Maybe this is health, wellness day here at the blog?
Have you ever heard of Lipovox? Have you ever used it?
I ask because I ran onto their website Googling around various health/wellness issues. I just saw a rather disturbing report on CNN regarding "belly fat." It seems my, uh, extra girth, is probably cutting years off my life -- not just because of the general problems related to excess weight and health issues, but specifically because a lot of the excess weight is, uh, "belly fat" in specific.
What about YOU?? Any other chubby folks out there besides myself willing to confess it and tell us what you may or may not be doing to resolve the issue? Personally, I'm trying a "non-diet" diet approach. I'm trying to eat a balanced diet in SMALLER portions, along with getting outta this recliner, away from the laptop, and out onto the sidewalk for more long walks daily.
Any comments? Any suggestions? Any "testimonials" about product/habits you've developed that help you control weight and "belly fat"?
Can magnetic bracelets help with aches, pains, general health?
For years I've seen various ads on TV, in print, and on the Internet for magnetic bracelets, usually touted as an aid for general aches and pains.
I've never tried such devices and I have absolutely no idea how they may work or whether they DO work. But I find the whole idea intriguing. Let's face it, there's some truth in various "ancient" or non-Western forms of medicine and health treatments. You don't have to live long in the U.S. or Europe to realize, too, that most of what we can "medicine" is really treatment of medical conditions, not at all a system for supporting natural health and wellness.
So maybe there's something in magnetic bracelets. Anyone reading this use them for therapy? What's been your experience? Leave a comment and let us know.
Here’s a tip for you — growing old isn’t particularly fun or funny
You've probably heard the term "growing old gracefully." Or maybe that's "graciously," I'm not sure. I AM sure, though, that growing old is nothing like I imagined it would be.
Although I'm "trapped" inside a 60-something-old body, in my mind I'm still about 19 or 20. Though I'm overweight and out of shape, in my mind I can still remember running 100 meter and 800 meter races in high school P.E. classes. (Do they still call them P.E. classes?) Indeed, there are days when just getting out of bed and making it to that first cup of coffee makes me feel like I'm 80-something and headed for the adult diaper stage before sundown. (No offense intended to those who need adult diapers, really.)
But today is the first day of the rest of my life (a phrase highly popular and thought to be profound back in the 1960s). I just read some stories about recent medical studies that indicate it really is almost NEVER too late to improve yourself mentally and physically, and even extend your life span to a ripe old age like 90-something.
I'm hitting the sidewalk, getting away from this computer long enough to take a daily walk. And I'm cutting back on the evening junk food and deserts. I'm shooting for 96 years old.
Join me??
Don’t be fooled: OTC medications can be hazardous to your health
There's been a lot in the news in recent weeks about the risks of giving infants and children over-the-counter cold medications, because of fears of overdose, drug reactions, etc. I haven't followed it all too closely since my kids have long ago grown to adulthood and I do not yet have any grandchildren.
But I had a personal example last evening of the risks of over-the-counter medications and overdose for "Old Guys" -- namely, ME!
I actually knew about this problem but simply didn't pay real attention: You should NEVER exceed recommended dosages on over-the-counter pain medications -- in this case the drug acetaminophen, commonly referred to by the brand-name version "Tylenol."
The short version is this: I've been struggling with a flare up of arthritis stiffness and pain in my shoulder in recent weeks, so I've been pushing pain killers nearly to allowable limits each evening when I go to bed, hoping to sleep through the night with little or no pain. I've been taking two of these generic extra-heavy-duty acetaminophen arthritis tablets. Last night, with the shoulder ache especially bad, I took THREE.
After a couple of hours of stomach distress and some nausea things settled down, just before I decided I might have to visit the local emergency room.
DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSAGE LIMITS on acetaminophen. It could literally "blow up" your liver. It may at least cause you a lot of stomach distress.
For that matter, from cold medication to diet pills to pain killers, I know will preach the gospel of sanity to you: Do NOT assume over-the-counter drugs and/or supplements are harmless. Take them very seriously.
I know I'll take them more seriously now!
