OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF

Seniors

So I have to tell you the origin of the frequently asked questions. I am currently volunteering as the fitness instructor at a senior center in a very small but adequate fitness center. First let me say most are well into their 70’s with a variety of ailments but for the most part in decent shape for their age. They are funny, opinionated and passionate. Most of them are regulars at the fitness center anywhere from 3-5 days per week. Their workouts are simple, relatively short, and their conversations vary but usually follow the story of the day. Very little of their conversations are about their health or status.

This is different from what I expected and although I thought I would enjoy myself when first asked to assist the center, I believed I’d hear some complaining particularly about their health and finances. But no they rarely complain and in fact most are pleasant humorous and inquisitive. They do ask many questions, some about fitness and how to use various tools and some about me a where I came from and how long I will stay. Currently there are many of them requesting exercise balls after they observed my using it. I will be going out to purchase 6 more today which brings the total to 11. One lady told me her cat would love it. These seniors are valid vital and vigorous and I am learning some things about myself and my ability to relate.

I have never been a patient person but it is demanded here by circumstance and I actually have more patience than I ever thought. Funny how that happens and attributes are revealed by the needs of others. They move and think a little slower than they once did so conversation requires attention and listening. Also they are creatures of habit with faculties not as sharp as they once were so keeping things in the same place is another requirement. So much so that something left in the middle of the floor creates the potential for a tripping incident which for a senior could spell disaster. I have wanted to change the channel on the television especially during Wendy Williams show but I dare not as it may cause some consternation amongst the seniors. I am enjoying my experience here and will miss it when it ends.

So here are some additional questions asked by the seniors at the center:

1.      What kind of equipment do I need? I can’t afford exercise equipment?

a.      For many activities you do not need a great deal of equipment. I have used water bottles as weights, resistance bands, exercise balls and a clothes line for jump rope. If you are motivated and imaginative you will not need fancy and expensive equipment. Check with parks and local public recreation centers as they often have exercise equipment. Seniors check the senior centers as exercise is vital to maintain your health.

2.      What if I have an injury or health problem that keeps me from exercising for a while? How do I know if it’s safe for me to start again?

a.      Again this is an issue you may want to discuss with your doctor but if it is a minor injury or sprain and it is feeling better I recommend going back as soon as you are able since the longer you remain away the more difficult it becomes to return.

3.      I get tired easily. What is the best exercise for me?

a.      Your energy level should rise as you increase your physical activity. It will seem difficult initially as your body works to make the adjustment but as you add muscle you will add energy. If this feeling of fatigue persist for more than a few weeks consult your physician. It is important to understand that it will be challenging initially both physically and mentally but once you get past this barrier the benefits are enormous.

4.      I’ve been exercising for some time now. Why am I not seeing any more real improvements?

a.      The body is amazing and will get used to the level of exercise you are doing. You have to vary your routines so they challenge the body differently. This may include but is not limited to adding exercises, increasing the number of repetitions, increasing the weight, and lengthening the cardio and intensity.

5.      I am 78 years old. Should I be exercising and what difference will it make?

a.      Remaining or becoming active is a good thing at any age since it will improve your health physically, mentally and spiritually. This will keep you strong and fit and better able to function and complete daily task. There is a fitness level appropriate for anyone at any age.

6.      Do I need to add additional exercises to my walking?

a.      My recommendation is work on endurance, flexibility, strength and balance together. Being solely focused on one or the other is not going to provide you the optimum benefit and may result in injury. Each is as important to functioning as the other.

7.      Is it better to join a class or a group or do it on my own?

a.      If you have not done it on your own up to now you probably will not suddenly change. If you have and it is working well, stick with it. If you have and it is not working than join a group. I work out alone usually but when I am able to partner with someone on or above my level my workout is more intense. So it really depends on your level of motivation, knowledge and experience but I think working with another person helps.

8.      I am over weight/obese what can I do?

a.      Start with what you are able to do and increase it a little as you make progress. If you are unable to walk but can stand up than do that. The idea is to move your body as much as you are able to at the time with the intent of increasing the length and intensity over time.

9.      I am not sick nor am I overweight, isn’t that good enough?

a.      You must be eating very well in order to do that without exercise however our bodies still lose muscle mass as we advance in age. So if for no other reason than to add muscle mass you need to find an exercise program that will suit your needs.

