Amazon (my favorite site to spend money on) just sent me a notice that Alli is on sale all this month!
Click Here to take advantage of this offer.
-Drew
Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
Alli On Sale At Amazon
Monday, January 12th, 2009Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers – Ziti & Meat Sauce
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009I’ve long been one to shy away from food manufacturer’s attempts to take something that I remember as being awesome and making it healthy (which probably explains my expansive waistline). Recently Healthy Choice has been advertising a new product known as Fresh Mixers, this is the tale of my experience with the Ziti and Meat Sauce variety.
Health experts have long held a theory that the ritual of eating is almost as important as what you eat when it comes to controlling weight. A healthy eating ritual, for example would consist of preparing a meal, sitting down at the table to eat, and then going on to the next part of your day. In America many times our eating ritual is similar to: Grab fast food, eat it while [watching tv/surfing the web/working] etc, Healthy Choice’s new Fresh Mixer puts the cooking back into corporate lunch, or even a quick dinner.
The idea is simple you cook the pasta yourself, strain the pasta yourself, apply the sauce yourself and (hopefully) eat it, yourself. Compared to other Healthy Choice products which include “put tray in microwave for 2 minutes” this makes you feel like a real chef. The packaging is unique and includes everything (except for water) you need to cook your meal including a strainer, a bowl for the pasta, a bowl for the sauce and very easy instructions.
Preparing the meal is trivial, you simply remove the label on the straining lid, remove the lid, add water, put the lid back on and microwave for 3 minutes. Then you microwave the sauce for 30 seconds and combine the two in the bowl. No Muss, No Fuss.
For being a pre-packaged product I must say that the taste and texture of both the sauce and the pasta impressed me very much. The pasta was not watery and the meat sauce had (surprise) actual meat in it. The meat sauce also didn’t taste like watered down Ragu like so many other quick heat and eat meals provide. At 7 ounces coming in at just 340 calories and 6 grams of fat, this is a great lunch or main entree for any healthy dinner.
All in all the product is easy to cook, healthy, filling, and hard to resist. I would highly recommend the Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers Ziti & Meat Sauce. The best news is that it doesn’t set off the Alli atom-bomb.
Note: Most supermarkets only carry single containers of this, you can use the link below to order a 6 pack from Amazon for a little more than $20
-Drew
Heart Rate Monitors 30% off at Amazon.com
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009Amazon sent me a notice today that some of their most popular Heart Rate Monitors are on sale for up to 30% off. This is a great time to get this required piece of equipment for anyone trying to lose weight or just get a little more healthy.
Heart Rate Monitors 30% off at Amazon.com
-Drew
True Beauty is truly beastly.
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009ABC’s show True Beauty poses the question: Can someone who is [supposedly] beautiful on the outside, be beautiful on the inside as well? Normally I wouldn’t watch something as completely silly as this but on a Monday night at 10PM what else are you going to do? The premise of the show is simple, take about a dozen people (who think they’re hot) and put them into ridiculous situations which would anger anyone, and see if they get angry. The idea is, if someone isn’t courteous, polite, patient, or intelligent enough, they aren’t a “True Beauty” but is that true?
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, just because a woman has a perfectly symmetrical face (or lack thereof, depending on the circumstances) doesn’t mean that they are any more or less beautiful than the next woman. The folks from True Beauty were treated to a day at a SPA (which was basically a plastic surgeon’s office) where he claimed that he could scientifically assign them a beauty score between 1 – 100. The beauty score routine was basically a ploy to make the contestants feel bad about themselves so America could get a kick out of it. You know, bring them down a notch.
Before I go any further I would like to indicate that I personally believe the “doctor” that was on the show is a complete wack-job and that his scientific method is no more than his own opinion. The other problems I have with this show is, are they trying to say people who don’t have perfect bodies always have to be nice? and how exactly are they defining inner beauty? The three judges don’t look like they would know inner beauty if it came up and dropped a Xenical bomb in their laps.
A couple of scenes involving one of the male contestants “C.J.” seemed intent on trying to add a sense of realism to the surreal by having him expose (early on, no less) that he used to be the “fat kid”. “C.J.” also seems to have the biggest problem believing that the quack doctor can “scientifically” measure beauty but the “judges” were quick to silence one of the most interesting parts of the show.
The good news, friends is that 10 PM on a Monday night is just about the most buried time slot on TV, if ABC thought they had a hit on their hands True Beauty would’ve been ran at either 8 or 9 PM in the middle of the week. Also, don’t forget The Biggest Loser: Couples starts tonight on NBC.
-Drew
Seriously, no more excuses.
Monday, January 5th, 2009We (That is, people who struggle with their weight) know of a magical time of year where it seems almost pointless to watch what we eat, this time is known as the holidays. During the “holiday season” (November – January), it is estimated on average that Americans consume an extra 600 calories a day or more than they normally would. That extra 1LB per week can be a disaster to anyone who is trying to lose weight at a normal pace.
