Biggest Loser? The biggest lie to obese and overweight dieters!

As we embark on the diet season and everyone is formulation their "New Year resolutions" I would like for you to open your eyes to the reality of weight loss. Please read the following article and make note of my rantings (throughout!)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/business/media/25loser.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

LOS ANGELES — When more than 40 former contestants from “The Biggest Loser” gather Wednesday for a reunion television special, the winner of the program’s first season, Ryan C. Benson, who lost 122 of his 330-pound starting weight, will be absent. Mr. Benson is now back above 300 pounds but he thinks he has been shunned by the show because he publicly admitted that he dropped some of the weight by fasting and dehydrating himself to the point that he was urinating blood. (he won? despite Jillian saying people would be disqualified IF they dehydrated or ill?)

Now in its eighth season, “The Biggest Loser” is one of NBC’s most-watched prime-time programs besides football, drawing an estimated 10 million viewers each week, according to Nielsen. It has clearly tapped into the American obsession with losing weight, as more than 200,000 people a year submit audition videotapes or attend open casting calls for the program. (imagine, there are over 20 MILLION people who could qualify to be ON the show!!---2 MILLION weighing OVER 500 lbs!!)

It also has spawned a licensed merchandise business that will generate an estimated $100 million this year. (helloooo....add to that Jillian's worthless supplements?!)

The series also highlights the difference between the pursuit of engaging television and the sometimes frenzied efforts of contestants to win, perhaps at the risk of their own health. Doctors, nutritionists and physiologists not affiliated with “The Biggest Loser” express doubt about the program’s regimen of severe caloric restriction and up to six hours a day of strenuous exercise, which cause contestants to sometimes lose more than 15 pounds a week. (That's so ridiculous I don't even know what to say, I lost 2 lbs a week, consistently over 15 months--added up to 130 pounds and I have kept mine OFF for 14 years. Mr. Benson, which would you prefer if you could have a 'do over'?  http://www.examiner.com/ExaminerSlideshow.html?entryid=785895&slide=3  )

benson "after" BL win    Benson today

I will ask YOU, did the BL program do him ANY good (other than $250 in the bank?)

At least one other contestant has confessed to using dangerous weight-loss techniques, including self-induced dehydration. On the first episode of the current season, two contestants were sent to the hospital, one by airlift after collapsing from heat stroke during a one-mile race. (what idiot would make an obese person run a mile if not for ratings?!)

New contestants are entering the show more out of shape. Each of the last two seasons has broken the record for the heaviest contestant ever, at 454 and 476 pounds.

Medical professionals generally advise against losing more than about two pounds a week. Rapid weight loss can cause many medical problems, including a weakening of the heart muscle, irregular heartbeat and dangerous reductions in potassium and electrolytes. (but BL contestants lose 7 times that amount!! gee, that can't be healthy?)

“I’m waiting for the first person to have a heart attack,” said Dr. Charles Burant, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Health System director of the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center. (personally, I think that is why EVERYONE watches--waiting for the train wreck and cheering the one who survives it!)

“I have had some patients who want to do the same thing, and I counsel them against it,” Dr. Burant said. “I think the show is so exploitative. They are taking poor people who have severe weight problems whose real focus is trying to win the quarter-million dollars.”  (if every overweight person got to a healthful weight, I am willing to bet they could earn more money than they do obese/overweight, save money on health related expenses, extra plane seats, etc!! You don't have to be the winner of BL to realize an economic gain by losing weight)

Dr. Rob Huizenga, the medical consultant to “The Biggest Loser” and an associate clinical professor of medicine at U.C.L.A., said that the program was safe. “This is not only a major amount of weight loss, it is a totally different kind of weight loss compared with surgery or starvation diets,” he said.

In interviews, the show’s trainers and producers acknowledge that unsafe practices can occur.

“If we had it to do over, we wouldn’t do it,” Dr. Huizenga said of the recent one-mile race that resulted in hospitalizations. “It was an unexpected complication and we’re going to do better,” he said, adding that “that challenge has changed a lot of the way we do things,” including more closely monitoring contestants’ body temperatures during exercise. (dude, you're an MD, it shouldn't have taken someone almost dying for you to realize making obese people run for a mile in the heat wasn't a good idea! or maybe you are like my MD sister, totally book smart, off the chart intelligence but totally devoid of common sense? sorry sis, but you know I would say that to your face and you would agree!!)