Sign of the times? Some babies now developing ‘carrier syndrome’
I'd never heard of such a thing as "carrier syndrome" as a health issue for babies until I read an article online recently warning about it. "Carrier syndrome" is a case of babies who are developmentally delayed because their parents keep them secured in car seats, strollers, slings, and other baby carriers too much of the time.
The article didn't suggest how much or how often a baby must be kept in such carriers before the problem develops. In other words, I can offer you no guidelines as to how many hours a day would be safe, how many risky.
I can personally understand how such an issue could be a problem: In my experience, being aged FAR beyond infancy, I have found that sitting in front of this blamed computer too many hours of the day without getting up and getting active actually leads to some extreme stiffness and soreness in 1) my chubby butt, and, 2) in my right arm and shoulder. The butt numbness/stiffness I can handle. The shoulder and arm pains I face if I don't make myself get up and get active are pretty severe.
So, what's the answer to all this if you have an infant or toddler? Obviously, don't spend huge amounts of the day with the youngster strapped into a baby carrier, sling, stroller, car seat, or whatever. Just as you, mom and dad, need to be active to be healthy, your tot needs you to keep him or her active for his or her best health!
[tags]baby health, baby strollers, baby "carrier syndrome", baby health, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Secret to ALL successful dieting: Eat fewer calories than your body uses
I watch probably far more television than I should, especially for a guy who reads the papers. But most of my work is done at home, and with no one to talk to but our old cat -- so I often leave CNN or some other cable news program running in the background as I blog. Helps me find ideas for my writing sometimes.
One of the things I see far too much of, because of that, are TV commercials. And one type of TV ads that particularly intrigues me are those for diets or diet pills. I find them amusing, not because I doubt the work. After all, following a sensible diet and even using a diet pill can be a great first step toward improving one's health.
What I find amusing is that special diet foods, prescription or nonprescription pills, all of them generally work (IF they work) because those who follow the diet or eat/swallow the food/pills, are consuming less calories and eating balanced meals or supplementing their food with quality nutrition.
In other words, any serious diet or diet pill works to some extent simply because of the fundamental success principle for dieting: fewer calories = loss of weight. That might be modified to include more activity. But fundamentally there is only one way to lose weight. You must consume fewer calories than your body uses. No matter what the diet plan, food, or food supplement you try -- if you put more calories into your body than you "burn off" or use up, you will not lose weight successfully.
Back to the basics, would be a good way to explain the best diet plans or diet supplements. Consume fewer calories than you use each day. You'll lose weight.
[tags]calories, dieting, diet pills, diet plans, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
National childhood obesity epidemic? Maybe more play would help
Tackling our national obesity and related health epidemics (did I mention that I'm seriously overweight myself?) should begin with kids playing more, not with fancy weight equipment but playing games and running around parks and playgrounds.
When I was a kid, growing up in a very small town in mid-America (Tecumseh, Nebraska) in the 1950s, it was common for summer to be spent almost entirely at the local park and swimming pool. Oh, sure, some of us who were more "eggheaded" than others made regular visits to the town's small library. But freedom to play and families who encouraged play, made Old Egghead Me the chubby exception rather than the rule.
Today's kids have a different set up, really, especially those living in large towns and cities: In fact, it is risky to let small kids (even larger kids) roam unattended. So the playground and park time, and pool time, must be more closely supervised. But PLAY should be the key, not EXERCISE. Play is fun; exercise can be fun but also resembles work a little too much.
And don't forget a real tool you have to combine play and exercise for today's kids: Wii.
I don't own a Wii, i.e., that wonderful active gaming system by Nintendo, but I can point you to a website where you can find some great discounts and offers on Wii games and Wii stuff -- including such Wii games as Wii Fitness, which incorporate great physical exercise with play for kids and adults. (HINT: To find the site, just look in the footer on this page for one of our network sites devoted to Wii games and stuff.)
Whatever you choose to do, your kids AND you can overcome obesity and have fun doing it, with more play more fun, less "exercise" -- oh, yeah, and probably smaller food portions!
[tags]overcoming obesity, having fun, playful excercise, Wii games and stuff, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Here’s my best, revolutionary diet ‘plan’ that works for ANYONE
I'm going to give you the secret to weight loss and better health. I won't charge you anything for this, and you won't need to buy special foods. You'll never need diet pills or some sort of lists requiring you to follow special food choices. With more and more Americans developing diabetes and pre-diabetic conditions because of overweight and bad eating habits, hey, I owe it to you all. So here's the 100% safe, 100% effective diet I have for you:
Eat less food and be more active.
