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.

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!!!

      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.

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.