Progress

creativitylrg

I'm distracted by... everything ! (graphic by marganz - sxc.hu)

Happy Friday!

I finally feel like I’m making progress on this blogsite. I have all the pages created and most of them finished. Just a few more and I’m done! I also have several things that need reviewing… I’m way behind. Books, a scale, food… it’s gonna take me a while to catch up.

In the area of weight loss I’m happy to report that I’ve finally dropped the 2 lbs I gained since Thanksgiving. I didn’t have a carb fest, but I did taste-test a few high carb items. I also spent the weekend away from home recently and that’s always hard on the routine. So now I’m back and ready to see the scale continue dropping. I’m so close to seeing 18 lbs gone and I’m also close to seeing a new set of 10′s on the scale!

Ok, back to work… and wishing I were on a tropical island in this 32 degree weather.

Why are we overweight?

fatbellies1While attending a lecture given by Gary Taubes last November, I was hit smack in the head with an interesting point he brought up. Obese people aren’t that way because they overeat – they overeat because they are obese. Think about it. Do you really think a 300 lb man can successfully fuel his body on the same amount of food a 95 lb 12 year old can? Of course not! The bigger the person, the more fuel they will need to keep going.  My daughter can eat like a bird – and she weighs a whopping 60 lbs soaking wet. My husbands 210 lb frame on the other hand would be tired and miserable trying to exist on her meager meals – and he’s not overweight. Do you expect an 18 Wheeler to use the same amount of gas as a Ford Focus? No, you don’t.  Common sense tells us a large truck hauling a large load will require more fuel. Why do we believe it’s any different for us?

Below is a video where Gary’s explains his thinking on this beautifully:

Gary Taubes

Dr. Briffa recently posted something along this line on is blog, although he talks more about the fact that “calories in, calories out” are not always the problem. Sometimes, and probably more often than not, it’s hormones and genes that cause the issues. And while there are certainly gluttonous people out there, we should NEVER assume that anyone is overweight because they are lazy. That is not only a self-righteous and insensitive way of thinking – but it makes you look stupid. So save yourself the embarrassment ahead of time and never ass-u-me.  We are all people who are struggling to find what works, and many have to suffer before they find the answers.

Never judge a study by it’s headline

happysadHere’s my thoughts on the recent study and headlines concerning moods and low-carb diets.

Low-carb diets and moods: what the headlines aren’t telling you

Would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please leave your comments here or on examiner.