JD Roth, an executive producer of the series who created its current format, said that while the show was extreme, “it needs to be extreme in my opinion.”

“For some of these people this is their last chance,” he said. “And in a country right now that is wrestling with health care issues and the billions of dollars that are spent on obesity issues per year, in a way what a public service to have a show that inspires people to be healthier.” (I do agree with JD's thought, but we can be extreme by giving up our unhealthy lifestyles, embracing health and being consistent over months and years rather than trying to lose a ridiculous 15 pounds a week! Death is extreme and it is just a matter of time until a Biggest Loser contestant becomes the Deadest Loser!)

Some contestants have claimed that dangerous weight loss techniques were common among contestants. Kai Hibbard, who lost 118 pounds and finished as the runner-up in Season 3, has written on her MySpace blog and elsewhere that she and other contestants would drink as little water as possible in the 24 hours before a weigh-in. When the cameras were off, she said, contestants would work out in as much clothing as possible. (um, maybe I am pointing out the obvious, but anoxerics do a lot of these same actions. I beleive it was Mehmet Oz who told me when I interviewd him that being underweight can be more unhealthy than overweight--hope BL isn't creating a generation of anorexic behaviors!)

Ms. Hibbard, who weighed 144 pounds at the show’s finale, wrote that she added 31 pounds in two weeks, most of it simply by drinking water. That experience is not isolated. Including Mr. Benson, the winners of the first four seasons of the show each have added at least 20 percent to their weight at the end of the show. (good lord! 31 pounds in 2 weeks? That's what some women gain in 9 months of pregnancy! I can't imagine being 31 pounds short on water, given that our body is made up of 75% water is a good thing!)

Jillian Michaels, one of the two trainers who supervise contestants’ workouts on the series, said the experience of Ms. Hibbard and Mr. Benson was evidence of “the dark side of the show.” (and evidence of the dark side of Ms. Michael's ethics to stand by and allow it to happen to someone who she has been entrusted to help! But then again, she isn't an MD and wasn't sworn to an oath of "do no harm"...but YOU were Dr. Huizenga!)

“Contestants can get a little too crazy and they can get too thin,” she said. She said contestants are medically checked and disqualified if they are dehydrated or are found to be taking drugs or diuretics. “That is the worst part of the show,” she said. “ It’s just part of the nature of reality TV.” (ahhh, then how did Mr. Benson WIN the show having since admitted he was dehydrated? Guess that's a new rule?)

Contestants are required to sign releases that stand out even in the waiver-intensive world of reality television.

One such release, which was provided to The New York Times by a former contestant who did so on the condition of anonymity, says that “no warranty, representation or guarantee has been made as to the qualifications or credentials of the medical professionals who examine me or perform any procedures on me in connection with my participation in the series, or their ability to diagnose medical conditions that may affect my fitness to participate in the series.”

The current season started with five contestants of more than 400 pounds. Yet contestants have been required to sign a document certifying that they believe themselves to be “in excellent physical, emotional, psychological and mental health.” (that's the biggest farce of this whole show, there is NOT a snowball's chance in hell that they are in "excellent" physical health if they are more than 400 lbs!!!!! NO WAY--save the hate mail Fat Acceptance folks, you may accept it but that doesn't make it healthy!!!)

Mr. Roth said that those “standard release forms” are similar to those used “on any reality show.” He added that the show’s medical professionals had “appropriate qualifications and credentials.”

Getting contestants to talk openly about the environment of the program is difficult. Shortly after a reporter started contacting former contestants to interview them about their experiences, a talent producer on the series sent an e-mail message to many former contestants reminding them that “serious consequences” could ensue if they ever talked to a reporter without the show’s permission.

To do so could subject them to a fine of $100,000 or $1 million, depending on the timing of the interview, according to the e-mail message, which was obtained by The New York Times. The show’s producers did provide an opportunity to interview several former contestants, but the interviews were conducted with an NBC publicist listening in.

