Poll: Does Facebook Give Good Health Advice?

Not if you ask Harvard health expert, William Shrank, who calls Facebook the "wild west" when it comes to health information.

This is because of the study his team conducted on the popular social networking site which found that many health recommendations came from those soliciting non FDA approved products and services.

Out of 15 diabetes related Facebook pages, 27% of the comments were from people promoting non FDA sanctioned products or methods.

The Harvard team recommends the following;
"Policymakers should consider how to assure transparency in promotional activities, and patients may seek social-networking sites developed and patrolled by health professionals to promote accurate and unbiased information exchange,"

I admit that there are people on Facebook trying to take advantage of people to make a buck, but I also find fault with the notion that only the FDA and heath professionals have accurate and unbiased information.

How many times has the FDA been wrong? How can the countless amount of anecdotal evidence be ignored which shows the effectiveness of non FDA or medical profession approved treatments?

This really shows the "we are better and smarter than you" attitude some academia seem to have, especially in the face of those that think outside the box when it comes to diet, health, and fitness.

What are your thoughts about the notion that we should only consider health advice from the FDA and health professionals? Participate in the comments and poll below.

Should consumers only consider FDA and Doctor approved products and treatments when dealing with health issues?

Yes No View results

Health polls research 4 Comments

Dad's Fatty Diet May Give Daughters Diabetes

Your old man can give you a lot of things: his hot temper, his big hairy feet, his old broken down Buick - but diabetes?

Apparently so, if you're a girl.

New research found male lab rats eating a fatty diet increases the risk of their female offspring developing diabetes.

Sounds like a bizarre form of mousy nepotism.

For the study, published in the journal Nature, scientists fed one group of male lab rats a fatty diet, and another group a normal diet. No surprise, the rats on the fatty diet became obese and diabetic.

Then they gave the rats a booty call, hooking the boys up with girl rats of normal weight. After 13 weeks, the female offspring of the obese and diabetic rats began showing symptoms of diabetes. Eek! I mean, squeak!

The researchers say the obese dad's sperm may be affected by their metabolic change, and is somehow being transferred into their offspring.

I bet it happens to humans too, but it's probably more nurture than nature.

Odds are if your dad sits down to a big breakfast of steak, eggs, bacon, and sausage every morning, and you grow up thinking there's nothing wrong with that, and regularly nosh your own lumberjack breakfast, you're probably going to run into some health problems later in life too.

My old man eats Cherrios with chocolate milk, sprinkled with sugar, luckily I missed that habit. Then again, I'm not a chick!.

Image credit: USA Today

Food Weird diabetes fat 10 Comments musajen on 3 Nov 2010

The conclusions here are laughable. Mice are herbivores first and foremost. Fat is a miniscule component of their natural diet. What do you expect when you jack them full of something not typical in their diet? It's going to impact their health and infuence factors in their offspring.

Let's feed a mouse a diet contrary to what it is naturally adapted to eating but blame it on the FAT. Fat is not the problem here. A diet unnatural to the subject is the problem.

We see plenty of evidence of this in society today with humans eating a grossly unnatural diet. We can't even name half of the stuff going into processed foods and, anthropologically speaking, we're adapted for a whole foods, hunter/gatherer type of diet.

Reply Zoran on 3 Nov 2010

Hi Musajen, I think you missed and you hit the point at the same time. I guess the thing is that high fat diet is not natural to us, just as it's not natural to mices, but to a different degree ofcourse.
Today we are eating food more than enough to preserve our bodies. We often eat some food only cause it tastes good. Now, I don't say it's wrong, only some of us overdo it and get different response from their bodies then others.

Reply

New Law Basically Outlaws Happy Meals

San Francisco is usually a laid back kind of town; hipsters, peaceniks, folk singers, stoners, and whackos, all living together in perfect harmony.

But on Tuesday, San Francisco passed new legislation that isn't so lovey-dovey, at least not for local fast food restaurants.

"Kid's meals" can no longer be sold with toys unless they meet specific nutritional standards; standards that may threaten McDonald's Happy Meals.

On Tuesday, with a veto-proof vote of 8 to 3, San Francisco officials passed a law that would allow restaurants to give away toys with kid's meals only if the meals have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include drinks with no excessive fat or sugar. The law takes effect December 1, 2011.

