Lack of exercise is NOT the problem in America

If you have read this blog for the last seven years, you already know this: only by cutting down on portions (thus, calories) will you lose weight. You can't exercise enough to lose just the calories of lunch, let alone, breakfast, lunch and dinner (and snack).

Read this Washington Post article, if you don't believe me, Get rid of that Fitbit.

Try eating just appetizers when eating out

There are many strategies for not overeating at restaurants. Portion control is one of them. Too many restaurants -- in the name of value -- provide too much food.

However, you can eat well and healthy at restaurants.  This New York Time article tells you how to eat healthy at restaurants.

Following these strategies could be a smart way to cut your calories.

Child obesity rates have NOT dropped

Don't believe everything you read.  If you take a closer look at the recent study in the news, you'll quickly see that obesity rates did not drop by 43 percent. The authors of the study actually said the rates stayed the same. 

Read an analysis on Slate.com

We will stop junk food advertising in schools

With an eye toward future Americans, the First Lady is working to change the way junk food is advertised in schools. By eliminating it. It's clear that advertising skews what young people eat. For too long the schools have said one thing, while vending machines and lunch choices said another. Now the soft drink companies will be singing a new tune.

Cutting out junk food ads in school

Information is the key to good nutrition

It looks like -- finally -- that the government will amend the rules around nutritional information.  And it's about time.  How many times have you searched for the calories of a package?  And don't get me started on the serving size.  But now it appears all will change.

What changes would you suggest?  My first suggestion is to put the percentages of sugar, corn syrup, and all those "bad" things right on the label.  If sugar is the third ingredient, does that mean 10% of the product is sugar or 49%?

Read more at USA Today

  

Eat fast food and you will die

Jon Basso, founder of the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, has made a career of serving unhealthy food, and he wants to make sure everyone knows his food will kill you. And to prove it, he brought in a bag of the cremated remains of a customer who died at his restaurant. 

Read  more at: LA times.

"I'm just looking" at calories

Do you want to know how many calories are in that chicken pasta? Most people say no.  I don't believe that.  

I believe most people want to know. They may still choose the higher calorie food.

But knowledge is power. Whether you use it or not, is freedom.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578635783927655580.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_health

Pepsi targets kids

Marketing cigarettes to children is prohibited, so why can Pepsi continue to market colored corn syrup to kids?

Pepsi’s “Live for Now” campaign is the Joe Camel of soda marketing to youth:

"Soda consumption is a major contributor to adolescent obesity. Fortunately, soda consumption has been declining recently, presumably as a result of adverse media attention and policy initiatives like the ban on most sugar-sweetened beverages in schools.

Pepsi’s Live for Now campaign, like the infamous Joe Camel campaign used by R.J. Reynolds, is designed to prey upon these adolescent vulnerabilities in an effort to reverse declining consumption trends as well as to market a particular product."

In your food: The truth is stranger than fiction

Image via WikipediaWhat's in your food today? It's not even Halloween and it's pretty scary.

Let's start with duck feathers and female beetles. Why, that's in KFC chicken. Although they call it L-cysteine hydrochloride and Red 40.

When you walk into Baskin Robbins, I sure you all scream for polysorbate 80 and hydrogenated coconut oil. Well, that's in the ice cream.

And what do you like to put on your Chick-fil-A sandwich? Of course it's dimethylpolysiloxane: a silicone-based agent commonly added to shampoos and Silly Putty.

I could go on and on, but I'm making myself sick. Read all about what's in your food in Men's Health's "Eat this, not that".

Why Junk Foods in Schools?

LA schools serve junk food and they want to keep it a secret. Why? Money, of course. Deals are made everyday in schools to keep the big-food industries rich and your kids nutritionally poor.

Jamie Oliver - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - Video Clip

KFC wants Kentucky to OK food stamps for restaurant use

Image via Wikipedia

How can this be a good idea?

