For the next several weeks I will be blogging about lessons learned from "The Biggest Loser". Anyone who has been following my blog for a while knows that I like to watch that show and see the transformations. I then started to wonder if everyone understands the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of these people. So I am going to write about it and encourage you to comment back.
The first episode of the show aired last night. There are three important things to take away from this show.
Take Away #1: They started the competition off with a challange before they even entered the ranch. All the contestants were to run 1 mile. Now, to me 1 mile is not a big deal. But to people who weigh well over 300 and 400 pounds, it is a huge deal. One woman took off faster than everyone else and had a sizeable lead in the beginning. The problem came later as she started to run out of energy. She collapsed before the finish line and had to be helped (practically carried) to the finish line. There she proceeded to pass out and was non-responsive. They had to fly her out on a stretcher in a helicopter. The point is that NO ONE should EVER try what they are doing on this show. This is an extreme weight loss program that is monitored by health and emergency professionals 24 hours a day. This is a prime example as to why.
Take Away #2: All contestants are required to list medical conditions. A doctor asked a 29 year old male how someone who is over 300 pounds and considered obese can say he has no medical conditions. The contestant stated that he doesn't have anything like Type II diabetes and the doctor interrupted him and said that he does. I hear this and read about so many very large people saying that they do not have any problems. The doctor actually stated it correctly, he is in denial. So are all these other people. If you are over weight to obese, you do have problems and you need to face that fact now. Do not lie to yourself and say you are happy with the way you are because that is also a lie. One fact I want to point out here. Look around, you will notice that there are NO obese elderly people. That is because obese people WILL die prematurely if they do not lose the weight.
Take Away #3: The reason most people will not lose the weight is because they are lazy and quitters. A bold statement I know but proven last night. A 30 year old woman who weighs 476 pounds would not climb a ladder for 20 seconds. She walked out and then came back after some thought. She had previously said she never quits anything, that she is strong, and has 476 reasons to work hard. All words. I give her credit though for coming back. She lost 17 pounds that first week. Let's see if she can stay with it.
So, stop with the excuses and deal with your denials. If you want to live a normal, longer life, than find someone who can motivate you in the right direction. Also check out my products at www.askcoachb.com. For those in the Orlando area, I will do personal sessions and will work with groups. So get some freinds and get fired up.
Showing posts with label health issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health issues. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, October 27, 2008
20 Million Under the Age of Five are Obese
Here is some more information backing up some of my last blog entry. Another study finds that eating fast will contribute to someone becoming over-weight.
"People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world."
Around 400 million people are obese according to the World Health Organization (WHO). What is really disturbing is that 20 million of them are under the age of five. Being obese raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems. One way adults can help children not become over-weight is to encourage them to eat slowly and provide a calm atmosphere during their meals.
The child obesity problem is a very said fact. Children should be out running around having fun. When I went to school I can only remember two kids in my class that were considered over-weight, one was probably obese. Now it is normal to have a class full of over-weight kids.
My exercise program, along with monthly coaching tips, can be imnplemented with children. None of the movements are complicated and there is no equipment needed. It combines cardio with strength training using body weight. This program is not for body builders. They need a special program. It is for everyone else who is looking to live a better, healthier life.
Stay tuned for more information on becoming part of this monthly coaching session. If you are over-weight or looking to loose a few pounds, I guarantee you will loose weight with this program. It can be a family event on a daily basis for 10 to 20 minutes. You will feel better after the first month and will want to keep going.
"People who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world."
Around 400 million people are obese according to the World Health Organization (WHO). What is really disturbing is that 20 million of them are under the age of five. Being obese raises the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart problems. One way adults can help children not become over-weight is to encourage them to eat slowly and provide a calm atmosphere during their meals.
The child obesity problem is a very said fact. Children should be out running around having fun. When I went to school I can only remember two kids in my class that were considered over-weight, one was probably obese. Now it is normal to have a class full of over-weight kids.
My exercise program, along with monthly coaching tips, can be imnplemented with children. None of the movements are complicated and there is no equipment needed. It combines cardio with strength training using body weight. This program is not for body builders. They need a special program. It is for everyone else who is looking to live a better, healthier life.
Stay tuned for more information on becoming part of this monthly coaching session. If you are over-weight or looking to loose a few pounds, I guarantee you will loose weight with this program. It can be a family event on a daily basis for 10 to 20 minutes. You will feel better after the first month and will want to keep going.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Miracle Weight Loss? NOT!