Ali Vincent, a fifth-season contestant who became the first female winner of “The Biggest Loser,” said she believed that her involvement in the show was “definitely worth it.”

“I went from a life of nothing to being active every day, six days a week,” said Ms. Vincent, who started the program weighing 234 pounds and finished at 122. She now weighs about 125 pounds, she said, and is a spokeswoman for products and ventures related to “The Biggest Loser.” (well done! she is obviously adhering to lifestyle changes and not sticking with short term fads taught to her for the show!)

Ms. Michaels and Bob Harper, the other trainer, as well as Mr. Roth all say that at least half of the contestants stay close to the weight levels they achieve on the show for several years. (REALLY? 90% of American's gain all the weight back they lose and 98% of those gain MORE than they lost but those doing it at the rate of 15lbs a week beat those odds? I don't think so! PROVE it!!)

Mr. Roth said he happily accepted a 50 percent success rate — noting that only a handful of former contestants regained all or most of the weight they carried before joining the show. “Getting 100 percent to keep the weight off has never been the goal,” he said. “The goal is can we inspire people in America to make a change in their life. In that, we’re batting 1,000.” (No, you aren't batting 1000. Obesity rates have risen since the show started, we are getting fatter day by day, so your show and brand are succeeding at getting ratings, maybe getting awareness, but solving the Obesity Pandemic? Not so much you...)

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want my advice?

go to www.ViceBustingDiet.com starting in January 2010 I am going to help 1 million people lose 2 lbs a week, safely, effortlessly, without 4 hours a day of exercise, dehydration or anyother crazy ways that are bound to make you fail in the end.

Can't wait to launch, stay tuned!!!

Carpe Diet!

Julia

Perhaps the Cap/Trade, Trillions in bailouts and socialism might bankrupt us, too?

Although this blog tries to focus more on weight loss and a healthy diet, there is the growing debate on an issue that indirectly is all about our diet and lifestyle - one that is being decided in Washington. When I hear the President of the United States of America trying to scare us by saying "if we don't pass a health care plan, [we are on the road to] bankrupt our nation....", I get a bit fired up.  The President should not use scare tactics to 'get his way'.  If it's the right way to proceed then educate us all as to 'why', instead of making general threats about our financial system (TARP is what will bankrupt our country - since when does the government need to have ownership in almost every sector of the economy? -- Auto, Banks, Health Care, the list goes on)

Mr. President, not that I will ever be someone who's opinion matters to you, afterall, I am only one of the 54% of people who think you are not taking this country in the right direction, so jeez,what do I matter. I am just one of the people, not the supreme leader or anyone worth listening to. 

However, obesity (or let's be even broader and say our poor eating habits) is what is going to bankrupt this nation. Tommy Thompson, former head of Health and Human Services said it clearly. Obesity will bankrupt this nation.

We don't need to cover those who, like ME, opt NOT to have health insurance. I can afford it, I CHOOSE NOT TO get it because I don't want doctors cutting on me and experimenting on me if and when I get sick. I want to DIE a natural death when God deems it my time. We are ALL going to die. That's a fact. HOW we choose to live our lives makes a much bigger difference in HOW we are doing to die than what health "insurance" plan we have (or don't have!). I loved a man named Roy. He had a amazing health insurance. He also led an amazing life, but one filled with rich foods, cheese, wines and NO exercise. He was obese. He chose it. He fell.  One thing led to another. But to fix one issue, the docs said first he needed to have a pig's valve installed to replace his faulty one. He went into a coma after the surgery and the nurses (paid well by current health plans!) didn't bother to turn him on a daily basis (twice a day is better). A few days later, he woke up, but the bed sores he got as a result of the well paid, well-trained health professionals didn't go away. They got worse. He got sepsis, gangrene, kidney failure...the works. They amputated one of his legs as a result. But he had a 'bed sore' on his low back that was the size of a football. And you can't exactly amputate that part of the body. 

