Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

Scientific American has a lengthy and in-depth article about the “Obesity Epidemic.” It’s a long article, but it’s worth the read.

• Scientific American – Obesity: An Overblown Epidemic? – by W. Wayt Gibbs

I’ve talked before about the idea that the “Obesity Epidemic” is actually a method for the health insurance companies to deny coverage. That is one idea that this article doesn’t touch on. They very logically look at the available data and reveal that some of the figures that have been given to us were actually guesses and have been quoted so many times that they have become “facts” in the mind of the collective unconscious.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from this article:

“Underweight, even though it occurs in only a tiny fraction of the population, is actually associated with more excess deaths than class I obesity,” says Katherine M. Flegal, a senior research scientist at the CDC.

Oliver, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, is that “a relatively small group of scientists and doctors, many directly funded by the weight-loss industry, have created an arbitrary and unscientific definition of overweight and obesity. They have inflated claims and distorted statistics on the consequences of our growing weights, and they have largely ignored the complicated health realities associated with being fat.”

“The war on fat,” Campos concurs, “is really about making some of us rich.”

“H. L. Mencken once said that for every complex problem there is a simple solution–and it’s wrong,” Blair muses. “We have got to stop shouting from the rooftops that obesity is bad for you and that fat people are evil and weak-willed and that the world would be lovely if we all lost weight. We need to take a much more comprehensive view. But I don’t see much evidence that that is happening.”

Via: About.com – Is the Obesity Epidemic no Health Threat? – by Wendy Bumgardner

If you look at their website now, there are no products or claims listed at all. Part of the FTC settlement was to remove unsubstantiated claims from their advertising, so it’s not a surprise that all the website has now is a phone number and a frequently asked questions file which clarifies how to return merchandise.

Selfworx marketed two products: Gelthin and Ultra LipoLean. Gelthin was supposed to melt fat away when you rub it on “problem areas.” Ultra LipoLean was supposed to “block fat.” Neither of them did what they said they would do.

The FTC can’t be everywhere. Small companies can pop up, promise great results and dissapear into thin air before the FTC can get them and before you can get your money back. There is no substitute for healthy eating habits and exercise. Don’t let them get you.

Bill Clinton is joining the American Heart Association in the fight against childhood obesity.

• William J. Clinton Foundation – Creating a Healthier Generation: Preventing Obesity

The most interesting part of this site is the discussion about Bill Clinton’s personal problems with weight and eating. Preventing heart disease starts with how you treat your body today.

Via: About.com – A New Initiative Against Childhood Obesity – by Paige Waehner

I’ve been riding my bike to work ever since the weather got sunny. It doubles the time for my daily commute, but it has made the time spent far more pleasureable. Instead of a chore, my commute has become a enjoyable journey. I even look forward to the ride home.

Of course my legs have been aching a bit from the activity. After all that running while I was training for the 5K, I would have thought that I was in great shape for a daily bike commute. The muscles that are asking for attention are ones that were barely used when I was running.

Soon, my legs will become accustomed to their daily use. That’s how muscles work. They adapt and become acclimated to the tasks that we give them regularly. They even grow more efficient and burn less fuel to do the same work. By then, it will be winter and I will be shocked at how much running inside on the treadmill hurts.

If you are looking to mix up your workout a little bit, check this out:

• About.com – Workout Center – by Paige Waehner

They have a huge selection of different workouts you can do complete with pictures and descriptions. I could have really used this when I bought that big Bosu ball and had no clue what to do with it. I got sick of the video really quickly and could have used the workouts that she has on there.

Sunny Thoughts is a daily podcast that is so constructive. It doesn’t have anything to do with weight loss, but it is a nice resource for a daily positive affirmation. This is one of my favorites right now:

• Sunny Thoughts – I Thrive Because I Love Myself

Sunny Hill’s voice is a perfect start for your day. Just listen to one of his affirmations every day and you will feel happier. The best thing is that he keeps the affirmations short and sweet, so you won’t fill your iPod up.

Do you really know what’s in your multi-vitamin? Unfortunately, Kicker Vencill didn’t. He was a 2004 Olympic Swimming hopeful who failed his urine test. He insisted that he had not taken steroids. The athletic community rolled its eyes at him and restricted him from competing for four years.

The truth was, he didn’t take steroids. His multi-vitamin, Super Complete, produced by Ultimate Nutrition, was found to be tainted with 19-norandrosterone. He just won a lawsuit against the company and his ban has been transmuted to two years.

Good luck at the trials for 2008, Kicker!

Via: Consumer Health Digest – May 17, 2005

• USA Today – Banned swimmer wins case over supplements – By Ben Fox, Associated Press

When I work out with Maya, some yoga poses she gives me are difficult for me to perform. It doesn’t help matters that Maya is a perfect computer generated woman who never trips or loses her balance. Here’s a story about a yoga instructor that I could actually warm up to:

• MSNBC – Plus-sized yoga offers new twist on old practice – Associated Press

Every day, I ride past a yoga studio. In the evenings, the parking lot is packed. I wonder if the classes have something more than exercise videos. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable enough to go into that studio.

This is not a diet book. This is not an exercise book. This is the first step to a healthier life.

This book will tell you that it’s just fine to stay fat. The author will quote the averages and help you realize that over half the nation is overweight. She will challenge the idea that being overweight will shorten your life. I love this book. I don’t agree with everything she says, but this book is the first essential step to getting healthy.

About a year before I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting, I decided that I was going to stay fat. I decided to never diet again. I decided that I would just eat what I want and exercise when I wanted. Without knowing it, I went on Margaret Cho’s F**k It Diet. I decided to become a Fat Girl.

There was something healing and liberating that happened to my mind when I decided to love myself as I am. Truly allowing myself to be me and truly accepting my body as it was helped me to get to where I am today. After a few months on the F**k It Diet, I realized that I didn’t enjoy eating the way I was. Sure, I liked eating the food, but I didn’t like feeling too full. I didn’t like the gastrointestinal effects of the food I was eating. When it stopped being about dieting and started being about feeling good, I started eating healthier.

At one point, I realized that I had no idea how to eat healthy. That was part of the reason I joined Weight Watchers. The other part was the support. Changing habits is difficult, even if you really want to change them. I needed to have a weekly booster shot of ideas and motivation. I still do.

So, you’ve decided to be a Fat Girl? I say great! Deciding to be a Fat Girl was my first step toward treating myself with more respect.

Great Quotes from The Fat Girl’s Guide to Life by Wendy Shanker:

“Most fat people are afraid to go to yoga or dance class or the swim club or they gym because they think skinny people will be mean to them, or at least think mean thoughts about them. Well, okay, that’s legit. But you know what? It’s a gym, not a playground. You’re a grown-up, not a kindergartner. You are a strong enough person to get over it and do what you have to do for yourself. Screw everyone else.”

“No one deserves to be at the gym more than you do.”

“Any doctor who blames you for your disease has his or her priorities screwed up.”

“It’s time to stop thinking that someone knows something that don’t, that someone has an answer that is being withheld from you.”

“Fat and beautiful are not opposites. They do not cancel each other out. I am fat and beautiful.”

OMG! New game from Komani! Karaoke Revolution Party! It combines singing AND dancing with the dance mat! Could I be any happier right now?!

• Team Xbox – Karaoke Revolution Party

Just when I think that there are no cool games for the Xbox and I’m eagerly awaiting PS3, they come out with this and totally blow things out of the water! I can’t wait until I can get my grimy paws on it.

Check out Ernie’s review of the game…

• little. yellow. different. – dance dance humiliation