Programmed to be Fat?

If you get a chance you might want to watch this program from The Nature of Things with David Suzuki.  It was on TV this week however I now posted on line and I think it is a MUST watch for everyone.  Here is the link to the program:

 Programmed to be Fat

Part of the BETA fitness program is aimed at reducing the amount of fat in our body since it has a negative impact and increases the chances of breast cancer and other cancers as well a number of other diseases including diabetes.

How many times have we all lost a bit of weight only to find it creeping back on?   Perhaps this program explains what is going on and why there is an epidemic of obesity in many countries today and is getting worse every year.

Take a look at the weight loss companies.  People return time and time again.  Of course it is good for business however it really is a losing battle to lose weight it seems.  I’m not saying that we shouldn’t try to lose weight however don’t be disappointed if you have a relapse.

Being overweight in society has a stigma attached to it.  People view the overweight and obese as unsuccessful and unmotivated.  They also feel that the overweight don’t exercise.  I know everyone in BETA fitness program has exercised their hearts out for a year or almost a year and yet very few of us have lost a significant amount of weight.  Some have lost a bit of weight and some none.    For me and I know for others as well it is a bit disappointing that we haven’t lost much weight and it is hard to believe that we have a high level of fitness when our body don’t show it.  If body fat is so detrimental to our health then how do you win this battle?

Perhaps all of these studies on the chemicals in our environment will find a clue how to stop this war of fat.  The chemicals seem to be everywhere and there is little we can do to avoid them but try to eat healthy but it seems that may not even be enough if you were already exposed to these chemicals before birth.  We probably all were exposed to at least cigarette smoke if not be our mothers smoking, then by second hand smoke from our fathers or our relatives smoking.  From what they say the damage is done and it is impossible to turn back the clock.

This article is certainly a wake up call and if it was just one study then perhaps we could dismiss the information as an isolated study and has little credence however it seems that it is not an isolated study and confirms that the chemical contamination of our bodies is far more reaching then we have  expected and is alarming to say the least.  Think of what it it doing to the bodies of infants and little children?

I am at a loss to think what we should or shouldn’t use, eat or do any more and can only hope that it is not to late for our grandchildren and that perhaps there is a way to insulate our bodies from these harmful chemicals.

The effects of heat on weight

If heat makes things expand then I don't have a weight probem - I'm just HOT!  Get me a fan!

Twas the month after Christmas

Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste
At holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remembered the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,
The punch and the candy, the bread and the cheese
And the way I'd not said, "No Thank You, Please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt---
I said to myself, as I only can "you can't spend a winter disguised as a man"
So--- away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
"Till all the additional ounces has vanished.
I won't have a cookie--- not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore---
But isn't it that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a Good Diet!

unknown

Get paid to exercise!

Haven't you always wanted to get paid to something you should already be doing?  Isn't this why we all really joined the BETA research project so that we could be motivated by getting something for ourselves?  Nature of humans is to put themselves first and then others.  My first thought on joining this program was WOW I get a free gym membership for a year!

Today I found an interesting concept and it is about getting paid to exercise.  It is a new program that is available for iPhones!  The concept is that you set your own goals for how many days a week you will exercise at a gym and then check in every time you go to the gym with your iPhone.  The catch is if you miss a workout then you have to pay $5.00!  Yup - don't we all hate to lose money?  So how do you get paid?  At the end of each week they calculate how much people paid who did not attend their workouts and then divide it up amount the people to made their weekly commitment and then payout to those people.  What could be easier!  Maybe this could pay for a small portion of your gym membership.

I haven't downloaded the app yet however I will be checking it out to see how it works.  I like the idea of keeping you motivated by a reward.  Reward is better than punishment and it is a proven theory that we are work harder to achieve your goals when there is a reward that we are working towards.

I'll get back to you on how this all works once I have downloaded the app but for now if you want to check it out here is where you can find the info  Get Paid to Exercise

I guess you are also wondering where I am in my program and how many weeks I have left.  I am sad to say that my commitment to the BETA program will be done on Feb 10th - that's 5 weeks from today!  To me it seems like this program has gone way to fast and I would really like to continue however my 52 weeks will be up and the only thing outstanding is my final testing and results.

Looking back I have only missed one or two workouts since I started the program and it was because I was sick.  I guess the reward concept paid off and now I need to continue so that I can keep up the level of fitness that I have achieved.  Over the past two weeks the trainers were on vacation and we were on our own to meet our commitment and I can say that I have not missed one workout. 

I think I might be in the groove now with exercise however I need to be accountable to make sure that I continue to keep this up.  You say, isn't a good fitness level and probably better health enough to keep you motivated?  I guess not or I wouldn't have been in the bad fitness shape I was in before I started this program so yes for me I need to have motivation that is more tangible.  I am a goal oriented person and need the "carrot" to keep me motivated!  What about you?

During the Christmas break I visited a number of gyms in the SE to decide on which gym I might like to join when it is time.  In my next post I will provide some feedback on the gyms I attended and what my thoughts were on how they fit my needs.