The point is - he had insurance. He chose his lifestyle. He let well-paid doctors do "their thing", those who knew that insurance would cover his bills, and they would get paid, regardless of the outcome. The outcome? One year in the ICU and about $5 MILLION dollars of revenue for the hospital. Oh yeah, the most important part (to us, not the hospital).... he died. The "crime" of it was that he died from the bed sore that was a result of not turning him at least once a day so that his back could get air! Yes, his lifestyle choice eventually brought him to the hospital, but the best insurance coverage didn't matter, even to a 'case' that could have and should have been handled (that is, he should have been saved...at least to live a few more years).

No Mr. President we don't need MORE health insurance. We need ethics, tort reform (Roy's family didn't sue, because they realized HIS choices lead to his outcome and the pain of dealing with a lawsuit drawn out for years -- but many people in our nation get sold on the idea of 'cashing in' on the situation, because it's someone else's fault)...and most of all we all need Health ensure-ance.

I urge you my fellow American's to call for a day of awareness for Health Ensure-ance. A day to realize that YOU are in charge of your health, your choices and your outcome, much more than Washington or any doctor EVER will be.

I eat healthfully every day. I exercise most days. I drink 1/2 my body weight in water. I take amazing supplements that naturally help my body function to it's optimal level (I take Juice Plus, EstroBalance, ThryroSense, AdrenaSense, Anti-V, Resveritrol, PGX before every meal, I do a cleanse every month.....just to name a few things I do to ENSURE my health!) 

And I don't eat Five Guys Burgers and Fries, McDonalds or any other crap that is only going to put me in the grave a few days faster! So Mr. President, did you get fries with your order?

Seriously, if this guy has to think this hard about what burger to order, little wonder so little is getting done and it's costing so much! Ensure your Health by taking action each day to eat healthy, avoid...whatever junk is being served above.. and get some regular exercise. A healthy diet plan will go a long way to saving the soon-to-be bankrupt health sick care system.
  

The fries won't make my bill cost more, will they?

No disrespect intended, Mr. President Sir. But, it's OBESITY that is going to bankrupt our nation and you aren't really helping matters by frequenting one of the biggest reasons for Obesity...FAST FOOD! Visit your wife's garden you might learn something about the solution. Does Obama really have this tough of a time deciding which burger to order? I'm just saying...

This is totally disgusting, and wrong! 1 soft drink a day doesn't put 10 pounds a year on the human body, it puts 15!!! Think diet's better? Think embalming fluid! Keeps fat in tact!



Drink water, you are what you drink!

Antioxidants For The Holiday Season... Juice Plus+®

Juice Plus+® - The Power of Antioxidants

What is an antioxidant?

According to the National Cancer Institute “antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Examples of antioxidants include beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamins C and E, and other substances. Many of these antioxidant substances come from fruits and vegetables.”

• Fruits and vegetables contain a powerful array of antioxidants that offer protection for our bodies. Beta-carotene is found in many fruits and vegetables that are orange in color, including carrots, Some green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale are also rich in beta-carotene.
• Lutein, best known for its association with healthy eyes, is abundant in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, and kale.
• Lycopene is a potent antioxidant found in abundance in tomatoes.
• Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, pineapple, acerola cherries, papaya, carrots, parsley, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and tomatoes.
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli.

Reducing Your Risk

Experts agree: the best way to reduce your risk of disease is to eat healthier. Almost every day, another piece of research or another news story touts the disease-fighting power of our dietary choices -- especially the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables.

Whether it's a new vitamin, an antioxidant, or some other phytonutrient not yet "discovered" by science, fruits and vegetables contain an unparalleled array of nutritional elements that offer protection for our bodies -- nutrition that we simply can't get from vitamin pills. And, the thousands of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables work together in ways that science is just beginning to explore.

The message is clear: we need more of the healthful whole food nutrition of fruits and vegetables in our diets, every day. It's the one thing everyone agrees we can do to improve our health and reduce our risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

We suggest a diet rich in raw, ripened, whole food fruits and vegetables as your best means for supporting a healthy body, a strong immune system, and therefore your best way to help prevent sickness and disease. Of course, avoiding all the unhealthy foods and products (like tobacco) is necessary too.