The first thing that comes to mind is McDonald's Happy Meals. Since 1979, when Happy Meals were first introduced, McDonald's has used the kids' meal, specifically the free toy, to directly market to kids.

McDonald's might not state it that frankly, but come on, we all know what those cheap plastic "made in China" toys are really for - "Mommy I want McDonald's!"

Here's a Happy Meal commercial from 1979, in Klingon:

San Francisco officials say the law is designed to help combat childhood obesity; hard to argue against that. But McDonald's isn't happy about it. A spokesperson for the company said they are disappointed with the new law, and called getting the free toy in a Happy Meal "part of a fun, family experience."

No doubt, a law like this is one of those evil "progressive" initiatives so many Americans are scared of. And yes, it is very big brother-ish. And yes, it is the government putting the screws to private industry. But, are there any other solutions out there? We have a lot of fat kids! Just look!

Backyard Chicken Coops: Good Idea or Not?

The issue of whether or not urban centers should allow backyard chicken coops has sparked an ongoing debate in my neck of the woods (insert "crying foul" joke here).

Vancouver city council recently amended an animal control bylaw, making it legal to keep chickens on many more residential properties. Residents who own land of less than an acre are allowed up to 4 hens in their backyards.

Other urban areas in the US have already approved such a by-law including New York, Seattle and Portland.

Here are some of the stipulations that come with owning chickens;

Coops must be between four square feet and ten square feet in size, and cannot be kept in front yards or on apartment or condominium balconies.Other fowl such as roosters, ducks and turkeys are not allowed, and eggs produced by the hens cannot be sold commercially.When hens reach the end of their lifespan of up to six years, they cannot be killed by the owner, but must be taken to a slaughterhouse or veterinarian for slaughter or euthanasia.Backyard Coops: The ProsUrban sustainability: fresh, locally grown eggs can reduce carbon footprint.Good for communities and families as an educational tool.Instil discipline in children.Backyard Coops: The ConNoise: backyard chickens can produce noise and in smaller quarters neighbors may not appreciate it.Odour: (yes I'm going to use another "foul" joke).Disease: we had a run of avian flu a few years back and the little critters can spread disease.Urban predators: chickens may attract coyotes, foxes and other geographically-specific predators.

Where do you come out on backyard chicken coops?

Image source: laura_zz

Food Media Watch backyard chicken coops free range chickens 18 Comments Robert on 4 Nov 2010

And this is their idea of progress.

Please, proceed to disguise the descent into mediocrity, poverty, and socialism... as increased "sustainability." It's clearly fooling us all.

Reply

Grasp This Painful Truth to Improve Your Health

You want to be healthier, fitter, happier -- that's why you're here, right?

Recognizing the importance of good health has a lot to do with seeing the "bigger picture." So, what is the real secret to improving your wellbeing long-term?

I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all way to do things, but here is one very simple fact you definitely need to understand...

Nobody is responsible for your health, but you!

The sooner you realize that, the better.

There are many things in life, which you simply cannot entrust to others. And, although you may try to delegate the responsibility of your health to diet gurus, health professionals, even your employer, or the government, ultimately you are the only person who can take care of that problem, and do it right.

So, next time you go to make an unhealthy lifestyle choice, remember that your actions will always have a consequence -- the choice to do/ or not do something is made by you alone.

Rather than viewing this responsibility as a heavy burden, though, see it as something that you can do, change, and accomplish. It's a gift -- feel empowered by it!

Image source: nkzs

Health health 8 Comments Cupsi on 5 Nov 2010

"So, next time you go to make an unhealthy lifestyle choice, remember that your actions will always have a consequence"

Just vomit the food up

No bad consequence necessary

Reply Nicole

Baloney and Marshmallows For Lunch

Supermarkets are scary. Just stand in line and watch what people buy, it's startling. Blue yogurts, canned meat, and "fruit" flavored breakfast cereals.

Nasty stuff, right? Now, most people don't pay attention to other shoppers, but I'm a jerk. I take mental notes so I can pass judgment. Try it. It's a lot of fun!