Yum! Brands lobbies Kentucky to OK food stamps for restaurant use

Here's one of the comments from the story:

Food Stamps are intended to supply nutrition to those who can not food. Fast food, KFC included is full of fat, salt, fillers and whatever else they can lawfully use to extend meat and flavor cheap ingredients. Elderly, diabetics would be harmed directly by this food, and children harmed over the long haul. The idea is ridiculously transparent and ridiculous in general.
Of course, this does not mean our brain dead legislators won't go along with this greedy,really bad proposal.

We must face it -- we made our children fat

It's a well documented problem, yet very little gets done about. No it's not the federal deficit, it's childhood obesity.

Was it caused by fast food? Probably. Is it because we don't have family dinners in the home anymore? Probably. Is it because of Coke and Pepsi? Probably. Does it have a hundred reasons? Yes.

Then we need a hundred solutions. But the first solution is to admit that we made our children obese!

Georgia must face its childhood obesity problem - Opinion - Macon.com

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution: Taking on the city of Los Angeles

Kids in the Kitchen targets childhood obesity | Lansing State Journal | lansingstatejournal.com

Overweight Children: Jan 17, Overweight Children

Horror in the movie theaters

We are all accustomed to getting scared in movie theaters. But there's one thing that's way too scary for owners...displaying the calories of those gigantic tubs of buttery popcorn and sugary drinks.

The NY Times reports after objections from theater chains -- did you expect "Love Story" -- the federal government exempted the candy, pop, ice cream, and that junk they call buttered popcorn, from calorie display rules.

Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said leaving out movie theaters from the new rules was a mistake.

“It doesn’t matter whether you happen to be watching a movie while you’re eating,” Ms. Wootan said. “Those calories still count.”

The center, an advocacy group, has issued reports showing that at some theaters, a large tub of popcorn with butter topping can contain nearly 1,500 calories. A large soda can contain 500 calories. Federal dietary guidelines say that the average person needs about 2,000 calories a day.

The National Association of Theater Owners, a trade group, had called for movie theaters to be exempt from the menu labeling law. On its Web site, the group said that movies were “escapist entertainment” and that moviegoers did not go there with the intent of eating a meal. (Read more...)

All we were asking for was a display of the calories; not to stop selling junk. Obviously, information is power, and there is no one in the movie business that likes to share power. If you want to act like "Jaws" that's up to you; but theater owners don't want you to ever practice reading.

Now playing at all theaters: "I Spit On Your Grave".

Fast Food kills man

Fast food kills. I've been saying it for 4 years. I'm not asking government to shut down Heart Attack Grills across America. Just require them to warning labels on the food, like cigarettes or drugs.

This week's story from the Huffington Post:

PHOENIX — A 575-pound man who gained a measure of fame as spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill – a Phoenix-area restaurant that unabashedly touts its unhealthy, high-calorie menu – has died.

Friends of 29-year-old Blair River say he died Tuesday, possibly from contracting pneumonia after a bout with the flu.

Restaurant founder Jon Basso tells The Arizona Republic that River was more than the larger-than-life caricature he portrayed in promoting the restaurant in Chandler, which includes huge hamburgers, milkshakes and fries cooked in lard on its menu.

50 healthy foods under a buck

Image via Wikipedia

Is it too expensive to eat healthy? Then check out this list from TheDailyGreen.com. Jeff Yeager has put together a beautiful shopping list that every family should start out with when they head to the grocery store. I might quibble with a couple of the suggestions -- pork? sour cream? -- as healthy, but most of the 50 are right on and could RightSize America.

50 Healthy Foods for Under $1 a Pound

Read more

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Fat Happens

A double cheeseburger from McDonald's is packed with 440 calories. Yet staying away from fast food is not necessarily the answer: A spicy tuna roll packs 461 calories. The average American consumes 50 gallons each year of sugar-sweetened beverages.

What causes Americans, especially, to become obese.

This Wall Street Journal article starts the discussion.

Nature and Nachos: How Fat Happens - WSJ.com

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No freedom of press in Iowa

Image by Mike Saechang via Flickr

The Des Moines Register isn't winning any Pulitzer Prizes for this story. Seven photos of pure fatty, high-caloric unhealthy food. There're not even local dishes. They include KFC's Double Down as a food to die for. Die by, maybe, not die for. But don't expect a balanced discussion. My comments were removed in less than 10 minutes.