I have heard a lot about gastric-bypass surgery and have even attended training seminars on how to train people who have undergone this process. There is a "menu" of bariatric operations to chose from. But this is not the miracle weight loss solution that everyone should be looking at. In fact, 4 in 10 patients develop complications within the first six months! I was hesitant to undergo shoulder surgery to repair major damage so there is no way I would consider someone cutting me open and messing with my intestines and stomache.
One procedure actually sections off part of the stomache to limit food consumption and then shortens the intestine so that less is absorbed through your system. Guess what? This means you have to learn how to eat differently. So what is the difference between having an invasive procedure to just eating better on your own? Both are creating new habits but the surgery is adding risk, not to mention the cost of the surgery and post-operative care.
After the suregery, they teach you how to eat tiny, frequent meals. A good trainer or nutritionist can do that without lifting a knife. You also have to take supplements to get the vitamins you are not receiving because of the quick passing through you intestine. You can take supplements without surgery ( I recommend a good multivitamin at a minimum, even if you are eating properly).
One woman profiled had lost 160 pounds after 15 months. That is 2 to 2 1/2 pounds per week. You can do that with a proper diet and exercise too. This same woman also said that after 7 months from the surgery, she had developed an agonizing ulcer on the new inner seam bewteen her stomache and intestine that required another operation. You wouldn't get that with a proper diet and exercise.
She was also rushed into emergency surgery one day when she doubled over in pain. She had an intestinal hernia. Her bowel had snagged on a slit in her abdominal wall. That wouldn't have happened with a proper diet and exercise.
She had to have a fourth procedure to ease the pain of the abdominal scarring. The gastrointestinal pain had become so severe she could barely eat. One day she couldn't flex her right foot then within weeks her limbs began to tingle, her energy evaporated and her weight plummeted. She stopped menstruating and she felt like dying. She had a disorder called bariatric beriberi. A new term based on extreme thiamine deficiency caused by the surgery. That wouldn't happen with a proper diet and exercise.
There is a general perception that this is a shortcut to being thin. It is not. It takes just as long as if you had a proper diet and regular exercise, yet all of the risks are eliminated. The media hypes this surgery and it is deceiving. They even go as far as to say that this surgery can help type 2 diabetes. Well dah...! If you loss weight you reduce the risk and can even reverse it in some cases. Why are they associating this with the surgery when it is the weight loss? They also say in one study that obese people who have the surgery extend their lives up to 7 years over those that don't. Again...dah...! Weight loss does that too. it is a sales pitch and a very dnagerous one at that.
Here are some more sombering statistics. The death rate for gastric bypass surgery is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200. Other problems patients have had after surgery include vomiting, diarrhea, infections, hernias and respiratory failure. Up to 40% can suffer nutritional deficiency, potentially resulting in anemia and osteoporosis; siezures and paralysis have been reported in extreme cases. Some have even had bizarre neurological problems.
Here is the summary on gastric-bypass surgery. You can shed up to 70% of excess weight within 18 months but will gradually regain 20 to 25% of what was lost (because you haven't learned to exercise). If you are extremely obese (BMI > 40) you merely shift to obese. Obese can drop to overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9). Only 10% ever drop to a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. You risk all of the probelms listed above. You have to relearn how to eat properly as a lifetime commitment.
Here is exercising and proper diet. You can shed ALL of your excess weight within 18 to 24 months (depends on how much you need to lose). You relearn how to eat properly without starving yourself. You get more energy. You feel good. It is a lifestyle change that is easier and pain free if done correctly with a good trainer.
Final word here is to stop looking for the easy way because there is none. Human beings are meant to exercise and eat balanced, natural foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out sugars and processed food. Trust me. You will be better off and will live a longer, healthier and more productive life.
One procedure actually sections off part of the stomache to limit food consumption and then shortens the intestine so that less is absorbed through your system. Guess what? This means you have to learn how to eat differently. So what is the difference between having an invasive procedure to just eating better on your own? Both are creating new habits but the surgery is adding risk, not to mention the cost of the surgery and post-operative care.
After the suregery, they teach you how to eat tiny, frequent meals. A good trainer or nutritionist can do that without lifting a knife. You also have to take supplements to get the vitamins you are not receiving because of the quick passing through you intestine. You can take supplements without surgery ( I recommend a good multivitamin at a minimum, even if you are eating properly).
One woman profiled had lost 160 pounds after 15 months. That is 2 to 2 1/2 pounds per week. You can do that with a proper diet and exercise too. This same woman also said that after 7 months from the surgery, she had developed an agonizing ulcer on the new inner seam bewteen her stomache and intestine that required another operation. You wouldn't get that with a proper diet and exercise.
She was also rushed into emergency surgery one day when she doubled over in pain. She had an intestinal hernia. Her bowel had snagged on a slit in her abdominal wall. That wouldn't have happened with a proper diet and exercise.