So no matter who you are, your age, health status, or current fitness level, fitness training will help to improve the quality of your life in many ways. Whether it is group exercise which has the added benefit of decreasing the isolation of this tech crazy world or individual workouts Get Up Get Moving and remember……….

CHIT CHAT WON’T BURN FAT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

To Get You Up And Moving

1.      I am not particularly active, and I haven’t exercised in years. Is it safe for me to start now?

a.      You may want to talk with your doctor prior to starting and exercise program or significantly increase your physically activity whether for recreation or work?

If you have not been active for a long time, it’s important to start out at a low level of effort and work your way up slowly. Beginning slowly will help you become more fit without straining your body. For example, you may want to start with walking, biking, or swimming at a comfortable pace and then gradually do more or start strengthening exercises with light weights.

2.      I have a medical condition (such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s) Is it safe for me to exercise?

a.      Exercise is safe almost everyone. In fact studies show that people with arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease benefit from regular exercise and physical activity.  In most cases exercise will improve some of these conditions and reduce the impact of the symptoms. Again communicating consistently with your doctor about how your health condition may affect your ability to be active.

3.      Isn’t it better for older adults to take it easy and save their strength?

a.      Regular physical is very important to the health and abilities of older people. In fact studies show taking it easy is risky since sitting or sedentary will shorten your life expectancy. Also older adults are losing muscle if they are not doing something to increase muscle mass. In addition to chronic illness resulting from a sedentary lifestyle the loss of muscle is directly connected to loss of balance and stability while standing and walking resulting in falls and broken bones. They are also twice as likely to develop heart disease.

4.      How much physically activity do I need?

a.      The goal is to achieve a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity sustained endurance activity on most or all days of the week. Every day is best but that is not always possible for busy people so it is best to schedule time each day when you are going to take care of yourself. Plan to do all four types of exercises for endurance, balance, flexibility and strength since as we age we lose capacity in all four areas if we are not working at increasing our capacity to perform. It is recommended to do strength exercise for all of your major muscle groups at least twice per week for 30 minute sessions each but do not do strength exercises for the same muscle group 2 days in a row.

5.      How hard should I exercise?

a.      I can not tell you exactly how many pounds to lift or how fast to run to reach a moderate or vigorous level of exercise because what is easy for one may be difficult for another person. You need to match your activity to your abilities and your goals. However you do need to vary your workouts so that your body is forced to make adjustments since the body will adapt and you will plateau if you are constantly doing the same exercises.

6.      How long do I need to be active before I see results?

a.      Once you start being physically active, you will begin to see results in just a few weeks. You may feel more energetic than before. You may notice you are able to move easier and faster for longer periods of time. As you increase your fitness you will need to make your activities more challenging to see additional results.

7.      Do I get enough physical activity in my regular day to day activities?

a.      It depends since people ask the question I move around all day yet I can’t lose any weight and I still do not feel any better. Part of the reason is your activity during the day is usually not sustained activity. You move and then you sit. In addition there is no muscle building activity such as weight resistance to sustain and increase muscle strength. However daily activity that gets your body moving is always good. So do the yard work, walk the dog, mow the lawn and climb the stairs. You may want to consider weight training, or an aerobics class understanding the key is to do all four major types of exercises regularly and increase you level of effort over time.

8.      I’m healthy now. Why do I need to be active?

a.      Research shows that exercise and physical activity can maintain and even improve your health and avoid many chronic illnesses.

9.      I find it hard to motivate myself to become active. What can I do?

a.      You are most likely to get moving and keep moving if you choose activities you enjoy and you are most likely to fit make them a part of your regular schedule. Get a partner who has similar interest and motivated to improve their health as well. Form a contract with someone and set small goals and record and document your progress as you move towards the goal. Reward yourself when you reach a goal or milestone.

10.   How do I find time to become active?

a.      I recommend first thing in the morning for those who have difficulty managing their time or are less than highly motivated. For men this is a no brainer as our testosterone is highest early in the morning and we are stronger. It also eliminates the potential for the day’s activities to interfere and diminish your energy and motivation. If you do not have a minimum of 30 minutes some time is better than no time at all.

So hopefully I have answered some of your questions and concerns about exercising when you have not been doing so for some time. So take this information and Get Up Get Moving because as you know........

CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT

MOTHER'S MELONS OR NATURAL MELONS

Improve Our Health

Let’s talk about melons today folks. You may ask why and my answer is their juicy flesh is rich in vitamin C and is a great source of potassium to help regulate fluid retention. They also taste very good, whether it is watermelon, cantaloupe or my favorite honey dew. Picking a ripe melon in season and breaking it open to eat is a ritual during the spring and summer. Today we are going to take it a little further and through in some nutritional information and delicious recipe as well.

