Archive for July, 2010

5 Foods to Boost Your Overall Health

on July 30th, 2010 by Rob

These foods, while not nececarrally just for weight loss will certainly help with your diet. Your overall well being. Here they are in no particular order-

1. Berries- I have talked about this before… this is all about the antioxidants—— think Dr. Oz and his fight against heart disease!

2. Broccoli- I have to admit, I am not the best at this one. I do eat is sometimes…. my wife tries to get me to eat it more. I have heard that steaming is the best way…. that way all the best stuff stays in. Broccoli has been linked to the prevention of colon cancer as well as lung cancer. (I bet it’s just because if you don’t care for yourself enough to stop smoking… then you’re sure as hell not gonna eat broccoli) — anyway, eat more of this!! Oh… and it has antioxidants too!

3. Salmon (and other fatty fish)- we all know that fish has lots of protein…. but it also has the all important omega-3 fatty acids. These oils have been shown to prevent heart disease. Good enough for me.

4. Tomatoes- got it covered. Ketchup will take care of this for me. All my friends make fun of me because I eat so much. But even though I don’t eat as much as I used to…. I still get plenty. The thing that is good here is the lycopene. There has been research done in the past that suggests that lycopene prevents certain kinds of cancer.

5. Occasional Treats- I am BIG on this one. As I have said—- moderation is the key to life—– having some things that may not be that good for you… OCCASIONALLY…. I think is the key to life and a successful nutrition plan!

Can you think of any more that need to be included in this list?

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Drew Carey

on July 29th, 2010 by Rob

Goodness… everyone needs to see this!!

Check out this article!!

Looks like Drew has been to the gym!

I find this to be really interesting…. aside from Chris Farley- Drew Carey is the celebrity that I have most been associated with.

I even have a picture of a Halloween costume… where I went dressed as Drew Carey- You know, I just put on some glasses and a Cleveland Indians hat.

Really good to see him make some changes!!

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B.U.F.F.E.T- Know what that stands for?

on July 28th, 2010 by Rob

BIG UGLY FAT FOLKS EATING TOGETHER—- well, almost.

When I lived in N.Y.C. the Chinese food was much different than it is in the south. Even at the places that weren’t in Chinatown the food was much more authentic Chinese. You know, I am not sure about this…. it is just me sitting at my kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon…. but I just don’t remember seeing or knowing that many fat Chinese people. I mean, I guess there are some, but you just don’t see them like you do Americans. Maybe it is all the rice that they eat? You know, now that I think about that, it seems like I have heard some information on that rice…. like, the rice they eat is different from the rice we eat. I have heard that they leave the “husk” on and this makes it better. I don’t know, I will have to do some research on this and check it out and let you know.

Anyway- I want to address something. Chinese buffets. I just can’t do it anymore. I can get carried away. I mean, if the ones that you have been to are ANYTHING like the ones here in Mississippi….. well, you can get the cart off the road in a hurry. I mean, they have pizza on the buffet at the Chinese resterants here!!!!! WTF? Once again, it is just something that is off limits for me.

Cornell University (shout out to you Larry!!) has a Food and Brand Lab. So, they went and checked out people eating at Chinese buffets. (In upstate N.Y. they must be like the ones in Mississippi)— so these smart guys from Cornell go and OBSERVE fat folks eating together and they made some pretty cool findings-

1. The skinny people were more likely to BROWSE the buffet before serving themselves.

2. The skinny people were more likely to sit with their backs to the buffet.

3. The skinny people were more likely to sit at a booth

4. The skinny people were more likely to use chopsticks

They made some more keen observations, but these were the most striking. Interesting stuff. I think that this has to do with food addiction. I just mean that I know how I am and I am much more like those fat folks.

So- the next time you go to a buffet…. if you can handle that…. act like skinny folks!!

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Time to trim the calories!

on July 27th, 2010 by Rob

In an effort to curb childhood obesity rates…. some of our nations largest food companies have have said that they will trim 1.5 trillion calories out of their products by 2012. (Is there anyone else out there that is suspicious of Kraft and it being owned by Philip-Morris?)