7 foods to die for. Des Moines: "Suck it, Jamie Oliver. Hell, we enjoy a good salad with fresh garden veggies and maybe some lean grilled chicken from time to time. But if you’re searching for all-natural, organic, healthy options for a meal, turn away. This is not that story."

I commented:

"Why not a fun article also on the most additive cigarettes? How about photo gallery of drugs? Maybe a list of intersections and traffic lights to drive through. Of course not. That would be unthinkable. Yet in a state where 26.7% of all Iowans are obese, this newspaper decides to display foods that can literally kill you. Thanks for raising my blood pressure just looking at these foods. Anyone eating these foods will be raising everyone's health costs."

The Des Moines Register couldn't take the heat and removed my comments. There's no freedom of expression in Iowa.

How bad can food be?

No one can worked off a "bad" meal. One meal at Cheesecake factory means 6 hours of exercise. You can't watch this video and want to ever eat out in America.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What to eat when traveling

Image by donjd2 via Flickr

Some of the most difficult eating choices are when you are traveling.

I know. For nearly the past two years I have been on the road.

There's a lot of common sense approaches.

Here are eight tips when traveling from the Bellingham Herald. With a few comments from me.

1. Healthier Hotels

Check to see if the hotel provides online menus for room-service and in-house restaurants. Ask the concierge about restaurants near your hotel.

What...the Hampton Inn's concierge is nowhere to be found? Take a look at Eat This, Not That website. Restaurants have good choices. It's just hard to find them without a plan.

2. Keep On Moving
Ask about exercise facilities before you book. What equipment is available? When are the facilities open? Is there an extra charge? Make sure the exercise opportunities match your schedule and needs. If there's no gym or pool, bring a jump rope to exercise in your room or run or walk laps around the hotel. Don't forget workout clothes when you pack.

The most important advice here is pack workout clothes. Walk all the time. Park far from the office door. Walk the extra couple of blocks. You can also pretend you are retired, and walk the mall. If you have your clothes you'll workout.

3. Stay in the Swim
If the hotel has a pool, bring your suit for swimming or water aerobics to get a whole-body workouts.

I love swimming...in my own pool. Those over-heated, over-chlorined, overly small pools are hardly designed for swimming. Unless you are Aqua-man, stick to more walking.

4. Eat Light In Flight
If meals are available on your flights, request a low-fat or vegetarian meal in advance. Kosher meals also tend to be healthier. It might be possible to bring your own healthier food, but make sure you'll have room in your carry-on bags and there won't be a problem with security.

When's the last time you had a meal on a flight? Anyway, I tried to remember to order the vegetarian meal. It's special. And even if you are not a vegetarian you'll enjoy it better than mystery meat and a candy bar.

5. Avoid the Cocktail Wiener Trap
Stay away from the appetizer table during cocktail hour. If you're trying to combine networking and meal time, fill a plate once with low-calorie apps and don't go back.

Eat as many shrimp cocktails as you want. Skip the sauce made with high fructose corn syrup. Skip the cocktail wiener. New study shows terrible stuff in those processed meats.

6. Power Snack
Snacking on power bars, energy drinks, bottled water, veggie sticks and fruit reduces hunger cravings so you don't overdo at dinner or during happy hour.

Skip power bars filled with calories. Instead I always carry almonds. There's lots of flavors, they are salty and satisfying. I also love veggies and humus. (Tough to find on the road, but it is possible.)

7. Just Say No
Exchange high-calorie alcohol for water or seltzer with a twist. It's healthier and better for your career. Plus, water keeps you hydrated and helps speed-up jet-lag recover. Avoiding alcohol will also leave you more energy for exercising.

I love club soda. But I also like a bloody mary, and gin and tonic once in while. Make sure the bloody mary is made with spicy V8. Anything else has a ton of sugar and no one over 25 years old wants sugar in their bloody mary. Gin and diet tonic has very few calories.

8. Half Portion Meals
Order off the senior or kiddie menu to reduce your portion. If that's not possible, ask about a half portion or the possibility of sharing a dish. If you're stuck at a banquet, slide half your portion onto the bread or salad plate and eat only the food on your dinner plate. Ask the waiter to remove the smaller plate to avoid temptation.

