Can’t Control Junk Food?
June 21, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss, Weight Loss Articles and News
FRIDAY, May 1 (HealthDay News) — Two areas of the brain work together to give some people the self-control to reject unhealthy foods, a new study has found.
California Institute of Technology researchers used MRI to scan the brains of volunteers as they looked at photos of dozens of types of foods and decided which ones they’d like to eat. They found significant differences in the brain activity between people who had self-control in terms of making food choices and those with no self-control.
Previous research has shown that an area of the brain called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is involved in all value-based decisions. When vmPFC activity decreases, a person will probably reject an item, whereas increased activity means they’ll probably choose it.
The new study found that in people with no self-control, the vmPFC seemed to take into consideration only the taste of a food.
“In the case of good self-controllers, however, another area of the brain — called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) — becomes active and modulates the basic value signals so that the self-controllers can also incorporate health considerations into their decisions,” principal investigator Antonio Rangel, an associate professor of economics, said in a CalTech news release.
The researchers noted that the vmPFC is active during every decision and that the DLPFC is more active when a person is using self-control.
“This, ultimately, is one reason why self-controllers can make better choices,” Rangel said.
The study appears in the May 1 issue of Science.
Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_83698.html
Weight Loss Information From Around The Web
June 1, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss Articles and News
Here is some weight loss information gathered from around the web. I am hoping to make this into a weekly post to bring you relavent news and information about weight loss. I’ll present each post with a small snippet from the article.
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1189956/Why-crash-dieting-DOES-work-Surprise-evidence-suggests-best-way-slim.html“Here’s a sobering thought: beach weather is nearly here, and the diet you’ve been meaning to embark on since January remains in the planning phases.
You really don’t want to expose those extra pounds to the world, but you do want to put on your swimsuit and feel OK about it. A crash diet seems to be your only option, but aren’t crash diets unhealthy – not to mention ineffective – after the first week? Not if you approach them correctly.
Despite what many nutritionists have preached for years, low-calorie diets can be healthy if you do them right, and can work wonders on pounds and inches in just a few weeks.”
- http://www.canada.com/health/Weight+loss+lifestyle/1628412/story.html
“Losing weight is all about choices, whether it’s food choices or lifestyle choices,” says Rick Sgabellone, an Ottawa father of two who has struggled for years to keep his weight under control.
-
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151985.php
The twin epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes will continue to fuel an explosion in heart failure, already the world’s most prevalent chronic cardiovascular disease, according to John McMurray, professor of cardiology at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and President of the Heart Failure Association. He reported that around one-third of patients with heart failure have evidence of diabetes, and for them the outlook is very serious. For doctors, he added, effective treatment is “very difficult”.
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
Is Playing Sports Better Than Exercise?
May 28, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Exercise, Weight Loss
So what is wrong with this question – “Is Playing Sports Better Than Exercise?” – if you are paying attention you would probably figure out that they are one in the same! When you play sports, you are getting exercise. But it really is a trick question, because the word exercise is taken out of context – think of the question as “should I play sports to get exercise, or should I go to the gym for exercise” – really two different things.
So which is better? Sports or the gym?
I have gone to the gym, and failed miserably. I am not as regimented in that respect. Though going to the gym you have the advantage of a personal trainer or at least someone to speak to to ensure that your workouts are accomplishing your fitness goals I’ve always found the gym boring and sometimes embaressing. Where I used to live, I went to a gym on a fairly regularly – but it was full of muscular and thin men and women. I felt out of place being a big guy. In fact, I never saw big people at the gym.
Eventually I stopped going.
Over the last year, I’ve started playing more sports and going outdoors instead. Partly to aid with weight loss and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and also because my son who is now 6-years old has so much energy that we have to get him outside to burn it off.
I enjoy going outside more because I don’t have anyone watching me. I can exercise at my own pace, and I have fun doing it.