And if you need more fruit and vegetable nutrients in your diet, add Juice Plus+. Try it for 4 months, and even 1 year is helpful in getting more data to compare to your previous year's health. No different than taking on an exercise regimen for a full year to gain results that can be compared to the year before. Try it risk free and see how you feel.

You can visit Juice Plus+ for more info, or feel free to use the contact information below.

Dr. Patrick Havey
The Health & Wellness Institute, PC
Official Juice Plus+ Independent Distributor
Ph: 1-800-908-3001

Vitamins, Antioxidants, Nutrients To Help Prevent Flu

There is no disputing that a healthy diet plan with plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are your best source of antioxidants, is the best step you can take in the prevention of sickness and disease. We also recommend adding Juice Plus+ because most people don't eat enough fruits and vegetables each day. Good health is not a once in awhile thing, but actions that must be taken on a consistent basis, daily. With Juice Plus+ you will get more nutrients from fruits and vegetables, but having a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and berries is going to provide the best source of healthy nutrition. Don't let your diet plan be without at least the minimum recommended. Here's more on ways to keep your body health during flu season --

With flu season in full swing - and H1N1 looming large - some medical experts are encouraging preventative medicine to keep the immune system functioning optimally to keep seasonal illnesses at bay.  According to ChicagoHealers.com, a popular website advocating natural and holistic approaches to health, priming the immune system starts with maintaining a healthy digestive tract. When the digestive system is healthy it can break down and access the nutrients in ingested foods. It also eliminates toxicity as well as harmful bacteria and viruses. Below are some naturally occurring immunity boosters (and that are also available in supplement form) the site lists that could help ward off colds and flu.

Garlic: The root's active ingredient, allicin, has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It cleans the liver, which in turn cleans the blood and stimulates the production of white blood cells.

Ginger: The root contains a number of volatile oils that warm the body and help it sweat, break a fever and eliminate toxins. It also stimulates the release of mucous and is effective for decongesting lungs and airways. It is also frequently used as a digestive aid because of its cleansing properties.

Honey: A natural antibiotic with antiseptic properties, honey also contains a number of immune-boosting and infection-fighting vitamins and minerals, including B-complexes, C,D, E vitamins and propolis. Honey also coats the throat better than cough syrup, some studies claim. Locally producted honey might be better for fighting off seasonal allergies, asthma and other respiratory troubles because it can fight off irritants typical of the area. We also like Organic Raw Honey that has been unheated and not pressed. It contains ALL of the nutrients that are otherwise lost in your commercially produced heated and pressed honeys.

Cayenne: High in vitamins C, A, B and calcium and potassium, the spicy pepper stimulates blood circulation and is well known for the treatment of numerous conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. It is also widely recognized as beneficial to the whole immune system.

Acidophilus and bifidus: Considered friendly bacteria, the live microbial organisms suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria, improve immune function, and help produce vitamin K. They are found in certain cultured dairy products like yogurt or kefir.

Go Green: Dark leafy green vegetables like kale, swiss chard, and spinach provide vitamins B12, folic acid, potassium, vitamins A, C and K, which all are said to bolster the immune system. (Juice Plus+ contains nutrients from kale, spinach, beet, parsley, cabbage, and more).

Acid and alkaline: A balance of internal acid/alkaline chemistry promotes digestion and also aids in healing. It can be achieved by squeezing lemon into a glass of hot water. (source)

Bottom Line: You can't go wrong with a diet plan that consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables each day. The more variation in colorful foods the better. Your immune system will be running smooth with a healthy diet. And, be sure to avoid all the unhealthy foods and beverages during the Holiday season.

um, that's my seat!

Fat Incites....(read it here)..

How many times has this happened to you? I have been on both sides of this debate, and neither is fun!

The Fat Gap, Obesity Trends And Diets

There is no doubt that without a change in our diet plan in order to reverse the obesity trend we will see many health problems grow exponentially over the next decade. That would naturally put a strain on the monies spent on health care.

Americans are falling into three gaps that threaten personal health and national solvency. Unless we reverse the trend, 43 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2018, and the nation will spend $344 billion to address health-related problems.

