Sunday, November 27, 2011

While we fight to stay healthy in a modern world, it's important to remember who we are, and the roots from whence we came.   Our society has changed  A LOT in the past 10k years.   Our bodies have not.  They will, I assume, continue to evolve to survive in changing environments, just as they have always done.  Our ancient ancestors were not smarter than we are.  They were surviving, (thankfully), by adapting to their surroundings.  If they didn't adapt, they would die.

     We, on the other hand, have safety nets everywhere.  If you are without shelter in the rain, you can at least, duck into a bus station, or a mall, and warm up and dry off for a while.  If you are hungry, there are social welfare and community service organizations who will dish you up a meal.

     Our society is not a utopia, don't get me wrong.  There are homeless and hungry people abounding in the world.  In general, however, our societies strive to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and treat the ill and infirm.  Our predecessors did not have this social net in place.  Eat or die.  Get shelter or die.  Get sick and probably die.  Harsh life to be sure, but it produced a physical body which we inherited that is incredibly capable of survival.

     If 'OGG' had a chance at a big pecan pie, he'd have undoubtedly eaten it to the point that he got sick to his stomach.  We're used to such concentrated calories and sugar.  We have it around us all the time, and societal expectations which often demand that we EAT IT.  (WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT!)

     So as you fight the battle of the bulge, keep one thing in mind.   You are no more, no less, than a caveman.......with pie.

Friday, November 25, 2011


     OK, that's what everyone seems to be talking about today.  The big shopping day that the retailers hope will put them out of the red and back to the black side of the ledger book.  Well, in terms of food consumption, after the feast yesterday, it's time to conduct "RED FRIDAY".  

      So you over-indulged a bit yesterday.  I gave myself permission to do that, too.  It was fun at the time, but you may have gone way over your caloric budget for the day.  That doesn't matter~!   What matters is what you do TODAY, and for the rest of the week while you're getting this engine back on the rails.   There's probably a fridge full of leftovers, including, if you follow traditions, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pie, etc.etc. etc.     Now is a time when it's easy to start doing some REAL damage to your eating plan.  Yesterday won't have much effect, if you leave it an move on.  If you give up, however, and fall back into the overeating mode, you're sunk.  Get back on that caloric deficit today.  Start with breakfast, and don't look back.  If the leftovers spoil, they just spoil.  They won't benefit you if they're packed around your middle.  Move your caloric ledger into the red, and do it consciously for the next few days.

     You don't want to fall "off the wagon" with all of the holidays that are still staring you in the face over the next couple of months.  Get back on your exercise routine, eat a bit light, and move on.  Your weight may bump up for a couple of days.  You may have consumed more salt, etc, and be holding on to fluids.  Don't get demoralized if the scale shows a weight gain.  It's only temporary, and will edge back down if you take it easy on the food for a few days.

     You're taught, in tennis, to forget about the last shot, good or bad.  Don't dwell on how bad it was, or admire how great it was.  Get ready for the next one that's coming over the net.  Martial arts training teaches you to forget about that last throw, and prepare for what's coming next.  This is no different.  Forget about your feast yesterday and look forward.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Ok,  here we are at the day most feared by dieters........................the dreaded Thanksgiving!  So what do you do?   You've been really sensible for a few weeks and have shaved off some of those saddlebags.  Now comes the day that can undo all of the good that you've done in one session at Aunt Bessie's dining room table, right?   WRONG!   One meal, or one day of eating like there's no tomorrow won't derail your weight control program.  The human body was designed for feast or famine.  Today is the feast.  It's OK.  Tomorrow, though, is the key to success or failure.  If you get up tomorrow morning, and think, "Well, I blew it yesterday, so I might as well finish that pecan pie that's in the fridge"........You're sunk.  If you get up and get back on your routine, whatever that is, you'll be just fine.  If you are one who weighs yourself daily, sure you'll see a spike.  Just don't let that demoralize you.   Our ancestors ate and ate when they had plenty, and did with much less when not much food was available.  Today, you were successful in the hunt.  Tomorrow, you're back rooting around for nourishment.  

     This doesn't mean that you should go out of your way to be stupid at the dinner table, because, eating lots of fats, sweets, salty stuff, just isn't very good for you.   In short,  it's OK to eat today.  It's even OK to give yourself permission to have seconds, and a piece of pie...........but not a whole pie.   Tomorrow, forget about it and get back to the great work you've been doing!