Melons consist of over 92% water which can help keep the kidneys working well. The orange varieties are a great source of beta carotene and are also high in vitamin C, although amounts vary according to variety. All melons are rich in vitamin B6 and potassium and several varieties are high in the bioflavonoid group of plant chemicals, which have anti cancer, anti heart disease, and anti-aging properties. Melons are rich in soluble fiber, while watermelon is a particularly good source of lycopene, which helps protect against prostate cancer.

1.  High potassium content helps prevent fluid retention and balances sodium in the body which may help to reduce/regulate blood pressure.

1.  Soluble fiber content helps arterial health (circulation) and can help lower blood cholesterol again impacting blood pressure and reducing strain on the heart.

1.   The Beta Carotene content of the orange varieties is one of the highest of all fruits and vegetableThe carotenes possess antioxidant properties. Vitamin A serves several biological functions including involvement in the synthesis of certain glycoproteins. Vitamin A deficiency leads to abnormal bone development, disorders of the reproductive system, xerophthalmia (a drying condition of the cornea of the eye), and ultimately death.

1. Watermelon contains citrulline an amino acid that aids blood flow to muscles helpful for exercise and sports.

One tip is to understand unlike many other fruits melons do not ripen well once picked, so choose one with a rich fragrance which indicates it is ripe. Store your melons at cool to moderate temperature.

Now for the recipe:

Prosciutto Ham with Melon and Asparagus

Ingredients:

8 oz	Asparagus
1 small	Cantaloupe
2 oz	Prosciutto ham
6 oz	Mixed salad greens
¾ cup	Raspberries
½ cup	Ground cashews
1 tbsp	Balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp	Raspberry vinegar
2 tbsp	Orange juice (fresh squeezed when possible)

 

Directions:

1.      Trim the asparagus cutting the spears in half if they are long. Cook in a tall saucepan of lightly salted boiling water over medium heat for five minutes or until tender. Drain then refresh under cold running water and drain again. Set aside

2.      Cut the melon in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut into small wedges and cut away the rind.

3.      Separate the prosciutto ham slices and cut in half. Wrap the halved slices around the melon wedges.

4.      Arrange the salad greens on a large serving platter and place the melon wedges on top, together with the asparagus spears. Sprinkle on the raspberries and ground cashews.

5.      To make the dressing, pour the vinegars and juice into a screw top jar and shake until blended. Pour over the salad serve and enjoy.

So here is a nice recipe for you to try this weekend if you are living in a zone where cantaloupe is in season and if not store this so when it is you are ready to go. It provides a balanced ph which will help to further improve your health beyond the bullets listed above. In addition it is easy to do and inexpensive. I urge you try it and let me know how you like it.

So Get Up Get Moving and remember...............



CHIT CHAT WON"T BURN FAT

GOOD FOOD CAN PRODUCE

Bad Outcomes

I am posting this as a follow up to the Blog, "It's About More than Fat and Carbohydrates", and it will provide you additional information regarding the relationship and impact of blood ph on your health. Read and learn how to balance your fuel so that it has a positive impact on your body.

(NaturalNews) The typical American diet is a deadly one, consisting primarily of toxic and acid-forming foods like processed sugars, artificial sweeteners, refined grains, conventionally produced meats and dairy, and hidden genetically modified organisms. All this, combined with a plethora of other challenging environmental factors (such as lack of rest, psychological stress, and pharmaceutical drugs), mean it's no wonder that more and more people are being diagnosed with chronic, degenerative illnesses or otherwise deadly conditions for which modern conventional medicine claims to have no known cure.

One of the basic underlying problems with this unsustainable lifestyle - and there are many - is the average consumer's lack of understanding that the body must balance the blood's pH levels at a slightly alkaline level of 7.365 in order to survive. When a person ingests food to "burn" for fuel, the digestive and metabolic process transforms it into a kind of ash which is either acidic or alkaline. The laws of modern biochemistry further explain that it is not the organic matter of foods (whether the food itself is acidic or alkaline), but their inorganic matter (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorous; that is, how they break down in our bodies), that determines either the acidity or alkalinity of this ashy residue.