The best advice. Eat half now. Save rest for later.

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Long may you run...just not in Oklahoma City

Image by richardmasoner via Flickr

The fittest (and un-fittest) cities have been released by the America College of Sports Medicine. And the bottom five cities just sound obese and unhealthy:

1 Oklahoma City, Okla.
2 Birmingham, Ala.
3 Memphis, Tenn.
4 Detroit, Mich.
5 Louisville, Ky.

I've never heard anyone saying, "I'm moving to Oklahoma City for the lifestyle." Or Birmingham or Memphis or Detroit or Louisville.

MSN.com reports: Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett doesn't run away from the most obese city title. "I'm not saying we shouldn't be last," he says. "There are issues here that are real that we're not running away from. We have an obesity problem." In Oklahoma City almost one in three people weighs in as obese, and the diabetes rate is a sky-high 10.5 percent. The city lacks farmers' markets, and virtually everyone drives to work.

Where is your city? And where are you?

Rank	Metropolitan Area	2010 Score	2009 Rank	2009 Score
1.	Washington, D.C.	73.5	1	74.4
2.	Boston, Mass.	72.6	4	71.4
3.	Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.	71.7	2	72.1
4.	Seattle, Wash.	70.5	6	69.7
5.	Portland, Ore.	70.4	7	68.1
6.	Denver, Colo.	69.9	3	71.6
7.	Sacramento, Calif.	65.8	12	62.2
8.	San Francisco, Calif.	64.7	5	71.3
9.	Hartford, Conn.	64.4	11	62.5
10.	Austin, Texas	63.9	9	65.1
11.	Richmond, Va.	62.7	NR	N/A
12.	Cincinnati, Ohio	62.5	14	60.8
13.	San Diego, Calif.	62.0	8	66.8
14.	San Jose, Calif.	61.0	13	61.3
15.	Salt Lake City, Utah	60.6	NR	N/A
16.	Atlanta, Ga.	57.7	15	59.3
17.	Virginia Beach, Va.	57.2*	10	63.1
18.	Providence, R.I.	57.2*	NR	N/A
19.	Orlando, Fla.	55.5	NR	N/A
20.	Baltimore, Md.	53.5	19	52.5
21.	New York, N.Y.	52.9	22	48.9
22.	Raleigh, N.C.	52.4	20	52.3
23.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	52.0	16	54.3
24.	Jacksonville, Fla.	51.2	28	45.2
25.	Cleveland, Ohio	51.0	24	47.9
26.	Philadelphia, Pa.	50.4	27	45.9
27.	Milwaukee, Wisc.	49.2	17	53.0*
28.	Buffalo, N.Y.	49.2	18	53.0*
29.	Kansas City, Mo.	47.9	21	50.3
30.	Tampa, Fla.	47.8	23	48.5
31.	Nashville, Tenn.	47.8	26	46.8
32.	Phoenix, Ariz.	47.4	32	42.5*
33.	Chicago, Ill.	47.0	25	47.6
34.	Charlotte, N.C.	44.0	34	40.3
35.	Columbus, Ohio	42.8	29	43.9
36.	Riverside, Calif.	42.8	40	35.1
37.	St. Louis, Mo.	40.5	33	42.5*
38.	Los Angeles, Calif.	40.5	30	43.6
39.	Miami, Fla.	39.9	31	42.7
40.	Dallas, Texas	39.5	35	39.6
41.	New Orleans, La.2	37.7	NR	N/A
42.	Houston, Texas	37.6	41	34.7
43.	San Antonio, Texas	36.9	39	35.5
44.	Indianapolis, Ind.	35.9	36	39.3
45.	Las Vegas, Nev.	35.3	42	34.6
46.	Louisville, Ky.	32.5	38	37.7
47.	Detroit, Mich.	31.9	44	30.5
48.	Memphis, Tenn.	31.6	37	38.5
49.	Birmingham, Ala.	31.2	43	32.2
50.	Oklahoma City, Okla.	24.3	45	23.2

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