Last week, I was at the store, minding my own business - not really - and watched some lady buy quite the lunch for her kids.

So this lady gets in line behind me and she's yammering on her cell phone, not even a regular one, it was one of those pseudo Secret Service ear pieces, for people who are wildly self-important. "Red team go! Red team go!"

I was ignoring her until she said, "I'm just picking up lunch for the kids." There's nothing wrong with that, until I noticed what she was piling onto the conveyor belt: sliced white bread, packaged baloney - not even the fresh stuff - and a bag of marshmallows. Wow, major parenting fail!

Listen, I'm not a parent. I don't want kids. I don't even like children. They're annoying and they smell. But how can you slap a piece of baloney between white bread and call that a meal fit for a child? The answer is, you can't.

I don't even want to know what the marshmallows were for. If she puts them on the sandwich, Child Protective Services need to be notified.

Her kids will probably grow up and be some of those annoying people who, at 35 years old, still only eat three things and pout about trying new foods.

Image credit: Warner Video

Teens and Kids Weird parenting sandwiches 22 Comments Karen on 6 Nov 2010

ahahahahah My boyfriend and I do the same thing when we go to the grocery store! lol We look at people and their purchases and makes wild guesses. For example "no wonder she is the size of an elephant..." or "they are obviously having taco night..." or "...she must be having a bunch of people over for dinner..." etc We don't always make negative comments, we just like to people watch and try to guess things about people. It is amazing what you can learn about a person by looking at what they buy at the grocery store.
My brother works in a grocery store and sometimes I shop at his store. He is not allowed to ring me through the till but his coworkers can. He has told me that his fellow employees always comment to him about my purchases. "That was the most vegetables I ever rang through the till.." its pretty funny.

Reply

Sprinkle Crystals on Your Food and Lose Weight

Is it just me, or are diet aids getting more and more weird?

We've had "Le Whiff" - chocolate you inhale. And now, the latest upcoming craze is crystals.

Tiny crystals that you sprinkle on your food. Doesn't sound too appetising, does it?

The crystals, called Sensa granules, enhance the smell of food, meaning that it tastes better (smell can count for up to 90% of what we experience as the "taste" of a food). They were developed by the neurologist Dr Alan Hirsch (from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago) back in 2008.

The Sensa website claims that:
By enhancing smell, Sensa Tastants were designed to help speed up the process and trigger your "I feel full" signal, so you eat less and feel more satisfied.

Sensa is currently on sale in America, costing $59 for a month's supply of the crystals. Other countries are expected to start selling them soon. Dieters are enticed by the promise they can carry on eating exactly what they already eat, without counting calories or exercising: the only change is that they sprinkle Sensa crystals on every meal and snack.

Some experts, however, are sceptical about the use of Sensa as a diet aid. Dominic Dwyer (a neuropsychologist at Cardiff University in the UK) said the idea behind Sensa was sound, but warned:
A mouthwatering smell from food can simply make us eat more. This stuff would have to be very carefully used.

What do you think? Would you pay $59 a month to sprinkle tiny crystals on your food? Would you be satisfied with less food if it tasted really good?

Weird dieting sensa 3 Comments

Poll: What's Your Worst Diet Excuse?

It seems that it's part of the human condition to make excuses for things.

Excuses why we were speeding, why we didn't have our homework, why we're broke, and of course, why we're fat or unhealthy.

The Mirror.co.uk recently published The World's Worst Diet Excuses. They list the excuse, why it is just an excuse, and what can be done to "beat it".

I think this list is good food for thought because it challenges the thinking and the excuses people have told themselves for so long that they believe they are true.

Which of the 10 dieting excuses have you been guilty of making now or in the past? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Image Credit: FreakingFitness

What's your worst diet excuse?

1. Diets don't work for me. 2. Regular meals are impossible. 3. I have wheat intolerance. 4. It's my hormones. 5. I've got a slow metabolism. 6. It's my medication. 7. It's in my genes. 8. I'm big boned. 9. It's water retention. 10. I suffer from insomnia. View results

Diets diet myths polls weight loss 11 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 18 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.

Reply

Trying to Find a Dietitian/Nutritionist [Forum]

Trying to Find a Dietitian/Nutritionist By O. on Oct 21, 2010 22

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   22 Comments

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.

