7/7/2006

Hopper Video Shows Us The Hot Dog Eating Contest

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 pm — Filed under:

Click here to see the videoYesterday, I talked about the hot dog eating contest that was sponsored by Nathan’s Hot Dogs. Rob Parrish was at a bar when the contest was televised and posted this video.

We are at war with a country far, far away. People on both sides are dying. To celebrate our nation’s birthday, Nathan’s Hot Dogs sponsored an event that just makes them hate us more: a twelve-minute spectacle that glorifies gluttony.

No wonder they hate us…

Outlawing Obesity

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

This article is talking about governmental regulation of “junk” food.

Not only does this article suggest that the government should create regulation concerning the food industry, it alludes to the idea of creating an environment of “social disapproval” of obesity.

“Several factors have led to a reexamination of the historical view that food consumption and physical activity are inappropriate subjects for government regulation. Among the ‘triggers to action’ that have catalyzed government intervention in other areas of private behavior, such as alcohol and tobacco use, are the development of a scientific base and social disapproval. Both these triggers are now in play with regard to obesity.”

I think that people who are struggling with weight issues have enough disapproval to deal with. We don’t need the government to come in and tell us what is wrong and what is right. If Twinkies are outlawed, then anyone who is overweight will be under scrutiny. People will assume that overweight people are eating “contraband.” Being fat could be excuse enough for a police search of our homes and vehicles.

The last thing I need is the government to watching over every bite I take.

Via: Consumer Health Digest, June 27, 2006

7/6/2006

Heartburn “Cure” Not a Cure

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 pm — Filed under:

With my IBS, the doctor told me a huge list of foods that I should avoid to alleviate the gut-wrenching pain. None of it worked, yet I stuck to cutting that food out of my diet in a desperate attempt to avoid pain.

It seems the IBS sufferers aren’t the only ones getting shoddy medical advice. Heartburn sufferers have also been victims.

Ever since I discovered acidophilus and my IBS calmed to a minor and smelly inconvenience, I’ve noticed that other people have also been given poor advice about gastrointestinal distress. If avoiding spicy food isn’t working for you, it’s not because you’re not doing it right. It’s because your doctor is just spewing the same old wive’s tales that didn’t work way back when.

Kobayashi Wins Hot Dog Eating Contest

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Takeru Kobayashi, via Associated PressI struggle with binge eating and even I don’t understand competitive eating events. What possesses someone to try to win a hot dog eating contest and, even more strange, set a world record?

Susan McQuillan, a New York registered dietitian, commented on the amount of food consumed by a competitive eater during competition.

“In twelve minutes, they will consume a week’s worth of calories, 5 times the recommended daily limit for cholesterol, 17 times the daily limit for total fat, 21 times the limit for saturated fat, and more than 2 weeks worth of sodium.”

I don’t think any of my binges have been that amount of found in that short of a time. Why are these competitive eaters shown on ESPN2? They aren’t athletes, they have an eating disorder just like I do.

7/5/2006

PostSecret: Every Inch

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 pm — Filed under:

PostSecret: Every Inch

“I love every inch of my body.” How many of us can say that and really believe it. I can take my body apart and love some bits and pieces here and there, but do I love EVERY INCH of my body? It sounds strange to hear it. I love my legs. They’re strong and they take me lots of places. I love my brain. It earns me money and entertains me. I love my fingers. They type lots of words. Every inch?

Every inch includes the blackheads on my nose that I can never get rid of. Every inch includes the soft and sticky outy bits on my tummy. Every inch includes that knee I fell on back in college that gives me a twinge when I ride my bike. If I love them, does that mean I don’t want to change them? Is it okay to love my body even though it’s not perfect?

I have to think about this…


PostSecret‘s beneficiary is the National Hopeline Network. It is a 24-hour hotline (1 (800) SUICIDE) for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is considering it.

Saving My Joints

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Last week, I talked to you as my exercise buddy. I was exercising on my bike and my right knee was hurting a little bit. This video is 1:34 minutes long and talks about running, biking and my joints.

Click here to see the video

I always wonder what makes my body do the things that it does. I have had small joint troubles with my knee every since I slipped on ice in college. The scar on my skin and the occasional popping are innocuous enough, but sometimes it will bother me when I’m riding a bike. I thought bikes were supposed to be better for my joints…

7/4/2006

Make Your Independence Day BBQ Healthy

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

Last year, I wrote an entry called “How to Have a Healthy BBQ” and there is little that I would add to it today. Go give it a read:

The only thing I would add to this entry is that a BBQ seems to be an event that is focused on the food. There is so much food around. Everyone is gathered around the grill and everyone is bringing something. The truth of the matter is, it is an event that is REALLY focused on the people. You wouldn’t go to a BBQ with someone you hate. You go there to see people, relax and have a good time.

You don’t need to overeat to have a good time. You can have a healthy and enjoyable BBQ by focusing on the people and not the food.

Happy Independence Day!

7/3/2006

Question of the Week: Healthy Life At Work

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

We don’t just eat healthy at home. A lot of our time is spent at work, where we need to make healthy choices.

What do you do to make sure you eat healthy at work?

Do you exercise during lunch or at breaks? If so, how do you make that work? Do you shower afterwards? What didn’t work?

How do you get past the afternoon snack attack?

What are the most risky eating areas at work?

If there was something that you could change at work to make your life easier, what would it be?


The Question of the Week is meant to be an Inner Workout for you. Find some time during the week and allow yourself to write the answers to the questions posted. You can write them on paper, on a word processor or here in the comments section. Whatever works for you as long as you do it.

Keep writing until you find out something about yourself that you didn’t know before. I’ve also heard that it works to keep writing until you cry, but that doesn’t really work for me. Whatever works for you. Just keep writing until it feels right.

7/2/2006

Companies Get Creative to Cut Healthcare Premiums

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

How would it feel to get a 30-minute exercise break every day at work? What if your employer not only paid you to exercise, but provided you with a gym and personal trainer? That’s exactly what Clif Bar does for their employees.

So many companies have made the connection between exercise and good health that they are actually providing their employees with easy ways to exercise in an effort to cut healthcare costs. I would like to see more of this happening.

I actually worked at a company that paid us to exercise three times a week and provided a gym downstairs. Ironically, very few people took advantage of the facilities or benefits. The ones that did took advantage of the extra 30 minutes by walking to a local restaurant instead of driving. While I sweated away on my treadmill in the basement, I thought it wasn’t quite fair that walking to a restaurant counted. I guess it was better than driving.

This article says that companies that invest in health maintenance like providing a gym for its employees will save money on healthcare costs, but I would like to see some hard numbers. I didn’t really see people sweating it out during those extra 30 minutes at my former employer’s company. I wonder if policies like this are actually helpful or if they are just a bandaid on the problem.

Still, it was nice being paid to exercise three times a week…

7/1/2006

Ride That Roller Coaster

By Laura Moncur @ 5:00 am — Filed under:

When I exercised on my exercise bike last week, I put the camera in front of my face and just started talking. This video is 3:04 minutes and I am talking about hitting rock bottom and getting inspired to eat healthy again.

Click here to see the video

I really feel that staying healthy and keeping my bingeing in check is like a roller coaster ride. If I can keep the valleys from going too low, then I’m succeeding. Someday, maybe I’ll be able to get off the roller coaster and eat healthy for the rest of my life without relapses. Until then, I’m just learning to ride that roller coaster.

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