For this reason, and because all foods in nature contain both acid and alkaline-forming elements according to the Conscious Living Center, balance is either achieved or thwarted as a direct result of the foods we choose to eat. Too many acid-forming foods can have dire consequences for our health, with "acidosis" being a common diagnosis in diabetics, for example. This is because when the nutrients required to maintain this slightly alkaline state cannot be obtained from food, the body will instead draw from its own stores, like the bones or other vital tissues - damaging its ability to repair itself and detoxify heavy metals, thereby making a person more vulnerable to fatigue and illness. And the margin for error is small. Even an only slightly acidic pH of 6.9 can actually lead to coma and death.

Of course, the ultimate goal is balance. Eating too many alkalizing foods can lead to its own fair share of complications over time, but the risk of this is seemingly less likely, given the current sorry state of today's highly addictive consumerist diet. To combat the effects of such a diet, here are six of the most alkaline-forming foods to work into your everyday meals:

1. Root vegetables

Due to the healing "yang" nature of these foods in traditional Chinese medicine, and their tendency to be more rich in minerals than many other vegetables, it may be safe to say that you can't get enough of them. Look for radishes especially (black, red or white), as well as beets, carrots, turnips, horseradish and rutabaga. Ready to eat after steaming for just 15-20 minutes, root vegetables will help you feel both satiated and better grounded.

2. Cruciferous vegetables

These are the veggies we all know and love, made even more delicious with just a small amount of healthy, homemade sauce like pesto. Choose from broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and the like.

3. Leafy greens

These include kale, Swiss chard, turnip greens and spinach - of which spinach may in fact be the best pick. Known especially for its rich vitamin K and folate content, spinach is also packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants and fiber, helping to improve digestion and even vision.

4. Garlic

A true miracle food, garlic appears at the top of innumerable lists of foods that encourage overall health, and alkaline-forming food is no exception. Among its other benefits are its ability to promote cardiovascular and immune health by lowering blood pressure, cleansing the liver and fighting off disease.

5. Cayenne peppers (capsicum)

As part of a family of potent, tropical peppers which contain enzymes essential to endocrine function, cayenne is among the most alkalizing foods. It is known for its antibacterial properties and is a rich supply of vitamin A, making it a helpful agent in fighting off the harmful free radicals that lead to stress and illness.

6. Lemons

Lemons may be the most alkalizing food of all. As a natural disinfectant, it can heal wounds while also providing potent and immediate relief for hyperacidity and virus-related conditions, as well as coughs, colds, flu and heartburn. Lemon also works to energize the liver and promote detoxification.

So it can't hurt to think twice about what's on your plate at your next meal, but not doing so might. Just applying that age-old motherly advice to "eat your vegetables" can be a solid first step in achieving better health.

http://www.naturalnews.com/038274_alkaline_foods_improved_health_conscious_eating.html

So as you plan your meal make a conscious effort to add balance to your diet. It is really as simple as having a baked potato with your steak since potatoes are a root vegetable thus alkaline and protein as we know raises the acidic level of our blood. Again another opportunity to improve your health without minimal effort. Paying attention so you are able to implement is the key. So Get Up Get Moving and remember...

CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT

http://www.naturalnews.com/038274_alkaline_foods_improved_health_conscious_eating.html

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Lie Together

What happened below may become the fate of the food and drug industries if they do not stop telling the lies. The same things are being done in the food industry to make their products more appealing to the consumer without the disclaimer, "this product may be dangerous to your health." Will it take a class action suit and continued judicial pressure to get them to tell the truth about what is in our food? Probably since they are making millions and the cost/benefit ratio is not potentially costly enough yet for them to repent.

Health enthusiast everywhere need to mobilize and put greater pressure on the responsible parties to cease and desist from continuing to beguile the public with the stories of greater health by buying and using their genetically altered, chemically infused, poisonous and debilitating produce. Read the article below and let's keep hope alive that one day we will get back the real food our Creator intended for us. 

FREDERIC J. FROMMER

From Associated Press

November 27, 2012 5:37 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered tobacco companies to publish

corrective statements that say they lied about the dangers of smoking and that disclose smoking's health effects, including the death on average of 1,200 people a day.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler previously had said she wanted the industry to pay for corrective statements in various types of advertisements. But Tuesday's ruling is the first time she's laid out what the statements will say.

Each corrective ad is to be prefaced by a statement that a federal court has concluded that the defendant tobacco companies "deliberately deceived the American public about the health effects of smoking." Among the required statements are that smoking kills more people than murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes and alcohol combined, and that "secondhand smoke kills over 3,000 Americans a year."