These companies made their announcement through a trade association. Michelle Obama said that “This is precisely the kind of private sector commitment we need”- she is the one that started her own “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign.

Will this really work? Can we trust them?

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Burn more in less time!!!

on July 25th, 2010 by Rob

This post goes right along with a post that I did a few days ago. I was talking about doing more —-faster.

So, here is the deal. Furthering my assertion that you need to “move your ass”- I read an article a few days ago based on a study from Harvard…. (don’t you just love how this lends credibility to virtually anything you say)- anyway- Harvard says that losing weight is a lot more about calories burned than time clocked. (Shocking!!!)

So- they say you will need about 7 hours a week walking at a 20 minute mile pace vs. about 2 hours a week running at a 10 minute pace to burn enough calories to lose weight (formula based on a 140lb woman).

So- as I said a few days ago…. I don’t want to mess around with this for the rest of my life. It is time to move!!! Get it done, get it over with!! MOVE YOUR ASS!!!

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Prostrate Cancer Risks are high!!

on July 24th, 2010 by Rob

Well, I am pretty sure that this is NOT something that I want. I mean, the examination is bad enough—– “Moon River”—– I can only imagine what the treatment is like. I recently went in for an examination and I told my doctor- “I can’t believe that I pay you for that” … He said, “well, I am sure as hell not doing it for free”—- Good point doc!

I do have a point. It is get moving to reduce your risk of prostrate cancer.

I was reading an article today about the risks and how to avoid this deadly disease. Wrap your head around this one…. ONE IN SIX MEN WILL GET IT!!!!!How can this be avoided? Read on!

1. Lose the fat in your diet- eating a lot of this…. expecially from animals (which tells me it is most likly saturated fat)—- eating a lot of this has been linked to a higher risk of prostrate cancer

2. Pack your diet with nutrients- MORE THE BETTER ON FRUITS AND VEGTABLES! Pick the ones with bright colors.

3. BE FIT!!- The American Cancer Society recomends at least 30 minutes a day of exercise… but 45-60 mins per day is really needed to reduce the risk.

Also, men that have what is called meabolic syndrome are more likely to get prostrate cancer… what is that? Well, it is a certain group of risk factors… overweight, fat around your mid-section and  higher blood sugar levels…. basically being un-fit.

So, there ya go…. it is as easy as that! And make sure to get checked regularly… don’t fear the finger!

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Sticks and Stones

on July 23rd, 2010 by Rob

Where is the snow you promised John?

O.K.- I have seen some people on the trails with these things. What the heck are they?

Well, they are HIKING POLES. Yep… aluminum or graphite poles that help you hike/walk. I guess it would be hike because presumably you would not need these on concrete or asphalt- however that is how these folks are rolling. However, I have seen people using them. Then, if you are walking on concrete or asphalt—- I don’t think you can call it hiking. Maybe urban hiking. I am just making this stuff up as I go along.

Anyway- I guess the question begs… do you need these things? I mean- after all, they cost $50 bucks and up…. AND UP?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!? O.K. what do they do for you?

A bunch of really smart guys in England got together a bunch of healthy people and gave them some hiking poles (some didn’t have poles) – sent them up a hill (actually Mt. Snowdon in Wales— Who knew they had mountains in Wales??)- anyway, they sent them up there and then when they came down ASKED them how they felt. The ones with poles reported less muscle fatigue and less muscle soreness as well as LESS PERCEIVED PHYSICAL EXERTION than the pole-less bunch.

WOW! Sounds like to me somebody at the hot-dog company got together with somebody at the bun company on this one. $50 BUCKS AND UP!?!?!?!? I will not deny that maybe if you are not stable … or maybe you don’t get around that well…. maybe you have an injury… then these might be able to help you stabilize yourself.