Friday, November 18, 2011

"Point shaving" is probably the ultimate taboo in sports, admittedly.  It is, perhaps, the key to losing those pounds, though!  I'm referring to those unnoticed calories that we end up with at the end of the day.  Losing weight can be a less-than-fun process, for sure, but you can do things that will help.  When you get to the bottom line, you have to burn more food than you take in.   That's the magic equation.  It works better, for most people in the long term, if you start gradually.  Crash diets will result in weight loss, but they're simply not sustainable, and are generally a road to ultimate failure.  First, make an HONEST assessment of what you are eating most days.  Keep a log of everything you eat for a few days, without trying to cut it down.  There is plenty of time for that.  Once you know what you eat, you can take a rational, gradual approach to easing off on the food intake, without depriving yourself, walking around hungry, and then giving up and going on an eating binge.   I use the Calorie Count tool at the link on the right of this page.  It will allow you to keep a daily count of what you took in.  After you have kept track of things for a few days, start the process of cutting down.  If you simply back off on some of the intake, you begin to "shave" calories from your daily intake.  Cut down the amount of sugar in your coffee, use lighter salad dressing, or cut down the amount by 1/3 or so.  If you stop on the way to work to get the big Caramel Frapawhatever from your local coffee place, get the smaller size, or drink half or 3/4 of it and throw the rest away.   Eat a LITTLE less of that office birthday cake, or a smaller piece.  Now it's important to keep track of the calories that you SKIPPED.  Make yourself a log of those, and total it up at the end of a week.  Only those things that you intentionally cut down.  Add up those calories.  Keep that total.  You can keep your ongoing food log as well, and you may see that your overall caloric intake is on the decline, but for motivational purposes, keep that "Log of Shaved Calories".  A pound of fat is equal to about 3500 calories.  If you shave that many off in a couple of weeks, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll lose a pound, but it is a pound's worth that you would otherwise be packing onto your waist or hips.  Keep it gradual, but keep track, and you'll see the weight gain trend begin to reverse itself.  This is a long-haul process.  Don't be in a hurry.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

     We get caught up in our day to day activities, and it's easy to leave out an important part of the fitness equation.....SLEEP.     Your body, regardless of how hard you train, or how you watch your diet, won't perform at its optimum level if you don't get enough sleep.    Consult your medical provider about how much they think you need.  My purpose here isn't to decide that for you.  I know that I perform much better in all activities after I've had about 7 hours.  I don't always get that much, admittedly, but I can feel the difference when I do.  I have more energy, my run feels lighter and more powerful at the same time.   Exercise, Food, and Rest are really the trifecta of fitness.  Keep these three in balance, and you'll be at your best.  Overdo or underdo any of them, and it can throw you off your game.  You have to find your own level of each for your best performance.

Monday, November 14, 2011

An article in the Boston Globe today, dealt with the prediction of  substantial increases in diabetes worldwide.  The article states:

     "According to the World Health Organization, there are about 346 million people worldwide with diabetes, with more than 80 percent of deaths occurring in developing countries. The agency projects diabetes deaths will double by 2030 and said the International Diabetes Federation's prediction was possible.

     "It's a credible figure," said Gojka Roglic, head of WHO's diabetes unit. "But whether or not it's correct, we can't say."
     Roglic said the projected future rise in diabetes cases was because of aging rather than the obesity epidemic. Most cases of diabetes are Type 2, the kind that mainly hits people in middle age, and is linked to weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle.
     Roglic said a substantial number of future diabetes cases were preventable. "It's worrying because these people will have an illness which is serious, debilitating, and shortens their lives," she said. "But it doesn't have to happen if we take the right interventions."

     There are several words and concepts that jump out at me from this article..........PREVENTABLE..........OBESITY.........SERIOUS, DEBILITATING, AND SHORTENS THEIR LIVES...........LINKED TO WEIGHT GAIN AND A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE......DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN.

     This is no different than the same number of people jumping in front of buses or off of bridges......it just takes longer and will cost EVERYONE more money in increased health care costs.  I'm sorry, but I'm preaching again.   PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.  It's a great concept.    Sedentary lifestyle, overeating, over indulgence in all sorts of substances are taxing our paleolithic bodies, and causing them to react the way they are designed to react, but over extended periods of time.  Eventually they give out, and are unable to handle the onslaught of food, liquor, inactivity, tobacco, drugs, etc.    As great as these bodies are, they're not Superman's body.   Can't help everyone, but YOU have a choice. 
When you get a chance, the next time you're in a grocery store, consciously look at the shelves that are about belt level or below, particularly on the inner aisles.  The candy, cookies, and sugar-filled cereals are not placed there by accident.  They are there because the kids, walking along with Mom or Dad, will see them.  They have great packaging, too.  Lots of bright colors, cartoon characters, etc.