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.

Image credit: jhritz

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 11 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.

Reply

Low Glycemic Diet Help [Forum]

Low Glycemic Diet Help By jayreaser on Oct 26, 2010 0

Does anyone have any advice, pro or con, about this low glycemic diet? Also is there a site to go to for recipes that are truly low glycemic? I am not looking for the high protein stuff like Atkins, but real low glycemic and not all meat and fats. I have tried these and they did not work for me.

Thank you so much.

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How Can I Separate Emotions From Eating? [Forum]

How Can I Separate Emotions From Eating? By doctordaffodil on Oct 26, 2010 14

So I realized that I take out many of my emotions such as stress and anxiety out on food. I want to lose 10 pounds but it is very difficult because I am an emotional eater who tends to resort to restriction that is followed by a binge.

I am looking for ways to separate my emotions from my eating habits and lose weight in a healthy way. Does anyone have suggestions? Thanks!

Weight Loss   14 Comments carolyn on 10/26/10

pray to GOD

Reply

Poll: The More You Sit, the Sooner You Die

There are so many factors that contribute to the obesity rates in the western world and it definitely is a complex issue.

What's worse, as the world continues to evolve into a more technological driven society, people are spending a lot more time sitting in front of that technology instead of being up and moving on the job.

According to ongoing research at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana the more hours a day a person sits, the more likely they are to die an early death regardless of the amount of exercise they do.

This means that if a person has a job where they're on their feet all day, they are better off than a person who sits at a desk for 7 hours a day but jogs several miles before or after work.

This is based on a 2007 study from the University of Missouri that revealed that people who had active jobs burned many more Calories a week than people who ran 35 miles a week but had sedentary jobs.

Researchers say that sitting contributes to all kinds of health problems including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and muscle, spine, and other skeletal issues. Some businesses are switching on to this research and providing their employees with devices like the Trek Desk so workers can be moving as they work.

What do you think about our evolving sedentary lifestyle? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Source: Men's Health on MSNBC

How many hours a day do you sit?

3 or less 4-6 7-9 10 or more View results

Exercise obesity 9 Comments Ann on 27 Oct 2010

I'm so glad I got up at 6am to run before work today. I wish this had pointed out that people with a sedentary job who exercise won't die as early as the people with sedentary jobs who don't exercise ...

Reply Stephanie on 27 Oct 2010

Exactly! I can't change the fact that my job has me chained to a desk all day. If I could, I already would have! But I can change how active I am outside of work. I wish this had been more kind to those with sedentary jobs instead of just acting like it's the one way train to obesity.

Reply bijou on 27 Oct 2010

so white collar office workers are basically sentenced to death by obesity regardless of their nutrition and exercise choices. we all might as well gorge on every box of donuts and bucket of fried chicken we see and then pass out in front of the tv, because we're all doomed to be obese anyway.

i appreciate research illustrating the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle, but it's articles like these that make people give up (or not even begin trying to take up) a healthy lifestyle.

every little bit helps! every healthy choice you make will pay dividends! if you're an office worker and you're really concerned about sitting all day, take the stairs, take a 10 minute walk during lunch, drink more water and walk to the bathroom often! ladies, instead of sitting during #1, master the squat! it's excellent for toning butts and thighs! and...working out before or after work helps tremendously!

it's time to stop worrying about what's beyond our control and actually DO what IS in our control.

Reply Zoran on 27 Oct 2010

it's time to stop worrying about what's beyond our control and actually DO what IS in our control.

I totally agree, but here's what's bothering me. We're creatures of habit, but we often use this as an excuse of our bad habits. How we can for once start doing what's good for us, how we can get a good habit? In my 20s I used to go to the gym without ever missing a workout. 20 years later, I have a well equipped home gym, but I hardly ever go in that room, I'm an 8 hours sitter, a total fat ass and I'm not even fat, actually I'm a skinny guy. One thing I know, we all know the theory quite good, but how to turn that in practice is beyond my knowledge.