The corrective statements are part of a case the government brought in 1999 under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. Kessler ruled in that case in 2006 that the nation's largest cigarette makers concealed the dangers of smoking for decades, and said she wanted the industry to pay for "corrective statements" in various types of ads, both broadcast and print. The Justice Department proposed corrective statements, which Kessler used as the basis for some of the ones she ordered Tuesday.

Tobacco companies had urged Kessler to reject the government's proposed industry-financed corrective statements; the companies called them "forced public confessions." They also said the statements were designed to "shame and humiliate" them. They had argued for statements that include the health effects and addictive qualities of smoking.

Kessler wrote that all of the corrective statements are based on specific findings of fact made by the court.

"This court made a number of explicit findings that the tobacco companies perpetuated fraud and deceived the public regarding the addictiveness of cigarettes and nicotine," she said.

A spokesman for Altria Group Inc., owner of the nation's biggest tobacco company, Philip Morris USA, said the company was studying the court's decision and did not provide any further comment. A spokesman for Reynolds American Inc., parent company of No. 2 cigarette maker, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., said the company was reviewing the ruling and considering its next steps.

The statements Kessler chose included five categories: adverse health effects of smoking; addictiveness of smoking and nicotine; lack of significant health benefit from smoking cigarettes marked as "low tar," ''light," etc.; manipulation of cigarette design and composition to ensure optimum nicotine delivery; and adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Among the statements within those categories:

• "Smoking kills, on average, 1,200 Americans. Every day."
• "Defendant tobacco companies intentionally designed cigarettes to make them more addictive."
• "When you smoke, the nicotine actually changes the brain — that's why quitting is so hard."
• "All cigarettes cause cancer, lung disease, heart attacks and premature death — lights, low tar, ultra lights and naturals. There is no safe cigarette."
• "Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer and coronary heart disease in adults who do not smoke."
• "Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, severe asthma and reduced lung function."
• "There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke."

Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said the department was pleased with the order.

Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, called it an important ruling.

"The most critical part of the ruling is that it requires the tobacco companies to state clearly that the court found that they deceived the American public and that they are telling the truth now only because the court is ordering them to do so," Myers said in an interview. "This isn't the last word, but this is a vitally important step because this should resolve exactly what the tobacco companies are required to say."

In July, a federal appeals court rejected efforts by the tobacco companies to overrule Kessler's ruling requiring corrective statements. The companies had argued that a 2009 law that gave the Food and Drug Administration authority over the industry eliminated "any reasonable likelihood" that they would commit future RICO violations.

In her ruling Tuesday, Kessler ordered the tobacco companies and Justice Department to meet beginning next month to address how to implement the corrective statements, including whether they will be put in inserts with cigarette packs and on websites, TV and newspaper ads. Those discussions are to conclude by March.

___

AP Tobacco Writer Michael Felberbaum in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.

As with food the lies are unbelievable and the truth will set us on the path the greater health and wellness. So Get Up Get Moving and remember....

CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT

HEALTH AND WEALTH

ARE RELATED

I may be a little off the topic of health today because I have something on my mind that is burning a hole in me. I am tired of hearing about the fiscal cliff and the nonsense our legislators on both sides are spewing forth as if we are idiots. The manner in which they whimsically spew their venom is not the behavior we expect from grown men. I am not forgetting the many women that also peruse the halls of congress but they do not seem to be at the heart of the problem. My biggest issue is the term entitlements.

So far the entitlements mentioned are Social Security and Medicare primarily. What I am having a difficult time accepting is labeling these programs as entitlements. Review your paycheck and I am betting you will find coding that indicates funds were deducted from your earnings to pay for these programs. So I guess the question is, “If I am paying for a product, is it an entitlement?” Personally I would make the argument that it is not an entitlement. The word entitlement has its own negative connotations as evidenced in Romney’s remark during the election about the 47% who receive government support feel entitled to it.

Let’s examine who are the 47%. They are elderly (10.3%) and non elderly (6.9%) and may include ultra rich who pay no taxes due to loopholes.  People who Pay Payroll Tax (28.3%), this group has jobs, but are working for very low pay or part time. They pay into Social Security and Medicare through payroll withholding, but because their incomes are so low, they end up owing nothing in income taxes. Others (< 1%) These are probably self-employed individuals who are suffering business reversals. They file tax returns with the hopes of carrying backward or forward their business losses. No tax is due if you threw your money into a business that is not yet giving you a return on your investment. This information is provided by the Tax Policy Center.