These things have effects on adults, too.  There's an old saying, "Don't go shopping when you're hungry".  In that environment, it's true.  You may be more susceptible to impulse buying if you haven't eaten.  This kind of flies in the face of our ancestry.  Our paleolithic predecessors, of course, didn't go "shopping" to get a huge cart full of food to take back to the family cave.  They didn't have that option.  They had to go after food when they needed it.  In this society, we don't do that.   Hearkening back to previous posts, it's important to remember that we now, in modern times, usually don't have to expend much energy in comparison to the number of calories that we can lay our hands on.  That's why we get fat.  It's really that simple.

When you do your grocery shopping, try staying out of the center aisles in the store.  If you look, most of the stores have a similar set-up.  The outer walls of the store are where you will find, fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, other dairy products.  The interior is where they keep the cereals, bread, candy, cookies, pasta, canned food, ice cream, baking supplies, etc.

Keep in mind that a great deal of research goes into item placement and packaging.  There are many dedicated professionals, whose purpose in life is to make YOU reach for that package of cookies.  They're good at what they do.  They'll manipulate you, and they will use your kids as pawns in the game.  Don't fall for it.  Take charge of what you feed your family. It's YOUR decision.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Those of us who refer to ourselves as "Runners" (you know who you are), have, at some point, fallen into a rut of grinding out mile after mile, eye on the elapsed time, trying to get to our personal best at that next race.  It doesn't matter whether it's a 5k or an Ultra, it's easy to watch the goal and also easy to lose the joy of hitting the road or trail that causes most of us to refer to ourselves as runners in the first place.  We come in all shapes, sizes and abilities.  That's the beauty of the running community.  I've seen almost no lack of acceptance of ANYONE who is running, or trying to run.  People differ over distances, technique, footwear, hydration, nutrition, etc., but we're all still "Runners".   I often run with my dog, a big, happy, German Shepherd who obligingly goes along at a slow trot or a fast walk, ever accepting of his running partner's limited abilities.  He runs because he loves to run.  He grins the whole time.  (If you don't think dogs can grin, you don't have a big, goofy German Shepherd).  He is happy.  He's barefoot.  He doesn't have a stopwatch, and he stops when he feels like it.  I need this guy to keep my attitude focused.  It's fine to check your split times.  But sometimes, you just gotta run because............IT'S FUN!!!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

      I read today that researchers at the University of Texas have come up with a new "weight loss drug", that they have tested on monkeys, which, while on the drug, lost about 11% of their body weight in a relatively short time.  The drug acts by targeting and killing off blood vessels feeding fat cells.  I am not qualified to criticize their research, or to say that there's no need for such a drug.  There may be medical situations in which it will be the perfect answer.  My hope is that it is not considered, if approved for human use, as the long sought-after "magic bullet" of weight control.  Are there no lengths to which we will not go to avoid a little self-discipline?

     Many people have also undergone surgery to alter their digestive tract in one way or another.  Once again, I'm not here to question medical decisions, and I'm not trying to pick a fight with the medical establishment.  I simply don't believe, and this is admittedly only my own opinion, that we need to have our basic bodily functions changed by surgery or drug ingestion in order to gain control over our weight.  We merely need to follow the simple rule of not taking in more food than we can use.  It's that simple.  How you get there may be more complicated.  People have many reasons for overeating, but the physical process stays the same.

     The main purpose of this blog is to show people how to get back in line with our ancestors.  We have bodies that are virtually unchanged for thousand of years.  They  worked then and they work now.  Have faith in this body that you inherited.  Treat it right and it will perform for you for many decades.  Keep it well maintained, fueled, and active, and it will give you premium performance, in many cases for OVER 100 YEARS!  That's incredible, when you think about it.   Enjoy this body.  Let it fulfill its potential.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Bushido was the code of conduct of feudal Japan.  The Samurai, or warrior class of the society was held to strict standards.  Much of that is recorded in a book called "Budo Shoshinshu", written by Daidoji Yuzan.  The translation of this book, entitled The Code of the Samurai, starts out with a statement that seems confusing, but has incredible significance to one's daily life.  "One who is a samurai must before all things keep constantly in mind, by day and by night.....the fact that he has to die."  Sounds morose, I know.  If you keep this in your mind, as you go about your day, however, you will live a much better life.  