She had to have a fourth procedure to ease the pain of the abdominal scarring. The gastrointestinal pain had become so severe she could barely eat. One day she couldn't flex her right foot then within weeks her limbs began to tingle, her energy evaporated and her weight plummeted. She stopped menstruating and she felt like dying. She had a disorder called bariatric beriberi. A new term based on extreme thiamine deficiency caused by the surgery. That wouldn't happen with a proper diet and exercise.
There is a general perception that this is a shortcut to being thin. It is not. It takes just as long as if you had a proper diet and regular exercise, yet all of the risks are eliminated. The media hypes this surgery and it is deceiving. They even go as far as to say that this surgery can help type 2 diabetes. Well dah...! If you loss weight you reduce the risk and can even reverse it in some cases. Why are they associating this with the surgery when it is the weight loss? They also say in one study that obese people who have the surgery extend their lives up to 7 years over those that don't. Again...dah...! Weight loss does that too. it is a sales pitch and a very dnagerous one at that.
Here are some more sombering statistics. The death rate for gastric bypass surgery is between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 200. Other problems patients have had after surgery include vomiting, diarrhea, infections, hernias and respiratory failure. Up to 40% can suffer nutritional deficiency, potentially resulting in anemia and osteoporosis; siezures and paralysis have been reported in extreme cases. Some have even had bizarre neurological problems.
Here is the summary on gastric-bypass surgery. You can shed up to 70% of excess weight within 18 months but will gradually regain 20 to 25% of what was lost (because you haven't learned to exercise). If you are extremely obese (BMI > 40) you merely shift to obese. Obese can drop to overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9). Only 10% ever drop to a normal BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. You risk all of the probelms listed above. You have to relearn how to eat properly as a lifetime commitment.
Here is exercising and proper diet. You can shed ALL of your excess weight within 18 to 24 months (depends on how much you need to lose). You relearn how to eat properly without starving yourself. You get more energy. You feel good. It is a lifestyle change that is easier and pain free if done correctly with a good trainer.
Final word here is to stop looking for the easy way because there is none. Human beings are meant to exercise and eat balanced, natural foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Cut out sugars and processed food. Trust me. You will be better off and will live a longer, healthier and more productive life.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Anti-Aging Trick
I just read an article about the best anti-aging trick that backs up my coaching on overall health. The experts say that the closest you can get to the Fountain of Youth is ... drum roll please... start eating less!... cymbal crash.
Restricting your calories can add up to 5 years on your life. Even the scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works. Eating less cuts the risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells to hang in there longer.
"There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss. "And you may live to be substaintially older."
At the University of Florida's Institute on Aging a study showed that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage.
Scientist still do not know why this works. They theorize that it lowers the metabolic rate and causes the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One theory is that it decreases a thyroid hormone which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
So how much less are they talking about here? The experts say that the general rule of thumb is to start eating about 15% less starting at age 25. But this is based on a typical healthy adult diet of about 2,000 calories. Thast means that this really applies to less than 1/3 of the population.
So what about everyone else? It is logical to state that this relates to all people no matter what thier shape or current health is currently. Start slowly by cutting 300 to 500 calories out of your diet today. Skipping desert or substituting a turkey sandwich (without nayonnaise or any special dressings) for that fast food burger will cut your calorie intake by at least 300 to 500 calories. A nutritional diet and exercise are important to any weight management program. After a few weeks look for ways to cut out another 300 to 500 calories. If you continue to do this along with an exercise program, you will lose weight and gain years on your life.
Eating fewer calories also reduces age-related chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. The best way to implement all of this is to get a good personal trainer.
Restricting your calories can add up to 5 years on your life. Even the scientists who are cautious about anti-aging hype say it works. Eating less cuts the risks for some diseases and by allowing all body cells to hang in there longer.
"There is plenty of evidence that calorie restriction can reduce your risks for many common diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease," says Saint Louis University researcher Edward Weiss. "And you may live to be substaintially older."
At the University of Florida's Institute on Aging a study showed that eating just 8% less and exercising a little more over a lifespan can reduce or even reverse aging-related cell and organ damage.
Scientist still do not know why this works. They theorize that it lowers the metabolic rate and causes the body to generate fewer damaging "free radicals". One theory is that it decreases a thyroid hormone which then slows metabolism and tissue aging.
So how much less are they talking about here? The experts say that the general rule of thumb is to start eating about 15% less starting at age 25. But this is based on a typical healthy adult diet of about 2,000 calories. Thast means that this really applies to less than 1/3 of the population.