So now does this sound like a bunch of lazy free loaders who are unwilling to work? I think not since the bulk of the citizens are the elderly (that have earned our support and paid for it) and the folks who work hard daily and receive very little pay and benefits for their efforts. Do we really want to add additional hardships for them to manage daily? Do we want to increase the number of men, women and children who go to bed hungry every day? Soup kitchens and public pantries are overwhelmed currently and it is a remediation to the problem not a solution. We refer to our country as the most powerful on earth. How is this so if the axiom, “you are only as strong as your weakest link,” is applied?

These are not entitlements. They are necessities for many who will not be able to live well without them. They are not entitlements because we pay for them via our taxes that so many of the ultra rich including many of our lawmakers are able to avoid via loop holes created by them for them. In my mind an entitlement is when you receive something you have not earned. And when we turn our eye towards these talking heads we see people who receive free health care and in some cases a salary for life. How about big agriculture and the huge amounts of subsidies they receive via their lobbyist and cozy relationship with the FDA. Now aren't these entitlements. I believe they are but no one is even mentioning giving anything back but they want to take back from us.

My main question is this, “Why aren't the people who created this mess being held responsible for cleaning it up?” Why aren't the ultra rich, wall street, big banks, big insurance, big industrial military complex, big realtors, and all the others that benefited while this fiscal fandango was dragging us from the black to the red being asked to pay? Why is it always the middle class and the disadvantaged who are blamed whenever there is an economic downturn and yet we are never the ones making the bad decisions or benefiting from them? Something is drastically wrong with our system and it is evident via; the vitriolic relationships amongst our legislators; their inability to make decisions that are mutually beneficial to all classes; and the fiscal cliff still dangling over our heads.

It is stressful, unnecessary and unhealthy for all of us. It is causing stress for all of us as the game is played back and forth between the two sides. Why are we taking sides when if it rains we are all going to get wet? I do not know about you but I am tired of it and speaking up and out is one avenue to get us back on track and united. Pick up a pen or use your tablet, laptop or handheld and write to your legislators and let them know how you feel. Do not sit still and just take the knife in the back. If we were able to mobilize a nation to elect Mr. Obama twice aren't we just as capable of putting enough pressure on our elected officials to stop the ridiculous and churlish demonization of those they disagree with. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable and it is the avenue to producing results through compromise and common sense.

So in the name of the health of our country I am asking you to demonstrate how you want your legislators to behave when faced with decisions that will have a major impact on everyone. Tell them to stop behaving like your toddlers and teens and get over themselves. Whether Democrat, Republican or Tea Party it is time to stop playing with my life and the lives of my family and friends. If you are like me and, no matter of your affiliation, want the juvenile antics of the posers to cease hit like and share with your friends on social media. Let’s unite and send a strong definitive message that if we go over the cliff in 2013 they will go over their own personal cliff during the midterm elections.

Do not wait to participate. Get up Get Moving and write a letter today to your legislator letting them know the behavior you expect is responsible bi partisan solutions and eliminate the posing partisanship which is why we are in this position now. Get your friends and family involved since…..

CHIT CHAT WON’T BURN FAT BUT IT MAY GET US OUT OF THIS CRAP

GET RID OF THE WEIGHT BY.......

Getting Rid of the Wheat

The evidence is apparent that our food supply is not the same as the food our parents ate just a generation ago. Obesity levels are rising unfettered with implicit and explicit implications for our society. The explicit health implications are high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, stroke and becoming non ambulatory. Have you noticed the increase in the number of motorized carts at supermarkets, malls and other large shopping areas? The implicit health outcomes such as Parkinson and Alzheimer disease are lesser known and understood but it is clear becoming non ambulatory due to weight negatively impacts brain and nervous system functioning.

Beyond our health are the economic outcomes due to rising health care cost directly attributed to our increasing weight due to the poor fuel we consume daily. "Obesity now accounts for almost 21 percent of U.S. health care costs -- more than twice the previous estimates, reports a new Cornell University study." Listed below are the current and projected health care cost for the United States and they are alarming whether you are one of the obese or not. 

