Mexico is Now the World's Fattest Country

Mexico has overtaken the US as the world's fattest country with 70 percent of adults overweight or obese. I recently returned from Mexico, where I was told that they are transitioning from a developing country (3rd world) to a developed country (1st world). Obesity problems are not a concern in less affluent countries because having too much food is a rich country problem. You must have extra money to buy too much food. So as Mexico's wealth increases, so will obesity. The food in Mexico is delicious, but this is disappointing to see. Please see the article below.

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/3829/20130710/mexico-fattest-country-world-study-u-s-food.htm

Fasting

As I get older I become more and more concerned about my diet. My current regimen, while not terrible, is in need of improvement. GQ has a very interesting article on a 6 day water fast. What does it say about me that something so extreme appeals to me? It was very interesting to read about this fellow's experience and the fast's positive effects.

http://www.gq.com/life/fitness/201311/six-day-water-fast-diet

Small Portions

More evidence that there's something to this notion of calorie restriction - 

http://www.smh.com.au/world/outnumbered-by-the-girls-hes-the-last-man-standing-20130524-2k6ry.html

"'Mr Kimura retired in 1962 aged 65, after working for 45 years in the Japanese post office. He now lives in Kyō¯tango, Kyoto Prefecture, with his eldest son's widow, 83, and his grandson's widow, 59, and attributes his long life to eating small portions of food, and admits to spending most of his time 'in bed.'"

Focusing on Happiness

This was recently sent to me by a friend. Very good stuff. First 10 minutes are setup/standup comedy, but it's worth it for the payoff.

Interesting Thoughts on Death

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/opinion/sunday/the-dead-have-something-to-tell-you.html?_r=3&

Tracking Calories

I began using the My Fitness Pal app towards the beginning of the year. Recently I have been less consistent in tracking my calories and, surprise surprise, I have gained a few pounds. Tracking what you eat is a great way to lose weight because it makes you accountable for everything you consume. One night as I was getting into bed I said to my wife "Time to pay the piper," referring to my food entries for the day, which she found quite humorous. I am trying to get more healthy in the new year and plan on using My Fitness Pal to help, along with my new acquired Bowflex adjustable weights. You can learn about My Fitness Pal here.

Fitness, Keep it Simple Silly

I am a big sucker for infomercials. So when I read this post it seemed directed at me. The author noticed most infomercials are fitness related, with a new gimmick every day. My first boss always said this business is simple, but it's not easy. Same thing with staying fit. I attached the article here.

Living in Reality

The article I attached comes from one of our favorite websites, Frugal Dad.(Also an advertiser on our other blog Eat it Miami) It points out that these actors and actresses live very frugally as opposed to their characters on TV or in the movies who spend more lavishly. I have always thought that like being healthy being frugal is much more difficult and less glamorous than being a spendthrift. It takes discipline and patience to become wealthy. Spend less than you make and you will one day be rich, but it ain't easy. Similarly, burn more calories than you take in and you will be thin or at least somewhat healthy. Read the article here.

Jake Olson

If you haven't been inspired lately by someone who beats incredible odds to find happiness and success, read about Jake Olson. He has shown an astounding attitude about his rare eye cancer and subsequent blindness; wise and mature beyond his years.

http://outofsightfaith.ning.com/

Healthcare

This is a very interesting article in The Telegraph about how the NHS in the UK is neglecting older patients because of an unhealthy population that needs more care at a younger age due to poor eating and exercise habits. Rationed care leads to unfortunate consequences. Read about it here.

Duh

Exercise is good for you. Here's another reason, in case you didn't believe everything everyone's been saying for the last 40 years. Exercise turns bad, white fat cells into brown fat cells (which aren't just big clumps of stuff that take up space, but are active and use energy and metabolize), once thought to cease to exist in the human body after babyhood. I never knew "babyhood" was a word. But it makes sense. It's because exercise promotes the creation of something called PGC-1 alpha, recently dubbed "irisin," a protein that continues to benefit the body even once exercise has ceased.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/exercise-hormone-helps-keep-us-healthy/?ref=health

But how muscle cells “talk” to fat, what they tell the fat and what role exercise has in sparking or sustaining that conversation have been mysteries — until, in the new study, scientists closely examined the operations of a substance called PGC1-alpha, which is produced in abundance in muscles during and after exercise.

“It seems clear that PGC1a stimulates many of the recognized health benefits of exercise,” said Bruce Spiegelman, the Stanley J. Korsmeyer professor of cell biology and medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, who led the study. Mice bred to produce preternaturally large amounts of PGC1a in their muscles are typically resistant to age-related obesity and diabetes, much as people who regularly exercise are.

But never fear, you who are exercise averse or immobilized from disease or injury -

In upcoming experiments, Dr. Spiegelman plans to study whether injections of irisin imitate some of the metabolic benefits of exercise in people who, because of disease or disability, cannot work out. He also hopes to elucidate just how much and what types of exercise produce the greatest natural irisin increases in healthy people.

Frugal Dad

This is a really neat site. Check it out -

http://frugaldad.com/

Unusual Weight Loss Tricks

These are very interesting. From ThirdAge.

Get Off Your Butts Old Ladies!

Too Much TV, Too Little Exercise Tied to Depression

More time spent being active might boost self-esteem and women's sense of control, as well as the endorphins in their blood, although the study could not prove directly that watching too much television and avoiding exercise caused depression, she added.

Expensive Pee

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article that must have old Linus Pauling turning over in his previously-thought-to-be-nutrient-rich grave -

"Is This the End of Popping Vitamins?" 

The case for dietary supplements is collapsing.

A succession of large-scale human studies, including two published earlier this month in leading medical journals, suggests that multivitamins and many other dietary supplements often don't have health benefits—and in some cases may even cause harm. 

I'm skeptical. I mean, they don't even quote anyone from Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition. Everyone knows they're the smartest. Go Jumbos! 

Heavy Stuff

Here's an interesting article on the heft of potential presidential candidate, and New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, including a discussion about how odd it is that someone's weight is still fair game for ridicule.

Don't Hate the Player

Gary Player has won 160 tournaments over the course of his lengthy career, including the Grand Slam and Senior Grand Slam (winning all 4 majors in a year). He's the only guy who's ever done that.

He keeps incredibly fit, and at age 75 makes Patrick Bateman - 


look like Michael Moore (here he is exercising) -

Read about how he (Gary Player) does 1000 crunches and 1000 pushups every day, just to get warmed up.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424053111903520204576482082753114232-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwMjEwNDIyWj.html