We all know how it starts, a few weeks before thanksgiving your resolve wanes. You console yourself with thoughts such as “Well, it’s the holidays, everyone does it” and before you know it you’re back to your old habit of eating P.F. Chang’s 3 times a week. (Okay, that is my old habit.) Then after Thanksgiving the “Well Christmas is right around the corner” attitude kicks in, and all the holiday cookies, drinks, and desserts settle firmly around your waist. Once Christmas is over comes the biggest party of the year, new years eve! Binge drinking and binge eating are the norm here so why not indulge! This cycle can be devastating to your healthy lifestyle (and body).
The good news is that unless you consider Super Bowl Sunday a holiday, the next “Holiday” in which food could be a factor is Valentine’s Day. It is alright to go out to dinner to celebrate with that special someone but try to avoid the gargantuan box of Lindt’s truffles that they just gave you (if possible..) After Valentine’s Day we have St. Patrick’s Day which is pretty much guaranteed to pack on some extra alcohol related calories, then comes Easter dinner, after that we are well into summer before memorial day bbq, the 4th of July bbq, and labor day (bbq) hit (thankfully cookouts usually provide some healthy alternatives, there is nothing wrong with some grilled chicken), then we are back to the ‘pre-holiday season’ again.
So, keep in mind that we as American’s have made up countless reasons to get together and stuff our faces over the years and that using the celebration excuse is just setting yourself up to fail. Besides in America eating is a social event unlike in other countries where people simply eat as a means to sustain their body.
-Drew
Is society accepting obesity really good for us?
Friday, January 2nd, 2009Keep in mind, I am on your side. I am obese and I absolutely hate the fact that I cannot fit comfortably onto an airplane, I cannot buy clothes in my favorite stores, and that people just pre-assume things about me which (may or may not be) true. Recently, I have begun thinking about all of the things we can do now to make ourselves more comfortable (as big folks) and have wondered if its really in our best interest to do so.
You and your girlfriend getting a little uncomfortable on a queen bed? Upgrade to a king! Can’t buy clothes you like in a store because they don’t stock your size? Buy them online! Can’t stop drinking regular soda? Introduce a junk food tax! A little too big to fit in that airline seat? Upgrade to coach “plus”! Don’t like going to “regular bars” because everyone there is a snooty bitch and thinks you’re fat? Go to a plus size club!
The list goes on and on, the number of “patches” keeps getting larger and larger but nobody is really tackling the core issue which is: People continue to become obese, stay obese, and die obese at an alarming level. It’s scary really, but consider what the world would be like if we treated everyone with a social stigma (and lets face it, being overweight obese is a social stigma) like we treat obesity for a moment.
We would have a Racism superstore at your local mall, a Heroine and Cocaine mart on every corner, and a Furries-R-Us playground in every park. Okay, so I am maybe exaggerating a little bit, but lets face it making it more comfortable and easier than ever to kill yourself just doesn’t seem like a good policy.
If when you got on a plane the seat in front of you didn’t crush your legs would you be as inclined to try to lose weight than if it was as comfortable as your favorite chair? (Be honest.) If being overweight suddenly became the “in” thing to do because everyone in Hollywood started doing it would it make you feel better that your life expectancy and quality of life was going to be substantially lower?
Like I said at the beginning of this post, I am in the same boat as you but recently I am just sick to death with ‘creative solutions’ for fat people. Don’t incentivize people to stay big, help them get healthy and stay healthy while loving themselves at the same time. I’m sure there is profit in that somewhere (Drug companies!)
Toprimate (Topamax) and Addiction
Friday, January 2nd, 2009Recently a study performed by the University of Virginia found that the drug Toprimate (Topamax) could be successful in treating alcohol addiction. In the past, other studies have shown that Topamax has had somewhat mixed results when used to battle obesity. Why would a drug which helps alcoholics stay sober only help some people lose weight?
It is well known that doctors have been prescribing drugs for off-label uses for years, but the number of off-label uses for Topamax is staggering. Although its FDA approved purpose is to treat migrane headaches and seizure disorders; Topamax has been used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia, smoking cessation, and other neurological disorders for years.
If Toprimate helps people stop drinking, quit smoking, and in some cases lose weight it seems to me that there would be a link between the action of addiction and Toprimate. Perhaps the reason the drug makes some people lose weight, while others do not notice an effect is because it only helps compulsive/binge eaters or people with food addictions.
Not that anyone didn’t already know this, but a study was recently published by Princeton that indicated that sugar had the same effect on the brain as a drug similar to heroin or cocaine. If this is the case the next logical step would be to classify “Sugar Addiction [Fructism, anyone?]” as a disease the same as Alcoholism and then work on treatments for folks effected by this.
I would imagine that a great percentage of obese people are addicted to food and aren’t really aware of it. Personally, I am aware of my own addiction and struggle with it constantly but I was 25 before I even knew binge eating disorder/food addiction was something that existed.