The fat gap, a term coined by British researchers, refers to the discrepancy between how individuals see themselves and the number on the bathroom scale. Evidently, our notion of what constitutes being overweight or obese has been supersized because those around us—friends, family and colleagues—have similarly supersized their bodies.

In a British study reported Sept 2009, in the Telegraph, only 1 person in 10 identified themselves as being obese, when in fact 1 in 4 was obese (roughly 30 or more pounds overweight).  As a result, "Ten million Brits are unaware they are obese because being fat is now seen as the 'norm.'"  This lack of awareness unwittingly places the individual at risk for medical problems triggered by obesity.

In the United States, 2 out of 3 adults are overweight or obese. And since there is no reason to believe that our self-perception skills are more acute than those of our cousins in England, we can assume that millions of Americans are unaware that they are similarly at risk for medical problems associated with surplus weight.

The fat gap is triggering a generation gap that is reversing decades of improvements in the health of seniors. For the first time in decades, Americans currently in their 60s are going to suffer more disabilities and medical problems—leading to a loss of independence—than did the preceding generations.

Researchers report this disturbing trend in a study funded by the National Institute on Aging reported in the November 2009 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Seniors who grew up in the 1920s and 1930s enjoyed healthier food (junk food had yet to be introduced) and regularly participated in physical exercise in schools. They may also have worked in jobs that required physical effort. These and other factors have tended to protect their health.

In contrast, the biggest factor contributing to the declining health of the next generation of seniors is the expanding rate of obesity. Those who are overweight or obese strain their joints and cardiovascular systems, and they are more susceptible to diabetes and stroke. Consequently, even if the members of this generation survive a heart attack or stroke, they may be left with disabilities.

The decline in health may increase as future generations with even higher rates of obesity reach their senior years. In 2018, researchers predict that 43 percent of Americans will be obese.

Diabetes has already reached epidemic proportions among children, and 70 percent of adults 65 and older are either diabetic or prediabetic, which means they are on their way to being diabetic unless lifestyle changes are undertaken.

The explanation for the rising incidence of obesity may be related to yet another phenomenon—the appetite gap. The appetite gap is the discrepancy between what the body needs to maintain a normal weight and a sense of satiety that triggers an end to eating. If food doesn’t trigger a sense of having eaten enough, individuals keep eating even though they may already have consumed more calories than required to maintain their weight.

The results of an experiment with rats, reported in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, attempt to explain the chemistry behind appetite gaps. Rats fed a diet high in saturated fat for only three days—comparable to a human eating cheeseburgers and French fries for three days—showed a reduction in the hormones that trigger a sense of satiety.

Eating a diet high in saturated fats increased the appetites of the rats and these findings raised an interesting question: why would consuming saturated fat trigger a craving for more fat? Logic tells us that the opposite should occur: if the rat ate copious amounts of fat, the rat should feel satisfied. That the biochemical mechanism would trigger a craving for more fat seems counterintuitive. (Interestingly enough, healthy fats, such as those found in olive oil, did not suppress the satiety hormones.)

If a diet high in saturated fats produces weight gain in rats and the body chemistry of rats is similar to that of humans, then the growing epidemic of human obesity would be understandable. Saturated fats are common in many American foods—from fatty cuts of meat, bacon and processed meats to cookies, cakes, ice cream and muffins. Consuming these foods may be triggering a craving for even more fatty food and contributing to the rising level of obesity.

The mystery of the appetite gap remains unsolved pending further investigation. (source)

Bottom line: Unless we start shifting to a diet that is more plant based instead of fast food based, we will be slowly putting our lifespan on the decline. A diet plan should include plenty of raw, ripened, whole food fruits and vegetables, without the fried fast foods so readily available. Without getting obesity under control, we face a tremendous strain - financially, physically and mentally. Here  are a few recommendations:

Eating a generous amount of fruits and vegetables (add Juice Plus + too)

Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil

Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods

Eating small portions of nuts

Drinking red wine, in moderation, for some

Consuming very little red meat

Eating fish or shellfish at least twice a week

If you need a weight loss plan, go to The Vice Busting Diet Plan. For added nutrients, use Juice Plus +.