Do not despair though there are some simple steps anyone can take to improve their health. Below I will post portions of an interview with Cardiologist, Dr. William Davis who contends that the wheat now produced by farmers is different than what our parents ate. He also contends that it is genetically altered in a manner that increases our appetite and makes us addicted to poor quality carbohydrates like bagels, donuts and potato chips. His patients have lost hundreds of pounds of weight by just eliminating wheat from their diet. One test demonstrated that eating one slice of whole wheat bread resulted in a sugar spike higher than when the same person ate a full sized chocolate candy bar.

William Davis, a preventive cardiologist who practices in Milwaukee, Wis., argues in his new book Wheat Belly that wheat is bad for your health—so bad that it should carry a surgeon general’s warning.

Q: You say the crux of the problem with wheat is that the stuff we eat today has been genetically altered. How is it different than the wheat our grandparents ate?

A: First of all, it looks different. If you held up a conventional wheat plant from 50 years ago against a modern, high-yield dwarf wheat plant, you would see that today’s plant is about 2½ feet shorter. It’s stockier, so it can support a much heavier seedbed, and it grows much faster. The great irony here is that the term “genetic modification” refers to the actual insertion or deletion of a gene, and that’s not what’s happened with wheat. Instead, the plant has been hybridized and crossbred to make it resistant to drought and fungi, and to vastly increase yield per acre. Agricultural geneticists have shown that wheat proteins undergo structural change with hybridization, and that the hybrid contains proteins that are found in neither parent plant. Now, it shouldn't be the case that every single new agricultural hybrid has to be checked and tested, that would be absurd. But we've created thousands of what I call Frankengrains over the past 50 years, using pretty extreme techniques, and their safety for human consumption has never been tested or even questioned.

Q: What extreme techniques are you talking about?

A: New strains have been generated using what the wheat industry proudly insists are “traditional breeding techniques,” though they involve processes like gamma irradiation and toxins such as sodium azide. The poison control people will tell you that if someone accidentally ingests sodium azide, you shouldn't try to resuscitate the person because you could die, too, giving CPR. This is a highly toxic chemical. 

(Sodium azide prevents the cells of the body from using oxygen. When this happens, the cells die.)

Q: Can’t you just get around any potential health concerns by buying products made with organically grown wheat?

A: No, because the actual wheat plant itself is the same. It’s almost as if we've put lipstick on this thing and called it organic and therefore good, when the truth is, it’s really hardly any better at all.

Q: A lot of us have switched to whole wheat products because we've been told complex carbohydrates are heart healthy and good for us. Are you saying that’s not true?

A: The research that indicates whole grains are healthy is all conducted the same way: white flour is replaced with whole wheat flour, which, no question, is better for you. But taking something bad and replacing it with something less bad is not the same as research that directly compares what happens to health and weight when you eliminate wheat altogether. There’s a presumption that consuming a whole bunch of the less bad thing must be good for you, and that’s just flawed logic. An analogy would be to say that filtered cigarettes are less bad for you than unfiltered cigarettes, and therefore, a whole bunch of filtered cigarettes is good for you. It makes no sense. But that is the rationale for increasing our consumption of whole grains, and that combined with the changes in wheat itself is a recipe for creating a lot of fat and unhealthy people.

Q: How does wheat make us fat, exactly?

A: It contains amylopectin A, which is more efficiently converted to blood sugar than just about any other carbohydrate, including table sugar. In fact, two slices of whole wheat bread increase blood sugar to a higher level than a candy bar does. And then, after about two hours, your blood sugar plunges and you get shaky, your brain feels foggy, you’re hungry. So let’s say you have an English muffin for breakfast. Two hours later you’re starving, so you have a handful of crackers, and then some potato chips, and your blood sugar rises again. That cycle of highs and lows just keeps going throughout the day, so you’re constantly feeling hungry and constantly eating. Dieticians have responded to this by advising that we graze throughout the day, which is just nonsense. If you eliminate wheat from your diet, you’re no longer hungry between meals because you've stopped that cycle. You've cut out the appetite stimulant, and consequently you lose weight very quickly. I've seen this with thousands of patients.

Q: But I’m not overweight and I exercise regularly. So why would eating whole wheat bread be bad for me?