Anecdotally, I had a great deal of success with a combination of Toprimate/Topamax and Xenical (prescription Alli) lost a great deal of weight on it. Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor and that this article is not intended to be used as a replacement for advice from a trained medical professional.
-Drew
Be your own personal trainer (and save money!)
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008During the summer I decided I was going to get into shape and lose weight (like I always do). So, I joined a fancy gym (Lifetime Fitness $69/month), I even got a fancy personal trainer 12x/month ($828) for a total of $897 a month. Almost $900 a month (for 3 months) for a total of $2,700. I will show you everything you need to burn more calories and less money and use some of the $2,500 education I received along the way to help you.
First, let me start by saying that there is nothing inherently wrong with most personal trainers or mega gyms like Lifetime Fitness. It is just that there is really no magic or special sauce involved in what they do there. They just tell you what you already know (in your brain, and what you need to do) which is simply to burn more calories than you take in.
That being said, everyone has different caloric needs based on age, activity level, and medical status; and those needs change over time. Lifetime fitness offers two tests (and they aren’t shy about trying to sell them to you) which will attempt to determine what your caloric needs are so that you can create a deficit (or the amount of calories you need to cut, per day, to meet your goal).
Arguments for the gym:
For many people, the gym is an escape, getting away from their children or their pets 2-4 times a week to that place where they sweat and become pure energy is a great stress release for them. They are there to work out and there are less distractions, although i have seen people work out for 10 minutes and then stop and talk for a half hour and then leave.
Space, although with the exception of the treadmill most of the things I mention below will fit in most walk in closets, many folks just don’t have the space for their own work-out area in their homes.
Up front cost vs. Monthly recurring costs $69/month isn’t exactly inexpensive especially in this economy. Things like the gym are most likely to be the first to get cut when hard times land on “main st.” (as the media likes to call it).
Gyms often times offer structured activities such as kickboxing, aerobics, spinning, etc.
What can I do at my house, then?
A mix of cardio (Walking, Step-ups), balance ball, stability, and strength training can be used to deliver a killer workout from the comfort of your own home.
Lets take a look at what we will need (I’m listing optimal first, then less optimal option second, then some optional equipment third):
Exercise / Balance Ball:
Don’t let their playground demeanor fool you, these balls are all business. The sheer amount of muscle twisting fun which can be had on one or two (multiple sizes) of these balls make them a must for any home gym.
Workout Mat / Carpet / Floor:
Planks, Sit-Ups, Ball Lifts, and other torturous things you do on your back are bad enough. Why lay on the floor when there are cushy mats available? (especially if you have back problems, etc)
A Treadmill / Sidewalk or other surface suitable for walking quickly:
Walking is good, honest! People have been doing it for years, nothing bad has ever come from walking (I bet YouTube has some examples but that is neither here nor there at this point). A treadmill is a nice addition to any home work-out space due to the varying speeds, the ability to work out when its freezing outside, the flexibility to use it to do slant pushups/step-ups and other activities. Its also nice to be able to work out wearing whatever you want. Sometimes the gym can feel like the high school cafeteria again, but without all of the yummy french bread pizza.
Step Up Boxes/Stairs:
Step up boxes offer varying degrees of punishment based on the height of the box. Step-ups are one of the best (or worst) things you can do to/for yourself. Remember to step down with the same leg you stepped up with and not to zone out! (yikes!) If you get real good at stepping up frontwards, try doing it side to side quickly while holding something over your head. You can move up to the larger hop boxes once you get good at the small ones for a better workout (just be sure to secure it somehow).
A Heart Rate Monitor / The ability to take your own pulse while working out:
A heart rate monitor is probably the single most important piece of equipment to have in any home gym. The good news is they’re also pretty inexpensive. You can “fake” everything else (except for perhaps a balance ball). To be able to look at your heart rate monitor and see those calories ticking away is a huge motivating factor. They also track and store your workouts so that you can download the data into your computer (if you’re the spreadsheet type). You can also program most of them to keep your heart rate zones and alert you when you are out of your zones or have been in a zone too long.
Adjustable weights/resistance gear
Recently, a new trend in weights has become popular, that is you get one weight which can be adjusted to virtually any weight. The reason this is so awesome is because it saves a tremendous amount of space.
Resistance Bands
Optional Equipment
A weight bench:
A standard weight bench can be handy for strength training while I wouldn’t say it is required. Again, I would check around at used sporting good stores for the best prices for these items.
Music Player:
Nothing passes the time during a workout better than your favorite music. Fortunately, since you are your own personal trainer you can use your favorite music player to rock out while you work out. With all the money you’re saving why not splurge a little?
Even if you were to purchase one of everything in this list, including the treadmill, you still wouldn’t beat my total of $2,500 for 3 months of ‘eat less and work out harder’ advice from a personal trainer. Sure, if all you are doing is paying the $69.99 for the gym membership than dedicating a small amount of space for a gym might not seem worth it but it is something to consider, especially if your gym, like mine is in the middle of the busiest mall in your city!
-Drew