WHO knew? McDonalds and Coca-Cola tied to the most obese countries in the world..DUH!

With the WHO (World Health Organization) latest obesity report, America has landed in at #3 as the worlds Fattest people closely followed by Germany. There was a real outright winner in America Samoa with 93.5% of its people being overweight or Obese.

Samoa and Kiribati,(second at 81.5%)  both south pacific island countries, blame the impact of people traveling overseas and bringing back food recipes and food from other countries. Since 1964 the intake of foreign food into these countries has increased  by over 700% with most of this food a direct conflict to their normal Traditional diet of native foods high in complex carbohydrates and low in fat, such as bananas, taro root, coconut, yams, and fish and seafood.

America by sheer population size of over 300 million people means that there are over 198 million people in the US who are over weight or obese. The sheer strain on the health system in America and the amount of taxes Americans will have to pay just to pay hospital costs of weight related health issues must surly be a major concern to Americans as they skyrocket into the biggest eating, smoking, prescription drug nation in the universe. How can any nation be economically sound when in excess of 66% of its population are obese and will have self inflicted health issues just based on their diet intake. All things aside, you cannot just laugh this off as a fast food fad, as this has to be directly attributed to lifestyle choices by individuals and the health education of generations of children. In the mid 1960's, just 24% of Americans were over weight.

The small south pacific nations of Samoa and Kiribati are pin heads on a blanket compared to the health issues Americans and all the other countries in the top 10 have to face. All 8 other countries in the top 10, are above 61% and come in at just under 750 million people.

Top 10 list below(of population that's overweight):

1) American Samoa, 93.5 percent

Food imports to blame

(from Julia: OK, let's look a bit more closely at WHY and what "imported foods" are to blame: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=8692 This article clearly states that American Samoa's McDonald's francises are #1 in the WORLD, beating 30,000 other franchises! #1 in sales = #1 in Obesity. Please try to rationalize this one Ronald McDonald! Sure, there is NO tie between fast food and Obesity...NOT!  http://www.jaunted.com/maps/Most-Shocking-McDonalds-Locations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_McDonald%27s_franchises There is almost a McDonalds everywhere on Earth! almost! give them time...they will dominate every country.

and American Samoa IS a US Territory! IT is basically US and all food is imported, DUH, and we are bringing a LOT of Coca-Cola and other soft drinks there! Coca-cola goes hand in hand with McDonalds and they are WHY the people there are getting FAT just like US! http://www.reeis.usda.gov/web/areera/plans/2005/As/Combined.AS.pdf

Clearly, the US and our American Samoa dependant are #1 and #3 in Obesity because of McDonalds and Coca-Cola. Bannish them, end Obesity!)

2) Kiribati, 81.5 percent

Food imports to blame

3) U.S., 66.7 percent

Health experts attribute the rise to an over-production of oil, fat and sugar by subsidizing farming and food production. Food manufacturers were paid by governments to include these products in larger quantities to support the farmers. Obesity was considered an acceptable result of this.

4) Germany, 66.5 percent

Governments are blaming the usual suspects: beer, fatty processed foods and lack of physical and sporting activities.

5) Egypt, 66 percent

Egypt blames processed food imports, which created poorer eating habits and the nations lack of sporting programs due to cultural and religious taboos

6) Bosnia-Herzegovina, 62.9 percent

WHO blames smoking, drinking and eating cheap processed foods high in calories unhealthy and low in nutritional value.

7) New Zealand, 62.7 percent

Watching television is said to be the cause rather than what they ate. Those who were overweight at the age of 26 were those who watched TV the most. Some how I think it is what they ate in front of the TV, and not the TV.

8) Israel, 61.9 percent

Obesity is highest in Arab women, and their lower level of education is to blame, so say the Israeli Government.

9) Croatia, 61.4 percent

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Croatia. They blame the globalization of the food market and the import of excessive amounts of processed foods. Croatian men are more obese than Croatian women, according to statistics.