So what about everyone else? It is logical to state that this relates to all people no matter what thier shape or current health is currently. Start slowly by cutting 300 to 500 calories out of your diet today. Skipping desert or substituting a turkey sandwich (without nayonnaise or any special dressings) for that fast food burger will cut your calorie intake by at least 300 to 500 calories. A nutritional diet and exercise are important to any weight management program. After a few weeks look for ways to cut out another 300 to 500 calories. If you continue to do this along with an exercise program, you will lose weight and gain years on your life.
Eating fewer calories also reduces age-related chronic diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and stroke. That's important because it suggests ways to not just make us live longer, but allow us to age more gracefully, healthwise. The best way to implement all of this is to get a good personal trainer.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Aging Baby Boomers
Baby boomers is the largest generation in the history of the US. These are people born between 1945 and 1964 and account for 76 million people. I am at the tail end of this and have had to deal with plenty of issues because of it. That would be a whole different type of blog.
What I want to address is the health of these and the many Americans that are older. Do you realize that there are 41 countries with longer life expectancies than the US? The life expectancy in the US ranges between 69 and 80 with an average of 77.6 years. There are three main reasons for this: poor insurance coverage, large immigrant population and the obesity epidemic.
Face it, Americans live in excess. Have you seen how many all-you-can-eat buffets there are? I live in the largest tourist destination in the world and we have a bunch of those. I was at a fitness seminar this weekend in the heart of the tourist area and I ate at one of those restaurants. There was very little that was healthy for you and people piled up their plate, several times, and ate everything!
I digress. Approximately 85% of all baby boomers will have the following chronic diseases by the age of 65: hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes. That is over 64 million people! And to top it all off, 75% of all American deaths are due to stroke, coronary artery disease and cancer. These can be prevented.
Of the three reasons for the US life expectancy being shorter than other countries I am going to address one of them here. It is the poor health insurance issue. Most of the countries that have longer life expectancies have health plans that are monitored or controlled by the government. The people pay higher taxes so everyone is covered. I am not advocating this only pointing out a fact. So the first issue is that everyone is covered, not just the people who can afford it.
The second, and I think most important, is that our health care system treats diseases, not prevent it. There needs to be prevention so the health care system can be used more effectively to take care of the real issues caused by accidents, genetics and natural causes.
This is where exercise comes in to play. Contrary to what some people may believe, exercise can not cure any disease. Exercise prevents deconditioning which preserves function and independence. It will also improve the quality of life.
It is never too late to start. Programs can be started at any age with any conditions. A good personal trainer will be able to work with you and any issues you may have. If you are diabetic, you can still work out. You just need to take a few precautions that others may not have to take.
My recommendation is that if you are not exercising and eating properly than you need to start now. Seek advice from knowledgable professionals. Once you start to feel better you will not want to stop.
What I want to address is the health of these and the many Americans that are older. Do you realize that there are 41 countries with longer life expectancies than the US? The life expectancy in the US ranges between 69 and 80 with an average of 77.6 years. There are three main reasons for this: poor insurance coverage, large immigrant population and the obesity epidemic.
Face it, Americans live in excess. Have you seen how many all-you-can-eat buffets there are? I live in the largest tourist destination in the world and we have a bunch of those. I was at a fitness seminar this weekend in the heart of the tourist area and I ate at one of those restaurants. There was very little that was healthy for you and people piled up their plate, several times, and ate everything!
I digress. Approximately 85% of all baby boomers will have the following chronic diseases by the age of 65: hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes. That is over 64 million people! And to top it all off, 75% of all American deaths are due to stroke, coronary artery disease and cancer. These can be prevented.
Of the three reasons for the US life expectancy being shorter than other countries I am going to address one of them here. It is the poor health insurance issue. Most of the countries that have longer life expectancies have health plans that are monitored or controlled by the government. The people pay higher taxes so everyone is covered. I am not advocating this only pointing out a fact. So the first issue is that everyone is covered, not just the people who can afford it.
The second, and I think most important, is that our health care system treats diseases, not prevent it. There needs to be prevention so the health care system can be used more effectively to take care of the real issues caused by accidents, genetics and natural causes.
This is where exercise comes in to play. Contrary to what some people may believe, exercise can not cure any disease. Exercise prevents deconditioning which preserves function and independence. It will also improve the quality of life.
It is never too late to start. Programs can be started at any age with any conditions. A good personal trainer will be able to work with you and any issues you may have. If you are diabetic, you can still work out. You just need to take a few precautions that others may not have to take.
My recommendation is that if you are not exercising and eating properly than you need to start now. Seek advice from knowledgable professionals. Once you start to feel better you will not want to stop.
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