A: You can trigger effects you don’t perceive. Small low-density lipoprotein [LDL] particles form when you’re eating lots of carbohydrates, and they are responsible for atherosclerotic plaque, which in turn triggers heart disease and stroke. So even if you’re a slender, vigorous, healthy person, you’re still triggering the formation of small LDL particles. And second, carbohydrates increase your blood sugars, which cause this process of glycation, that is, the glucose modification of proteins. If I glycate the proteins in my eyes, I get cataracts. If I glycate the cartilage of my knees and hips, I get arthritis. If I glycate small LDL, I’m more prone to atherosclerosis. So it’s a twofold effect. And if you don’t start out slender and keep eating that fair trade, organically grown whole wheat bread that sounds so healthy, you’re repeatedly triggering high blood sugars and are going to wind up with more visceral fat. This isn't just what I call the wheat belly that you can see, flopping over your belt, but the fat around your internal organs. And as visceral fat accumulates, you risk responses like diabetes and heart disease.

Q: You seem to be saying that aside from anything else, wheat is essentially the single cause of the obesity epidemic.

A: I wouldn't go so far as to say that all obesity is due to wheat. There are kids, of course, who drink Coca-Cola and sit in front of video games for many hours a day. But I’m speaking to the relatively health-minded people who think they’re doing the right thing by limiting fat consumption and eating more whole grains, and there’s a clear subset of people who are doing that and gaining weight and don’t understand why. It causes tremendous heartache. They come into my office and say, “I exercise five times a week, I've cut my fat intake, I watch portion size and eat my whole grains—but I've gone up three dress sizes.”

Q: You write that wheat is “addictive,” but does it really meet the criteria for addiction we’d use when talking about, say, drugs?

A: National Institutes of Health researchers showed that gluten-derived polypeptides can cross into the brain and bind to the brain’s opiate receptors. So you get this mild euphoria after eating a product made with whole wheat. You can block that effect [in lab animals] by administering the drug naloxone. This is the same drug that you’re given if you’re a heroin addict; it’s an opiate blocker. About three months ago, a drug company applied to the FDA to commercialize naltrexone, which is an oral equivalent to naloxone. And it works, apparently, it blocks the pleasurable feelings you get from eating wheat so people stop eating so much. In clinical trials, people lost about 22.4 lb. in the first six months. Why, if you’re not a drug addict, do you need something like that? And of course there’s another option, which is to cut wheat out of your diet. However, and this is another argument for classifying wheat as addictive, people can experience some pretty unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Q: For how long?

A: Generally about five days. And once you’re through withdrawal, your cravings subside, your calorie intake decreases and your alertness and overall health improve.

Q: So do you believe food manufacturers are putting wheat into more and more food products, not just bread and crackers, because it’s addictive and stimulates appetite?

A: These are not stupid people. The research showing that wheat stimulates appetite didn't come from some little alternative health practitioner. It comes from the NIH. It stretches credibility to believe they have no awareness of the evidence.

Q: If there’s all this evidence, why does the government encourage us to “eat healthy” by upping our consumption of whole grains?

A: That’s the million-dollar question. Wheat is so linked to human habit, it’s 20 per cent of all calories consumed by humans worldwide, that I think there was the presumption, “Gee, humans have consumed this for thousands of years, so what’s the problem?” I don’t think the misguided advice to eat more whole grains came from evil intentions.

Q: Wheat is a huge industry. What do you say to all the farmers who grow it?

A: To me, it’s reminiscent of tobacco farmers, who would say, “Look, I’m just trying to make a living and feed my family.” Nevertheless, tobacco is incredibly harmful and kills people. It could turn out that if we wind back the clock 100 or 1,000 years, and resurrect einkorn or some of the heritage forms of wheat, maybe that would be a solution. Of course, wheat products would then be much more expensive. Instead of a $4 loaf of bread, maybe it would cost $7 when grown with a heritage wheat. To me, it’s similar to free range eggs or organic beef 20 years ago. Everyone said, “No one will pay a premium for those.” But people do. And when it comes to wheat, my main goal is to inform people, including farmers, that the prevailing notion that cutting fat and eating whole grains will make you healthy is not only wrong, it’s destructive.

 Are you reducing your food consumption, exercising and basically living a healthier life yet you are gaining weight? If so eliminating the wheat from your diet may be an avenue you want to explore. Eliminate the wheat and eliminate the frustration of working so hard and not getting the results you want. I use very few wheat products and I have noticed that I am not as hungry and I am eating less frequently. My reason for eliminating wheat from my diet has more to do with the fact that many products made with wheat also contain milk products and really upset my stomach. Since I eliminated wheat and milk I have noticed that the process of digestion and elimination is smoother. 

Give it a try and see if it works for you. If it does spread the word to your friends and family and let them know you heard it here first. So Get Up Get Moving and Get Rid of the Wheat and remember,

CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT