Murder by Heart Disease is NO Mystery

In a good who done it? murder mystery, the answers are difficult to find and it takes days, weeks, sometimes years of sleuth and examining evidence to uncover the killer, the weapon and the motive!

In a real life, however, when someone dies prematurely from heart disease, the killer and weapon(s), 
are easily uncovered.  The only mystery left in this murder for the grieving survivors to ponder is motive.  Why did the deceased choose an early trip to the graveyard over prevention?

Heart disease is preventable!  For every one person with heart disease because of family genes, there are 500 people who have it because of lifestyle decisions (NCHS and NHLBI).

Make a decision to lose weight and keep it off forever. 

 

Thousands of Hits!

WOW!!  My last blog post must have hit LOTS of nerves!  The #2 Challenge was particularly of "interest"......I'm just saying.

Think about challenging yourself -  it's all about quality of life.

Meet 3 challenges - or can you?

CHALLENGE #1

 

Get in 90 minutes of cardio this weekend (30 today, 30 on Sat and 30 on Sun) -  and remember you can break the 30 minutes up throughout the day (10am, 10noon, 10pm)

 

CHALLENGE #2

 

Drink only one small cocktail or one small glass of wine this weekend (if you drink)

 

CHALLENGE #3

 

Consume only low fat, low calorie meals with lots of fruits and veggies

 

• If you are unable to meet challenge #1:  You must not truly understand your risk of heart disease/heart attack
• If you are unable to meet challenge #2:  You have a dependency on alcohol...to some degree
• If you are unable to meet challenge #3:  You must learn to use your inner strength to make good choices and eliminate "permissions" from your life

 

If any of the above hits a nerve - ask yourself why?   ...........I'm just saying - be honest with yourself.

Take a Sneak Peak - Lifetime weight management

Just a "sneak peak" of my soon to be released book which answers the question of how to achieve Successful, Lifetime Weight Management.  Stay tuned for release date - will be available through Smashwords and other E book distributors!!

Become through WiTHIN You Now!™ - The best answers and solutions are those that are WiTHIN You Now!™

INTRODUCTION

Overweight and obesity are preventable. 

WiTHIN You Now!™  is a simple yet powerful weight loss and weight management “self- therapy” that can change your life - the way it changed mine and many close to me.  

Successful lifetime weight management involves achieving a healthy weight and staying there for the rest of your life.  Successful lifetime weight management is complex, multi-faceted, and largely discussed in terms of finding the perfect combination of foods to eat, when and where to eat, learning to love yourself, accepting your body type, and understanding the evilness of stuffing your feelings with food.   Such elements of successful lifetime weight management, though decidedly important to success, are not the crux of the contents of this book, rather they are adjunct components that will naturally dovetail into the basic foundations of Becoming through WiTHIN You Now!™    

"Sneak Peak"....Lifetime Weight Managment

Just a "sneak peak" of my soon to be released book which answers the question of how to achieve Successful, Lifetime Weight Managment.  Stay tuned for release date - will be available on Smashwords and other E book distributors!!

Become through WiTHIN You Now!™ - The best answers and solutions are those that are WiTHIN You Now!™

INTRODUCTION

Overweight and obesity are preventable. 

WiTHIN You Now!™  is a simple yet powerful weight loss and weight management “self- therapy” that can change your life - the way it changed mine and many close to me.  

Successful lifetime weight management involves achieving a healthy weight and staying there for the rest of your life.  Successful lifetime weight management is complex, multi-faceted, and largely discussed in terms of finding the perfect combination of foods to eat, when and where to eat, learning to love yourself, accepting your body type, and understanding the evilness of stuffing your feelings with food.   Such elements of successful lifetime weight management, though decidedly important to success, are not the crux of the contents of this book, rather they are adjunct components that will naturally dovetail into the basic foundations of Becoming through WiTHIN You Now!™    

New Lap Band Guidelines - Good or Bad?

The FDA has approved the Lap Band surgery for those with BMI of 30 or greater (previous guidelines were BMI of 40 or greater)....this will double the number of individuals eligible for this surgery.  The question remains - is this a GOOD thing or a BAD thing?  My thoughts are as follows:

Since the FDA feels this intervention is a "good" thing, will they continue to lower the restrictions?  Will we get to the point that we no longer encourage prevention of obesity through healthy eating and exercise because we have this "thing" that we can have inserted into our body for the low cost of $14,000.00? 

I believe these new guidelines are further greasing an already very dangerous "slippery slope" that our nation seems to be racing toward.  These surgeries and new guidelines are a sad indication that we are in the throws of giving up completely.  Sad indeed. 

What are your thoughts?

Money & Pain don't "cut it" for a lifetime

I watched a show tonight that highlighted a young girl (in her late teens, early 20s) who spent several months sequestered over the summer between high school and college with a personal trainer to lose weight.  In the footsteps of her parents, she had been overweight all of her life, had horrible eating habits and did not exercise at all.  Through grueling workouts, the trainer pushed her to the point of pain and crying with a goal of running a 10 minute mile (running at 6 mph for a mile).  She does lose weight, accomplishes a 10 minute mile, and feels good about her accomplishments – but I question the judgment of the premise.  Goals are great and very necessary – but crying during workouts and unrealistic (possibly dangerous) challenges do not make sense.  Successful, lifetime weight management does not take torturous workouts and running foot races.  Successful, lifetime weight management takes thought, consistent behavior modification, planning, visualization, determination and brains.  Running competitions definitely have their place, but should not be the focus of initial weight loss or successful, lifetime weight management.   Personal trainers and chef prepared meals are great for those who can afford – but even Oprah has shown the world that LOTS OF MONEY does not make a lasting, lifetime impact on weight management.

"Pig Outs" are for pigs!

Check out this funny column (I've been following) @LaTimesHealth Two Guys Lose Weight: I want to pig out at Fatburger! http://lat.ms/eMBpoo
Losing weight or "burning off a high fat meal" is a simple math equation.  One must burn 3,500 calories and not replace them to lose one pound, regardless of when or how the calories are eliminated - in one "biggest loser" type of work out or gradually over any period of time.  Eating any high fat meal (such as the one you described) will not only add calories to your Fat Bucket, but will put you at risk for coronary artery plaque rupture (which causes a heart attack or stroke or both) due to the wicked changes in the chemistry of the body as it tries to metabolize the fat food. Additionally, elevations in cardiac risk markers (associated with inflammation and not regularly measured at an annual check up) can cause plaque rupture even in very small blockages following a high fat meal.  Even if you are successful at "burning off" the calories of a high fat meal, your risk for heart attack and stroke increases with these binges.  High fat, fast foods are designed to lure you into multiple feeding frenzies, which in turn keeps you fat and the vendor happy. www.drstaceyhiltondavis.blogspot.com

It's all in your head!

Take some each day (at least 10 minutes) time to calm your mind, relax, and meditate.  During this peaceful time, picture yourself as being slim, healthy and fit.  Picture yourself being strong, smart and determined.  Picture yourself - and actually feel yourself - making the right choices when it comes to food selection and getting plenty of exercise.  Keep this positive image of yourself with you and  WiTHIN You Now!™ at all times.

A positive visual of yourself increases your opportunity for true success.  Be free from negative thoughts as you move toward increasing the quality of your life today and tomorrow.

Overweight and obesity are preventable.

Valentine's Day just another day

We have 365 days in the year and OVER 365 holidays and events that we use to excuse overweight and obesity issues.  Love your partner and yourself on Valentine's Day by staying true to eating healthfully and getting some type of exercise!

Check out the progress of the two guys from LA Times Health blog - very clever (and funny)! 

RT @LATimesHealth initial weight loss progress! Two Guys Lose Weight: Resisting the urge to be bad is so good http://t.co/QSSYG5T

Stop thinking "Cheating"

Try to eliminate the word "cheating" when managing your weight.  If you enjoy something yummy - enjoy it - then make the appropriate adjustments (extra time exercising and/or replacing a few meals with a low calorie, liquid protein shake) so that those extra calories don't end up in your Fat Bucket making your jeans too tight and your attitude grouchy.  You wouldn't "cheat" on your taxes, or on your spouse!  You teach your children to never "cheat" on tests or sports! So why do you give yourself permission to "cheat" when it comes to the most important health decision you will ever make - managing your weight?  Use good judgement and caution when enjoying yummy foods and think "moderation and adjustment" rather than "cheating"....a much healthier and less defeating thought process.

Dr. Joe's article great read!

I follow  http://twitter.com/#!/drjoesDIYhealth on Twitter (highly recommend) and he often has great articles relating to weight loss, overweight and obesity.  I highly recommend reading his latest post which supports "behavior change" rather than "gastric surgery".  I posted my comments on this page (hopefully it worked) supporting his stand - with my twist on encouraging people to forget gastric surgery and put all that energy on changing behavior and thought process. 

In case your were wondering :)  My book  WiTHIN You Now!™    will be out soon!  Stay tuned!

Click on this link for Dr. Joes' article and my comments:

Obesity – A Behavioural Not Surgical Problem http://nblo.gs/bGOKw

Great Success Story - NO SURGERY!

