than physical illness. Sometimes your medication works, sometimes it doesn't. It's not like taking insulin for diabetes or blood pressure pills. You can still have bad days.

As for me, I have three or four crappy days a month. They're the kind of days when I wake up and say to myself, "Ugh, I know I've said it before, but today is the day I kill myself. Yup, today's the day." So far I haven't.

But my bad days still suck. Normally I lead a healthy life. I eat right, exercise regularly, and I see a shrink. But, when I'm having a crappy day, all that goes out the window, especially my diet.

Food is my drug, always has been. When I'm depressed, I eat. I don't turn to drugs or booze, like many mentally ill people. I equate that stuff with fun, so there's no urge for me to get drunk when I'm depressed. I just eat.

Now, I've blogged about this before, I'm a near-vegetarian; no meat, eggs, milk, or cheese. I only eat fruits, vegetables, and fish. So I don't get like a woman with PMS and lock myself in my bedroom with a gallon of Haagen-Dazs, a jar of pickles, and the latest issue of Cosmo.

Because of my diet, I'm not jonesing for things like Big Macs, Cinnabon, macaroni and cheese, or milkshakes. No, my comfort foods are pretty lame. For example, I love non-dairy ice cream. I'll cut your throat for a pint of Good Karma Banana Fudge.

I eat a lot of cheap supermarket sushi too. You know the stuff. Those funky California rolls made with unripe avocado, fake crab meat that tastes extra fake, and crusty dried out rice.