     The idea behind this is that you must live............REALLY live your life.  You have a duty to yourself and to those around you to be healthy and fit, to be productive.  You want to die, whether it is unexpectedly from some tragic incident, or at age 105 quietly in bed, knowing that you did right by your life.  If you have had, at some point, an incredibly busy day where you accomplished a lot, you naturally feel good at the end of the day.  You can't help it.  We were designed to work, to be productive, to be healthy and fit.   With the right mind-set, you can be productive in many regards no matter your physical condition.  You only have a duty to, as the Cub Scouts' motto reads: "Do your best."    That's all anyone can ask.   To do your best, though, you need to give your body what it requires.  Good food, plenty of exercise, good sleep.     Forget about "dieting".  That's a great way to make yourself miserable for a while, to yo-yo up and down with your weight, and a way to spend a few hundred dollars on some "plan".   Sit down, figure out your caloric need, adjust it for your physical activity, plan a small calorie deficit, as I've shown in other posts, and stick to it.  Eat what your body wants and needs.  No more, no less.  If you go over a bit, ramp up your physical activity for the day.  Your body will find its way back to a healthy weight level.

      The samurai knew that they had a duty to their superiors to be able to produce.  Activities that rendered the body inefficient, such as inactivity and overeating were not favored.  You have a duty to be able to perform up to your particular level of physical activity, if the need arises.  The main benefit of being able to fend for yourself, as your ancient ancestors did, is that you will feel better, both mentally and physically.  If you get a chance, read "The Code of the Samurai".  It may give you some perspective.  You can find it on the  "I Recommend" link to Amazon on the lower right side of this page.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

A bit of a departure from our regular theme here:

236 years of defending our freedom.  Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

First of all, I wear shoes.  Let's face it, in our society, you really need to wear them sometimes.  I work in an environment where they are required.  OK, fine.  When I'm OUT of that environment, however, I'm either barefoot, or wearing something really minimalist.  I only run in huaraches that I got from Invisible Shoe (There's a photo and a link on the right side of the page if you want to take a look at them).  The shoes that I wear for work are wide, flat, as close to zero drop from heel to toe as I can get.  I notice what others are wearing, though.  In particular, what the womens' shoe industry does to feet is criminal.  You see women balancing on a 4" spike with their toes pointed down at a 45 degree angle, squeezed into a pointed toe!  They can barely walk in those, let alone run if the need arose.  Over time, such footwear takes its' toll on us.  I wore, in years past, and for quite some time, western style boots.  They were not much better than what I just described.  Same problem.  Raised heel, pointed toe.  I have a nice "bunion" to show for it.  Fortunately, I wised up before I had enough damage to cause it to hurt, but it's there, and it always will be, barring a surgical intervention.  Kids' feet are perfect.  They don't need any help from "engineers" at a shoe company, who claim to be coming up with "better" shoes all the time.  I looked at some "running shoes" from a major company the other day.  There must have bee a full 2" of rubber and gel under the heel.  Your feet have had a couple of million years of evolution and adaptation.  Nature got it right.  It doesn't need help from a "shoe engineer", and your feet don't need to be encased in a $150.00 box in order to perform.  Case in point. At the top of this post  is a picture of my 6 year old son's foot.  No bunions there, just a foot designed for performance.  (OK, it was a little dirty from running around with the dogs (who, amazingly,  also do just fine without shoes) If you are wearing those toe smashers, get out of them.  Go to something flat and wide when you have to wear them.  Let your feet be.................feet.  They don't need to be re-designed.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Christopher McDougall | Born to Run | National Bestseller:

