The Blonde Diaries

Do you think it is appropriate to advertise diet pills in health magazines?

This morning I was flipping through an old edition of Shape magazine looking for some new health tips to include in my blog. I was flipping towards the back and started to hit the advertisement section right before the closing article. You know what I’m talking about because most magazines have this same layout. Anyways I started looking at the ads more closely and noticed there were a lot for diet pills. I thought it was strange that a magazine that prided themselves on healthy lifestyles, healthy diets, and healthy exercises would allow ads for diet pills especially when most if not all are worthless when it comes to losing weight. How many Hydroxycut reviews have you read lately to learn that it is just a waste of money? I know I have come across a few which have been disheartening since I bought the stuff to try.

So what do you think? Should fitness magazines allow diet pills and the likes to advertise or no because most are proven ineffective?

Exercise Update: I’ve come a long way baby!

About 2 months ago I started running again. I was never much of a runner but this is the best way for me to lose weight so I figured I would try again. The first few times were quite rough. I would get out of breath and hot very fast. Sometimes I would get side pains. I was only running a mile! I tried not to get down. I would just continue running as much as I could and taking breaks as I needed to.

Well I think that method has paid off! I am now able to run 1 mile without stopping, overheating, or have major side pains. In fact, last night I ran 2 miles with just a short water break between mile 1 & 2 and another at mile 1.5. I am elated. I have to admit I totally forgot about how I was complaining and wondering if I’d ever be able to run without having issues and one of my exercise buddies reminded me that 2 months ago I couldn’t even run a mile. I’ve come a long way baby!

Healthy Tip #11

Good news for those of us that like to splurge once a week!

Researchers have found that participants who biked for 45 minutes three hours after eating a high fat meal broke down more abdominal fat than when they exercised on an empty stomach.

Now I think if you want to take advantage of this tidbit of information you will have to do more than leisurely bike (hey it sounds good though) and not make this a habit. Next time I want to have a really tasty lunch on the weekend I’ll have to remember to go bike afterwards. I wonder if it helps with endurance.

Health Measures: Fat vs. Weight

Which one is better?  How much fat you have on your body or how much you weigh?  For the longest time, people were concerned about the number on the scale and not so much about how much body fat they had or how fit they actually were when it came to exercising and overall physical fitness health.  So why care about your body fat composition when the scale says that you are healthy?  It’s Not Your Weight That Matters–It’s How Much of Your Weight is Fat. While having a low scale number or a “healthy” scale number you can still be at a heightened risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol and you won’t even know it!  Take a look at this article I found earlier today.  It will explain in further detail why knowing your overall health is better than just focusing on the number showing on the scale.

Fitness Assessment: Measure Your Fat, Not Your Weight
It’s not how much you weigh, it’s how much of your weight is fat.
Simple test determines your fat content, health risks.

Carpinteria, CA – August 20, 2008 - Within the past week, the American Heart Association, Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society have cited new studies that seem to indicate the deteriorating health of Americans may not be related solely to weight–but to declining overall fitness levels.

While it is virtually impossible today to remain oblivious to the importance of exercise for staying healthy, there has been a marked emphasis on “weight” versus “fitness” in western society’s perception of health and wellness. Consequently, many people of “normal” weight continue to be uniformed of the fact that they may still be at risk for elevated levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar if they lead a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle.

It has long been known that there are adverse effects associated with physical inactivity. Adults who are less active are at greater risk of dying of heart disease and developing diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. Illnesses related to physical inactivity and poor diet cause at least 300,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

Body mass index (BMI), which is calculated through a height-to-weight ratio alone has been the standard method of measuring a person’s “fatness” or “thinness” since 1950’s and 60’s, when obesity was becoming a noticeable medical concern in the U.S. As a result, being at a “normal” BMI weight is not necessarily a reliable indicator of health.

In fact, physically active individuals who have more lean tissue than their sedentary counterparts, as well as taller people, often have a BMI that classifies them as obese when they actually have healthy body fat levels. Likewise, and more dangerous, slender or thin but inactive individuals often have a BMI that puts them within normal, or even underweight, ranges when they actually have high levels of body fat.

Because of the overemphasis on BMI that has developed over the last few decades, these “skinny fat” people often remain unaware that they are at an elevated risk for developing diseases typically associated with obesity until they are already facing health issues.

According to the International Sports Sciences Association, an organization that has educated and certified personal trainers for more than 2 decades, using a quick but reliable method of measuring various body circumferences (e.g. neck, thighs, upper arm, waist, hip) to assess total body fat better determines one’s body composition (fat vs muscle) than BMI alone. Measuring circumferences also provides personal trainers and clients with a very easy way to gauge clients’ progress.

“For people to begin to take a proactive approach to their health, they really need to know what their percentage of fat versus muscle is.” said Dr. Sal Arria, CEO and Co-Founder of the ISSA. Dr. Arria goes on to add, “most studies have shown that by just adding ONE circumference measurement at the waist to BMI, you can better predict a patient’s risk for type 2 diabetes and for all-cause mortality. Waist circumference is also about twice as good at predicting future coronary heart disease than BMI alone.”

The ISSA believes that personal trainers and health clubs should be utilizing circumference measurements as another tool to assess body fat because trainers can achieve proficiency with a few hours of practice and when done properly, the results can be replicated.

Patrick Gamboa, ISSA Vice President of Education, cautions that a person’s true fitness cannot be assessed by body measurements alone. True fitness must also take into account strength, aerobic capacity and flexibility measurements to most accurately predict longevity. Most gyms offer this type of assessment for free to their members.

About the ISSA
Since 1988, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has provided certification and continuing education to more than 100,000 wellness professionals in 85 countries around the globe. The ISSA offers a core personal training certification as well as eight additional specialized fitness certifications.

Accomplishment at the gym!

I have a small accomplishment I want to share with everyone.  It occurred at the gym last Saturday and continued last night.  I am conquering the treadmill! I have never been a runner. In fact, I use to fake injuries in school to avoid running days in PE and I avoided all sports that involved running. But a few years ago I decided I needed to start jogging and I made it up to 4 miles an hour and 2 miles in half an hour before I got lazy and quit. Last month, I decided I was going to try again and started running again at 5.4 miles an hour and doing half miles each run. Fast forward to my accomplishments this past week - I am up to 2 miles at 5.4 miles per hour each run.

I am averaging a good 2-3 runs per week and I feel great. I can’t believe how far I have come. I have learned to believe in myself and that goals can be accomplished and trying new things is good for you. So I encourage you to do the same!