But— I think that this is an excellent example of the BILLIONS of dollars that go into the fitness industry…. products, books, equipment, food- etc. etc. that can simply be avoided. YOU JUST DON’T NEED ALL THIS STUFF!!!!!  What, you don’t belong to a gym… you have to! You don’t have a treadmill….. you have to! How else will you get in shape?

How about running or walking around your neighborhood? FREE. How about going to the lake for a swim?? FREE. How about a ride on your new bike that you got at a garage sale…. CHEAP! I mean, not only are you going to look ridiculous with these hiking poles, but you will be out $50 BUCKS AND UP on them. How about picking up a STICK!!!! Oh, wait—- your an urban hiker?…. I forgot….. well, what do you need the poles for?

Obviously my point is… get moving. Don’t wait to join a gym…. or buying whatever new gadget the market has to offer! Just do it.

How can people get in shape without spending a lot? How have you done it?

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Be Spicy instead of Salty!

on July 20th, 2010 by Rob

O.K.- We can file this one under…. lets see- stupid little tricks.

I really don’t know how stupid it is….. but in the spirit of my self depreciating style…. I’ll say its stupid. Maybe its just simple.

One of the ways that I have managed to lose some weight is that I have really gone nuts with the spices. I spice everything. If I go to Wendy’s and get a plain potato… I am going to ask for chili sauce to put on it… with a lot of pepper.

I think that it has something to do with not having so much fat in my diet…. I mean, fat tastes good- so, I need a way to make my food taste good without all the fat. This is where the Tabasco comes in.

Just a stupid trick that I use- to avoid the fat.

Is there anything that you use?

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It’s all about the Dopamine, Dopey

on July 17th, 2010 by Rob

Well, do you know what Dopamine is? Well… I am just the guy to tell you.

Dopamine is a chemical in your brain. It is produced when you do something pleasurable. So, you know the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you finish working out— O.K.- just kidding… that warm fuzzy feeling that you get when you hug your wife… well, I get it anyway. That feeling is due to dopamine.

Well, it seems that there is a new study by Biological Psychiatry that leads us to beleive that people that see themselves as having lots of supportive friends also have more dopamine receptors in their brains.

Also, making poor choices can be associated with lower levels of dopamine receptors. Smoking, drinking and being over weight… all of those will do the trick.

So, if you want to FEEL better (not necessarily WHILE you’re working out), make some good choices.

I have said many times that a BIG part of my sucess has been that I have made friends with people that I work out with. The VAST majority of these people I had NEVER met before I started with the People Magazine Weight Loss Challenge…. and now we are the best of friends.

I feel fuzzy all over. You can too!!

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Run— Don’t Walk

on July 16th, 2010 by Rob

O.K.- the title of this post is a bit misleading. Well… maybe… you decide.

What I have learned to do…. and what has benefited me greatly in my sucess is simply running. Its not easy, but its cheap. Pretty much anyone can do it. Well, pretty much anyone when they build up to it.

I know… I go on and on about running. And I went through a strenuous “boot camp” when I was losing my weight, but the fact of the matter is…. as hard as it is for me to admit…. YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT RUNNING. Really. Just WALK on the treadmill. Just walk the dog. Just walk around the block. Just walk down the road… you get the idea.

Mississippi has a great advertising campaign that touts the benefits of walking. My trainer, Paul Lacoste, talks about how walking is only for Haley Barbour because he is the star of the show. Well, I think he is on to something. Haley that is.

Now, I bet Paul will have a fit when he sees this- but a new study from the Harvard School of Public health suggests that “as long as you expend equal amounts of energy” then it doesn’t really make any difference if you walk or run. So, what does that mean. Well, in other words, someone that spends 30 minutes walking is reaping the same benefits as someone that runs for about 15 minutes—- from a disease fighting/cardiovascular fitness standpoint.

O.K.—- bottom line. It doesn’t REALLY matter if you are moving fast or moving kinda fast/slow in-between sorta…. as long as you are moving. GET MOVING!

Me- how do I feel? Well, I am WAY too busy to spend all day doing this. And I wanna get thin—– AT FULL SPEED!

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