Reply Dan on 27 Oct 2010

As someone who has had a stand up job in a food service for almost the last 24 years, I find this study very difficult to believe- I would almost dare to say it is bogus. I have been battling obesity while I had this job most of the time. Not only was I overweight, but I had very high cholesterol as well- standing up was of little help. There is one woman who stands up all day as a cook in our department and she is 200 pounds overweight. Many other persons in our department are also seriously overweight, even though they stand up most of the work day. Standing up according to the calculator on healthstatus.com only burns 100 more calories in 8 hours than sitting down does- about 910 vs 810 for someone of my weight of 158. This is a little over 100 calories an hour, whereas running can burn at least 500 calories in an hour. 8 hours of running at only 6mph burns 7680 calories. I only lost weight from purposeful exercise, such as biking and running, never by having a stand up job. Perhaps if they are comparing jobs such as movers of furniture and lumberjacks to persons who have sit down jobs, this might have validity. But, from my experience and that of many others in my food service department, just standing up all day does NOT burn that many more calories than sitting down does, and I also don't believe by itself that it protects persons from any kind of health problem.

Reply

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

What Exercise Can I Do With Shin Splints? By Lizardlip18 on Oct 28, 2010 7

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   7 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 Lana on 10/28/10

So important to ICE ICE ICE! Good point about building up the muscles in your legs. :)

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

Reply Lana on 10/28/10

Barefoot running is 50/50 in all the literature I have read on it. If you are used to running in runners all the time and suddenly switch to bare feet it will completely exacerbate shin splints. It could only make it worse.

Reply Lana on 10/28/10

To clarify though: When lizardlip18 heals from the shin splints then he can start thinking about running again taking it slow and easy. Over time he can start to switch shoes around with the eventual goal of going to bare feet. Go from super stiff major support runners, to less support runners, to even less support runners, to those rubber shoes/sandals/slippers that have separate spots for your toes (I have seen mountain climbers where them).
You can't suddenly switch from runners to bare feet. The muscles in and around your foot will not be able to handle the stress. All those little tiny muscles that never gained the strength to support your weight need to be trained over time to handle that level of stress.

Reply Lana on 10/28/10

Shin Splints is a very general term. Is your pain a result of the fascia around tibialis anterior for example? Or is it actually tiny stress fractures on your tibia? or is it the actualy muscle tibialis anterior? Depending on the type of "Shin Splints" you have could change the type of exercises you can do.
Typically you should stick to non to low impact activities. That means no more running until it heals.
Do ellipitical, swimming, stair master, biking. Get out there and bike all over the city! You will see the extra weight melt off fast if you stop taking the bus and driving. Just bike everywhere. You will also save a lot more money for college not paying for gas.
I would also ice a lot for the first 24hrs after any exercise you do. RICE! Remember first aid clasS?

I used to suffer from horrible shin splints when I was a teenager. I had to ice my shins 3 times a day for 20 minutes each time. You have to ice for 20 minutes AT THE VERY LEAST because the cold from the ice takes at least 15 minutes to penetrate to the deep tissue. Icing will reduce the inflammation. Take NSAIDS too. Like advil or tylenol.

I am just writing everything that flies into my brain on shin splints so sorry if this is disorganized.

Reply Lana on 10/28/10

Being Hungry is okay. It is what you eat to satiate that hunger that may not be okay. Since you are trying to be physically active you need to learn about proper nutrition to fuel yourself. You need to educate yourself on nutrition so you can make the proper food choices. Go get a book on Nutrition, anything by Nancy Clark will be best. Don't go out and buy a stupid diet book but invest in a book on basic nutrition. On that does not promise that you will lose ten pounds in ten days. Look for the publisher Human Kinetics. They have a ton of great books on nutrition.

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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)

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".

Image credit: packedlunch

Psychology Teens and Kids healthy eating school lunches 5 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 7

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   7 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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5 Ways to Overcome Gym Shyness

Are you shy when it comes to working out at the gym?

Deep down you may even know there's no reason to feel like that, because making positive changes in your life is commendable, and you're doing it for you, and you only!

It can, however, be difficult to overcome this shyness, if you're the type of person who worries about what others think of you.

Self-esteem and confidence issues can really eat away at you, and even stop you achieving your fitness goals.

On the Diet Blog Forum we recently had a sharepost from someone who simply cannot stand working out in a gym, because they feel everyone is judging them.

