3 replies to this topic

[Rogerdodger]

One of my best friends from High School days called yesterday to tell me about his "Heart Attack" early Saturday A.M.
But his EKG showed nothing.
He's skinny as a rail after walking 15 miles a day as a letter carrier.
His wife, who's a smoking R.N.cardiac nurse has him on an extreme diet. DUH!

Diets damage health shows biggest ever study!
By FIONA MacRAE -

The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.

More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found.

They warn this type of yo-yo behaviour is linked to a host of health problems. And they say the strain that repeated weight loss and gain places on the body means most people would have been better off not dieting at all.

In fact, most people end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Researcher Dr Traci Mann said: "You can initially lost 5 to 10 per cent of your weight on any number of diets.

"But after this honeymoon period, the weight comes back.

A four-year study into the health of 19,000 men revealed that most of those who put on weight had dieted in the years before the start of the study.

Bleak as these figures seem, the true picture could be even worse, as it is thought that most people lie about their weight - and don't like to tell researchers that their weight has started to creep up again.

The analysis, published in the journal American Psychologist, concluded dieters may actually be damaging their health.

Article Link

Seems that moderation makes sense, but no headlines.

Edited by Rogerdodger, 09 April 2007 - 09:08 PM.

[calmcookie]

I agree, "diets" do NOT work, but neither does sitting on the couch, drinking coke, smoking and being stressed out at your daily job. Health is not about being on a "diet" but about getting on the path to making healthier lifestyle choices ... choices that you can LIVE WITH FOREVER. I never tell people to join a gym, but I will suggest that they try to fit a 1/2 hour walk into their morning routine. If someone can build in the HABIT of a short walk every morning .... then that is just ONE more step to leading a healthier life. (unfortunately, the postman has other issues going on ... perhaps he's malnourished or stressed out for some other reason ... because the walking aspect should be contributing to his health). Gradually building healthy, life long habits, is the answer. If people can gradually cut down on softdrinks, and eat a few more greens, and understand that the human body requires sufficient amounts of essential protiens and essential fats, then those are other steps to leading a healthier life. It all about the journey ... making small changes over time. Will power on strict "diets" NEVER works, but understanding how to GRADUALLY alter ones lifestyle ... and gradually make wiser choices ... that is the road to a more vital, healthier, happier life. As well, understanding how the subconscious mind controls behaviour ... and knowing what to do about it, is another HUGE step. Most people know they shouldn't eat junk food, but they keep doing it ... why is that? It's because behaviour is NOT controlled by our rational minds ... if it were, we'd all be laughing. Look at the Harvard Medical School Reviews for "Guided Imagery" on my website - lovenewlife.com. This stuff works. Cheers and long life to all, C.C.

Edited by calmcookie, 10 April 2007 - 08:31 AM.

[OEXCHAOS]

Actually, you can dramatically alter your lifestyle and if it doesn't cause you much annoyance, distress, or pain, you can make it a new habit in about 21 days. I've found that gradual change in lifestyle is tough, unless there's a driving force behind it. My more sedentary lifestyle has been driven by more intense work and increased barriers to "fun" exercise (thanks to injury). Getting fitter isn't going to be a matter of adding in 30 more seconds of exercise every day and one half tsp less heavy whipping cream every week. Its a matter of finding a new and sustainable routine and quickly changing to it and staying with it for a month. But diets, you are correct, are useless, unless they are for a specific goal. A "diet" entails eschewing what you really want. That's no way to live. Unsurprisingly, at the first chance you get you will return to the original lifestyle. A lifestyle entails choosing food and quantities and activities that (should) enrich and improve one's life.

[calmcookie]

Yes, "SUSTAINABLE" .... I like your word, Mark. We need to slowly adopt sustainable habits. If you're feeling hungry all the time, then that way of life is not sustainable .... it's only a temporary "diet" that will soon fall by the wayside. But if you begin to understand metabolism and hormones then you may learn what nutritious foods create "satiety" (quality protiens and quality fats) and make you feel happy / satisfied, so you have no desire to overeat and little desire to eat sugary junk food.

Whatever habit you decide to adopt ... will you be able to KEEP doing it ... into your 80's and 90's?

That, my friends, is a sustainable habit ... and if it improves your life, will be worth adopting.

C.C.

Edited by calmcookie, 10 April 2007 - 01:04 PM.