Great article in USA Today (Thurs. Feb 3, 2011) Life Section page 10D.  A 49 year old man lost 181 pounds in 18 months to get ready for a golf trip to Scotland.  He now "walks and carries", feels great and had a wonderful golf trip to Scotland!  He went to Weight Watchers (great organization).  The most interesting statement he made was the following:  "I have to think and concentrate on my food and exercise choices every day"!! 

Stay on top of what's going on with nutritional guidelines!  Check out the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture's 2010 update on Dietary Guidelines at:

www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines very interesting!  Notice on the food Pyramid the guidelines for "fats".....very, very small portion of the diet should consists of fats and oils.  Also, the guidelines for anything containing sugar (baked goods, sugary soda, etc.) are interesting!

Bottom line, according to the HHS and USDA statements, only 10% of Americans follow a healthy diet - we are a nation of overweight and obese (2/3rds of our population is either overweight or obese).  It's time to lose weight and get more exercise!

Get informed, get in shape -  Today is the best day to start!!  Check out the guidelines and let me know what you think of them and how you are doing on your weight management plan!

A nice success story!

Great article in USA Today (Thurs. Feb 3, 2011) Life Section page 10D.  A 49 year old man lost 181 pounds in 18 months to get ready for a golf trip to Scotland.  He now "walks and carries", feels great and had a wonderful golf trip to Scotland!  He went to Weight Watchers (great organization).  The most interesting statement he made was the following:  "I have to think and concentrate on my food and exercise choices every day"!! 

Stay on top of what's going on with nutritional guidelines!  Check out the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture's 2010 update on Dietary Guidelines at:

www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines very interesting!  Notice on the food Pyramid the guidelines for "fats".....very, very small portion of the diet should consists of fats and oils.  Also, the guidelines for anything containing sugar (baked goods, sugary soda, etc.) are interesting!

Bottom line, according to the HHS and USDA statements, only 10% of Americans follow a healthy diet - we are a nation of overweight and obese (2/3rds of our population is either overweight or obese).  It's time to lose weight and get more exercise!

Get informed, get in shape -  Today is the best day to start!!  Check out the guidelines and let me know what you think of them and how you are doing on your weight management plan!

Specific Recommendations - Carbs and Grains

YEAH!!  Someone left a great comment on my blog posting regarding my recent comments on daily intake of Carbs and daily intake of Grains.  Thank you for your comments and thank you for being interested and informed regarding the importance of a healthy diet.  Diet recommendations (particularly the low carb high fat diets) are still controversial, and much research is being conducted to determine the best route to a healthy lifestyle.  My reader referred to an article http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/20/health/la-he-carbs-20101220/2 which referenced a study wherein a group of people with metablic syndrome were put on either a low carb, high fat diet or a low fat high carb diet (each group was allowed 1,500 daily calories).  The results demonstrated the lower carb, high fat group showed lower trigs and higher HDLs (these are good things) at the end of the study. I looked further into the study and it showed the HFLC diet ratio of 59F/28P/12C vs the LFHC diet ratio of 24F/20P/56C. This study may prove that this type of restricted diet may be suited for people who don't metabolize or tolerate carbs well (such as the cohort involved in the study who had metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance).  I agree that most people DO eat too many carbs and not enough of the "right" type of carbs (should stick to complex carbs)! Even so, many dieters may find living with extremely small amounts of carbs and large amounts of fat and protein (as suggested in the popular diet plans marketed), impossible to keep up for the long term. Americans as a group do suffer from carb, calorie overload and lack of exercise, which can have an impact on the development of "metabolic syndrome". Too many carbs and calories and not enough exercise are a nationwide problem. My reader also indicated that the recommendations of 6 servings of grains daily was a bit much.  The 6 servings of grains daily is probably difficult to maintain, yes. The new US Dietary Guidelines just released and US.Gov Food Pyramid recommends for daily intake of whole grains:  "3 oz equivalents for adults" with "one ounce" equaling in general 1 slice of ww bread, 1 cup of ready to eat cereal, or 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, cooked whole wheat pasta, or cooked ww cereal.  (Some refined grains such as white rice, white pasta are tasty and can be good for us because they may be fortified with folic acid and other essential nutrients, but need to be limited). If we can encourage people to eat at least 3 servings daily of whole grains along with some fruits and veggies and a diet that is satisfying, healthy and easy with which to comply, and plenty of exercise, we may be able to make some headway in fighting the battle of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes that is plaguing our country.    Thank you again for your comments and insight!