Our Forum users have given some really great advice, and I thought it would be good to share...

Here are some of their suggestions for overcoming gym shyness:

1. Start At Home
"I suggest you just buy weights... lift them everyday, then once you don't feel below everyone else, go to a gym. The other way, I would suggest working out at home. If you have a treadmill, run on the treadmill for a decent amount of time everyday." Subjectdc

"I started walking in the evenings when less people would see me. I'd add more and more each day. I also bought all the Biggest Loser DVDs and did them at home, until I got to a place where I felt more comfortable going to the gym." April

2. Enjoy The Journey
"The keys to physical success are this: 1. Get there! 2. Find a good workout and someone to show you how to do the exercises correctly. 3. Believe in the workout you are doing... so far there is no one way to get there. Enjoy the journey and make it fun and as exciting as possible. Stimulate, recover and grow stronger and better everyday. Be proud of who you are. You could be at Denny's or sucking on a cigarette. If you are at the gym, you are already respected by the gym goers!" Jim

3. Exercise At Non-Peak Times
"Pick a gym that caters to an older crowd... and exercise in the early a.m. hours, when the people working out are there to exercise, not to find a date for Friday night." newscctv

4. Get A Personal Trainer
"I also got a personal trainer and still have a personal trainer. People say "that must be expense", I say maybe, but I am worth it. Having the trainer kept me coming back, still does. Get back to the gym and keep it up. Good luck to you. Walk in that door with a smile and positive attitude that you are there for you, your health, your energy, your well being. If the others do not like this, they can go jump!" Les

5. Stop Thinking People Are Judging
"I was fat at one time in my life, now I am fit. I like seeing people in the gym trying to better them selves. A lot of people you see that are fit in the gym started off were you were. Don't think people are judging you." Scotty123

"No one is judging you at the gym. As a avid gym goer of normal weight, I find it encouraging when someone takes the step to improve there health. 99% of people in the gym either don't notice others, or will think, "I'm glad you are here." Sally

Do you have something to add to these tips -- how can someone overcome gym shyness?

Image credit: mrsmas

Exercise exercise tips gym 9 Comments

How Veg-Friendly is That Subway Knife?

I like Subway. It's the only fast food I eat. I haven't stepped foot in a McDonald's for over five years. It's nasty.

Subway's "eat fresh" works on me. You can see right in front of you what's going into your food - not too many secrets. Who knows what animal parts lurk in a McRib?

But one thing about Subway creeps me out, the knives they use to cut the sandwiches. They use the same knife to cut every sandwich. I think that's weird.

Here's why. I don't eat meat - yeah, I know some of you get annoyed when I say that, blah, blah, blah - so I only order a Veggie Delight; no cheese, no cold cuts, only vegetables, oil, and salt and pepper.

I don't have any religious or ethical reasons for not eating meat. I just think its healthier, period. But let's say you're not like me - lucky you - and you have strong moral objections to eating meat. Wouldn't you be upset if someone halved your veggie sandwich with the very same knife they just used to cleave through a half-pound of roast beef and melted cheese?

Listen, I know vegans. And they'd sooner cut your throat then let you touch their food with a knife that got within a 50-foot radius of any animal. Okay, before I get slammed, that's an obvious exaggeration. Calm down.

But you get the idea. Personally, I've never made a stink about the knife, mostly because I haven't seen my knife used on anything gross, like mayonnaise or bacon, but who knows what happened before I got there. Ugh, I don't want to think about it.

I don't know if Subway has an official knife cleaning policy, and I've never seen an employee balk at using any particular knife - or wash them for that matter - but as trivial as it may sound, isn't that dangerous?

Whether or not you consider an enraged vegan dangerous is one thing, but what if someone is allergic to stuff left on the knife?

Image credit: New York Post

Food Weird fast food Subway vegan vegetarian 5 Comments Lana on 30 Oct 2010

That is a health hazard. Imagine that tuna salad sandwich they just made was rotten and nobody noticed, next they move on to make your sandwich with the same knife, then you get sick. You should get the health inspector in there. There are all kinds of proper food handling policies about when to change utensils,how often to wash them etc. They are obviously violating those rules and procedures that are in place for a reason.

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