Yeah, I know, revolutionary, ain't it??
Fact of the matter is, I am one of the biggest offenders, being considerably overweight and far, FAR less active than I should be.
But the reality is, any diet, dietary supplement, group health plans, etc., only work if you DO them or USE them. So why not just face reality and get on with it? Most of us, the absolutely overwhelming majority of us, have no medical problems, glandular problems, etc., which make us overweight and limit our activities and make us unhealthy. We simply eat too much food and exercise too little.
Here's an idea: I invite you to join me in a "Half Year's Resolution" (since there's still half of this "New Year" left, get it?): I will eat only one moderate sized helping of food at each meal and I will get out of the chair and/or away from my desk and move around -- walk, jog, swim, bicycle, whatever -- for at least 10 minutes each day.
Good luck to you -- and to me.
[tags]infallible diet, healthy eating, healthy exercise, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Yikes! Will the same people who fed him help with funeral arrangements?
I applaud Manuel Uribe of Monterrey, Mexico, for getting his weight down to about 700 pounds. After two years of pretty intensive dieting, he's lost around 550 pounds from his world-record high of 1,200+ pounds. Frankly, I've struggled with weight all my life, and I know it's hard for anyone to lose weight.
But the amazing story here isn't Uribe's weight or weight loss. The truly amazing story is this: Since Uribe cannot hardly get out of bed, and can't stand up and walk at all, SOMEONE HAS BEEN SUPPLYING THE GUY WITH MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FOOD TO GET OVER 1,200 POUNDS!
(The "yelling" in all caps above was intentional to get your attention.)
Which brings me to the title of this post: Do you suppose the same people who fed the guy to get him so obese are ready to help with funeral arrangements? Do you think they bought him funeral insurance, or chipped in for an advanced funeral plan or grave plot??
Listen, I know it's really hard, as a parent, to deny my kids anything they want if I'm at all able to get it for them. Even things I know might not be good for them, I've been known to "cave" and get them, just because I can't stand that pleading look of desperation in their eyes. (Okay, I'm speaking "past tense" here, as both my kids are grown adults on their own now and rarely come around begging with the old, "Oh, please, Daddy, please Daddy ..." line anymore.)
But as God is my witness, no amount of begging or desperation would make me give either of my children the amounts and/or types of food that would put them in the 300+, 400+, 500+, etc., weight range. Nor would I do that to a friend.
On the other hand, I need to reflect -- we probably ALL need to reflect -- on those little things we may do every day, those well-meaning little things, that hurt our families and friends because they are over indulgent or seemingly harmless yet may have lasting consequences.
[tags]obese man, indulgent friends, indulgent parents, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
Health insurance blues — why so much cost for so little benefit?
I've got a confession to make: I have been walking a tight rope without a safety net -- self-employed for about eight months with no health insurance.
The good news is, I have gotten by just fine. The bad news is, I've started a job that offers health insurance, but it's really very poor insurance for costing so much money.
Whatever happened to the ideas of health insurance reform? Have you noticed the way none of the presidential candidates have continued talking about health care? Universal health care? Health care no matter what state you live in? I mean why can't we get a national plan going so you've got MO health care, MI health insurance, NC health insurance, SC health insurance -- something like just plain good old U.S.A. health insurance??
Canada did it. Great Britain does it. France, Sweden, and most other industrialized nations have done it. So why in the world can't America find a way to do it -- guaranteed, useful health insurance for everyone in the country?
I don't know much about the problems and pitfalls of national health insurance, especially some form of free or nearly free universal health insurance. But I'm sure it really CAN be done. And if Canada and France can do it, shouldn't the U.S. be able to do it and do it BETTER? (Kidding. Just kidding, all you French and Canadian readers out there.)
Come on, politicians, insurance companies, HMOs, and all you rich folks out there in the U.S. Get your acts together and help us all out, whatta you say??
[tags]health care, health insurance, universal health insurance, just a guy who reads the papers[/tags]
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