I find that you get more of a rush when you’re outdoors enjoying the good weather and tossing in some exercise — it does not feel like exercise. Going to the gym felt like work and it was boring, unless I could find someone to come with me — which was always easier said than done.
The verdict? It is really up to you. Either way you are getting a chance to work out your body, one is more regimented and does require a certain amount of will power but the other allows you to exercise on your own terms.
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
Personal Hygiene For Men
May 26, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Clothing, Personal Hygiene, Weight Loss
Over the next few days/weeks I’ll be presenting a set of posts on personal hygiene for men – really, it’s meant for overweight men – but the topics covered will be of interest to others as well.
Being a big guy – big men are often judged on how they are dressed (and if you are in a long line up) how good (or bad) you smell and your general appearance.
Guys – appearance counts to everyone: your family, friends, the public, your employer, your co-workers – no matter what, people judge everyone by the way they look (whether they are the right weight, overweight or underweight).
Hygiene is not just about smell – it’s about personal grooming as well, things like getting regular haircuts, if you wear a beard ensure it’s trimmed nicely, making sure your fingernails are clean and cut (and yes, if so required going for a manicure), using an anti-perspirant (most have deoderants included), wearing colognes (evening) or using aftershave (during the day), taking care of your teeth (regular dental appointments, brushing, flossing).
It’s also about washing your clothes regularly, changing under clothes often (a couple of times per day if so required) or even changing a shirt twice per day. It can even include removing excessive hair on your body (under your arms and groin — don’t make faces! If you’re an excessive sweater, and have seen a doctor they will ALSO give you that advice).
Guys – it’s the COMPLETE package! This is not only to make you look good regardless of your size, but so that you look attractive to the opposite (or same sex, depending on how you swing), and when you’re at work you’re not looked at as the “big guy” – but as part of the crowd because you do take care of yourself.
You may be thinking that this is “girly” – after all most women can easily spend hours on personal grooming (women reading this – no I’m not stereotyping you, and actually admire women who do take the time to ensure that they look good).
So stick with me over the next few days, and weeks and you’ll be treated with some practical advice on staying fresh, and looking good!
Mohamed
Eat Food – Lose Weight!
May 26, 2009 by Mohamed
Filed under Weight Loss
When I first started dieting – years, and years ago, I thought that the best way to lose weight was to starve yourself. So I’d skip meals – breakfast, maybe lunch but then would really sabotage myself as dinner would be HUGE and since it was such a large meal, I’d feel tired after eating and rather than exercise I would plop down on the couch and sleep or watch TV.
This went on for years, until I tried some other programs – which succeeded in helping me loose weight – but I promptly put the weight back on after I left the program.
Then FINALLY my doctor said “do or die” and I made complete lifestyle changes. No diets!
I started eating regular meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I snacked, and snacked, and snacked until I was so full that I couldn’t eat anymore! Snacks consisted of crackers and cheese, carrots, cucumber, fruits like strawberries, melons, kiwi, oranges, apples and grapes. But I didn’t limit myself to the same boring stuff day after day. I’d try mixing it up and adding stuff like bran buds or yogourt. I’d also have cereal as a snack.
Variety is what really helped me lose 100lbs in one year. And now that I am back to a variety of foods, I’ve lost about 15lbs in around 4 months. Not to shabby!
On top of eating less food, more often I also started drinking a lot more water. I found the water more refreshing that having a soda pop. In fact there were times when I would be craving a soda and may give into that craving only to find that I still had that craving. I drank some water, and found that the craving was not for soda, but for water or rather something cold and refreshing.
The soda pop just slows you down – makes you sluggish; but the water is really refreshing! Even now, I tend to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day.
Regular meals, that are part of a lifestyle change will do more than any fad diet will ever do. Although I always hated it, I did count calories. For example, a donut and coffee for breakfast? Probably about 600 calories. How about cereal with milk, fruit and tea? Probably around the same BUT I’ll feel full longer!
I had three main meals, then would snack between meals. I found that this was the best way to keep me on track.
Here is to your health!
Mohamed