10) United Kingdom, 61 percent

British living in low-incoming housing eating takeaways and playing computer games is said to be the blame. The UK is in the bottom 3 countries in Europe as far as physical exercise go.  To combat this, the UK has just embarked on a healthy food program for schools and is spending several hundred billion dollars on sporting facilities to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

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The worlds is in a heap of trouble! If we could ever eliminate fast food and soft drinks from human consumption I think that we would end the global obesity pandemic. Sadly, I doubt that will ever happen. we are talking about two of the most powerful most successful companies on the planet that are behind these products; Coca-Cola and McDonalds--and they aren't the only ones--Pepsi, Burger King, Jack in the Box and others. Cheap food and drinks with zero nutritional value, dense in calories and able to provide inexpensive food/drinks to the poorest of areas. There really is no stopping them.

So, what CAN we do? Eat LESS of them less often and still feel full and minimize the effect they have on blood sugar so we can atleast try to keep diabetes etc at bay. But HOW to do that? The best discovery to ever come along that could serve to balance out the crazy food world we now live in is PGX. PolyGlycoPlex, a novel complex the helps you feel full faster, feel full longer and eat less--and more importantly helps normalize blood sugar levels. For an obese world, this is like the Nobel prize, hit it out of the ball park, triple crown winning end all be all "cure" for what ails us! It's that good! My challenge? How to get the word out to the World. www.PGX.com to learn more.

And we know that 95% of Americans, and likely the rest of mankind don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. While eating MORE of them must be the goal and solution to our health crisis, bridging the gap between what actually are eating and what we should be consuming is possible. "If you can't, won't or don't eat 9-13 servings of raw fresh fruits and vegetables a day; take JUICE PLUS!" Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld; HouseCalls w/ Dr. Rosenfeld on FoxNews. www.JPSupplement.com to learn more.

Thanksgiving Diet For Weight Loss

Ah, if only life could be so easy - have a Thanksgiving feast and lose weight. Well, it's not. But you may have another diet plan option for the Holidays.

New research has recently emerged that suggests that alternate-day fasting may be an incredibly effective method for weight loss.  The study was far from large but the preliminary results are rather surprising.

Some may say surprising because fasting has very recently been considered by many a sure way to slow down your metabolism.  It was commonly believed that you must eat 5 to 6 small meals per day and track every calorie consumed in order to lose weight.

When it was generally proven that fasting did not, in fact, slow down your metabolism like once thought, the next reason many used to not fast was because it isn't sustainable.  As soon as you stopped fasting, you would gain the weight right back.  Eventually, you would have to eat again, right?

This is where alternate-day fasting, also known as intermittent fasting, comes in to play.  The concept is incredibly simple.  You have a fasting day and a non-fasting day.  On the fasting day, eat whatever you want between noon and 2:00 (two hours).  Your calories will naturally fall in the 500-800 calorie range.  On your non-fasting day, eat whatever you want, whenever you want.

There are some dos and don'ts that go with this plan:

• Do exercise. High intensity training is the best for burning fat but some exercise is better than no exercise. As with any other weight loss program, you will want to minimize muscle loss. The best way to do this is by resistance training (lifting weights).
• Do not fast on consecutive days. Choose your fasting days wisely: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
• Do eat whatever you want on your non-fasting day. This may seem to fly in the face of what you know about dieting but don't track your calories and don't try to restrict them. Just eat normally!
• Do not attempt to go completely without calories on your fasting day. Calories are your body's energy source and to restrict your intake more than suggested will leave your energy tank on empty. (source)

With the Thanksgiving holidays rapidly approaching, you will be entering the time period where weight loss efforts go to die.  Alternate-day fasting gives you a possible alternative to the traditional guilt you experience after the gluttonous turkey dinner.  If you choose your fasting days wisely you can still enjoy your holidays and also continue to lose weight.  At the very least, maybe you better your chances of not packing on a couple of extra pounds.

Bottom Line: Eat healthy whether it's a Holiday or not. You will have a much easier time staying on track and sticking with a healthy diet than eating unhealthy, feasting for a few days, then expecting to go back to a healthy lifestyle. The key to weight loss that is permanent is sticking with a healthy way of life, always. Ok, one slice of pumpkin pie, but keep the portions of everything else small. And, eat slow. You'll feel like you're having more than you are.