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Great video of Christopher McDougall talking about our running ancestry.
Holidays are upon us.  This is a traditional time of the year for yet ADDITIONAL weight gain.  Many homes, offices, clubs, etc. will have various holiday parties, and you might find yourself in a position of going to more than one.  Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean being a hermit.  You don't have to, as I've said in prior posts, live in a shack in the woods and eat turnips in order to avoid weight gain.  You just need to BUDGET those calories, and be aware of what you are really consuming.  If you have a party to go to, you need to start budgeting early.  Get some exercise during the day, (which, hopefully, you are doing anyway).  Get in your morning run, or walk, or bike ride, or swim.  Take an additional walk at lunchtime.  These things all burn some energy, and that's the name of the game.  Eat breakfast, but go a little lighter, and include plenty of protein.  It will stay with you longer.  Skip the caramel mocha frapawhatever on the way to work, that'll help you to bank  200-400 calories for consumption later.  When you are at the party, be aware of what you're doing.  It's so easy to eat mindlessly at one of those functions.  A handful of nacho chips, 140 calories.  Nibbling on nuts while you're talking, (2 oz., around 300 calories.  Veggie tray..........safe, right?  Nope.  Grab the piece of cauliflower, great.........dunk it in a big glob of ranch dressing, 50 calories.  Do that half a dozen times throughout the evening, and you've glommed down 300 calories worth of just ranch dressing!  Cheese cubes, the ever present tray at many parties.  A 1 oz cube, roughly 100 calories.  Now it's time for dinner!  Never a light calorie affair at such functions, but you may have gulped down 700-1000 calories just hanging around WAITING for dinner!  Just be aware.  It will sneak up on you.  After dinner, a piece of pumpkin pie- 300 calories.  A little scoop of ice cream, add another 100-150.  Budget your needed daily calories, figure out what you NEED that day, depending upon your level of physical activity, and STICK TO IT!  If you go over, you can plan on additional fat storage.  It's not really that simple, of course.  Your body doesn't work that way in a single day.  If you break over one day, you can go lighter the next day or two and even it out with little or no problem, but what I'm getting at is a mind set.  Make a calorie budget and stick to it.  Learn to say no thank you to the chips, the pie, the sweet drinks.  They don't give you much nutritionally, and they are calorie dense with sugar, flour, etc., not to mention the salt that you don't need.  I want you all to stay the course during this upcoming holiday season, and get through it still on track to a healthier life.  Go to the party, but remember that YOU are in control.  Eat some nuts, eat some cheese, eat the vegetables on the platter WITHOUT the big glob of dressing.  You can do it.

Monday, November 7, 2011

RESPONSIBILITY...................We have a very forgiving society.  Sometimes TOO forgiving for our own good.  In eons past, many of those who couldn't participate in the hunt died.  We have, as a general rule, adopted many "safety nets" to prevent this from happening.  This, however, shouldn't abrogate our personal responsibility to keep our bodies as strong as possible.

     We have very few physical demands to accomplish our basic survival in modern times.  Transportation, food, and shelter of some sort are available to most, and require little physical activity to obtain.  While our society, admirably, tries to ensure that all have basic survival needs, we have, if we choose, the luxury to neglect or abuse our bodies with inactivity, excessive food, and various natural and chemical substances in order to achieve a temporary, but false, sense of well-being.

     The pervasive use of alcohol and various drugs is a symptom of a larger problem.  I certainly won't solve it here, but at least we can try to put it in some perspective.  If we allow ourselves to fall into that trap, we are banking on the largess of others if those societal "safety nets" fail.     This surfaces most frequently, during natural or man-caused disasters. Earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunami, terrorist attacks.  The thin veil of safety in society is instantly stripped away, and we are, without notice nor consult, INSTANTLY slammed back to CAVEMAN status.  The survival instincts are hard-wired and still intact.  If you are, however, trapped inside a body rendered ineffective by decades of inactivity and self-abuse, the usefulness of your survival instincts is minimized.  You need to be able to run down 50 flights of stairs, climb a tree to avoid flood waters, fight off an attack, jump out of the way of a speeding car in an intersection, DRAG YOUR CHILDREN OUT OF A BURNING BUILDING,  ....................get my drift?  Fear and adrenaline will help you to do more than you can normally do regardless of your physical condition, but let's face it, if your lungs are destroyed by tobacco, and you are 50 lbs. overweight, your arteries are clogged , and your knees and ankles have succumbed to 20 years of bearing excessive weight, your response will be limited.

     Start TODAY.............take back that evolutionary body with which you were gifted at birth.  Fuel it properly, hone it, use it.  If you never need to run down 50 flights of stairs, GREAT!  You'll still live a better life.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

The Lost Secret of Running - Video Library - The New York Times:

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If you do nothing else today..............watch this! You will learn how to run properly for the rest of your life.

Friday, November 4, 2011

We have an elliptical machine that sits, ever at the ready.  It is a nicely designed machine.  Big, heavy, smooth running, with all of the electronic bells and whistles on it.  It monitors your heart rate, provides no impact cardio, the works..........I hate it.     I used to run frequently on a treadmill, partly because of the area in which I had to run, and the time of day (before dawn).  It wasn't my favorite, but is was, at least.........RUNNING.  It wore out after a thousand miles, and we replaced it with this new elliptical trainer. 

     I can't quite articulate it, but something about this thing bothers me.  It feels like artificial exercise.  Running is often termed as an exercise involving "impact".  Indeed it is if you persist in wearing "running shoes".  They keep you pounding along, heel-toe, heel-toe, heel-toe until the impact causes an injury, even through all of that rubber and gel.  Run barefoot, or in huaraches with no built up padding, and you quickly learn to run without impact, particularly on your heels. 

     You won't run barefoot for long and persist in heel-striking.  Your body self-corrects, your gait gets springier, and you run the way you were designed to run.  "Born to Run", the best seller, is aptly named.  We were, in fact, born to do just that.  It sets us apart.  You hear about "runner's high".  Part endorphins, part doing what nature designed you to do.  Do it without wearing "heel stompers", and you may be lucky enough to realize that it is one of the most enjoyable activities that you can do in order to stay healthy.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What I really need to know about fitness/diet/exercise/perseverance, I learned during 12 weeks of what, at that time, seemed like pure Hell.  USMC Boot Camp is a true "controlled environment".  You sleep, eat, run, jump, relieve yourself, you name it..........when you are told to.  At 19, most people (myself included) are or were undisciplined.  That gets fixed really quickly with 3 combat veteran Drill Instructors screaming in your face.  You run until you are tired......then you run some more..........then you run until you feel like you will drop.......then you keep running.  You then get to do an obstacle course, then sit in a classroom and try to stay awake.  You're up before dawn.  You sleep like never before.  You eat a lot during your meals.....you get no "snacks".  You don't have a couch to sit on or a TV to watch.  The upshot is that you are working hard, sleeping well, and eating plenty.  Your body responds.  I went in at what I thought was a relatively good weight for me.  I came out 15 lbs lighter, much faster and stronger.  Not everyone needs to go to Boot Camp, but you can approximate the results.  Remember the three important factors.  Work hard.....plenty of exercise.........sleep well (made easier by the exercise, I've found)........eat PLENTY of good food.  Skip the "snacks".  You don't need 'em.  Be patient.  Keep at it.......Don't set an artificial date to "achieve your desired results"  That sets up a time in your mind at which you will want to return to your old behaviors.  If you change to this lifestyle, You will get results!  Go for it.
Our culture seems to revolve around the consumption of food.  Every event, from birthdays to victories in major wars is celebrated with food.  From our hunter-gatherer origins, the acquisition of nourishment has had such a high priority that we are hard-wired to seek fuel for our bodies.  In some places in the world, and in some circumstances, this drive is still working as it did for our ancestors.  In most of modern society, however, and particularly in the West, the food drive coupled with a nearly unlimited supply has resulted in myriad health problems.  We are taught, from infancy, to enjoy food.  Everyone enjoys food, and that's not the bad part.  The difficulty occurs when you make the leap from enjoyment OF food to getting your enjoyment FROM food.  The term "comfort food" is synonymous with, for the most part, food that is high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, or some combination thereof.  It is extremely difficult to leap back across the chasm from using food to make you feel good to using food to make you feel nourished.  There are no magic answers here, but we are, I think, at least on the right track to getting back control of our bodies so they can be naturally healthy.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Looked at some "diet supplements".  One thing that they seem to have in common is a little statement, usually in fine print, to the effect of "combined with a sensible diet and exercise".   Well.................DUH!   If you take some type of herbs, fine.  If you are doing it to "lose weight", you might just keep the $20, $30, $40 in your pocket and cut right to the "sensible diet and exercise" part.   I am not mentioning these things by name because I don't want to get into a big fight about this, but I'm really annoyed at the money that people waste everyday buying these things in the quest for the "magic bullet".     There is no magic bullet.  Your body just works in a particular way.  If you take a $40 a bottle herb and eat like a horse while you sit on your couch, you will continue to gain weight.  If you take the same pill and eat fewer calories per day than you burn, you will drop some weight.  The problem is, you'll also drop $40.  Don't fall into the trap.  The diet industry makes incredible amounts of money each year by preying on people's desire to be fit and healthy.  That was the reason that I started these postings.  Get in touch with what your body needs.  If you give it a chance, it will self-regulate, provided you are healthy.  Ease off on the caloric intake, ramp up the physical movement.....just a bit at a time, and you'll see results.   In this economic situation in our country, you don't need to buy a magic pill in order to eat a little less.   Even if such things DID work, do you want to be dependent upon some type of pill for the rest of your life in order to keep your weight down?  I don't think so.   Is it easy?  Nope.  But it is a simple equation.   Output of energy must exceed intake of food in order to lose some of your fat stores.

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