The Center for Science in the Public Interest did some lab tests on movie theater popcorn. 

Eeek!

WASHINGTON—It’s hard to picture someone mindlessly ingesting three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders with 12 pats of butter while watching a movie. But according to new laboratory analyses commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, that food is nutritionally comparable to what you’d find in a medium popcorn and soda combo at Regal, the country’s biggest movie theater chain: 1,610 calories and three days’ worth—60 grams—of saturated fat. (Nutrition aside, that combo costs $12—for raw ingredients that must cost Regal pennies.)

“Regal and AMC are our nominees for Best Supporting Actor in the Obesity Epidemic,” said CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley. “Who expects about 1,500 calories and three days’ worth of heart-stopping fat in a popcorn and soda combo? That’s the saturated fat of a stick of butter and the calories of two sticks of butter. You might think you’re getting Bambi, but you’re really getting Godzilla.”

Ok the “Bambi vs. Godzilla” is a bit much… I don’t think anyone noshing on popcorn at the movies imagines they’re eating health food.  But people should have some idea about what they’re eating.  It’s easy as pie (no pun intended) to underestimate how much you’re eating. Movie theater snacks are the kind that are often eaten mindlessly, too (your attention is on the movie, after all), so it’s not exactly hard to pack away quite a few excess cals without noticing.

Like the Cheesecake Factory meals we were discussing yesterday,  munching movie theater popcorn isn’t exactly an every day thing.  But it’s not hard to see how these “loaded” meals and snacks can fit into an overall pattern of overeating that has implications for people’s weight and waistlines.  It helps to know where the “calorie traps” are, so they can be avoided.

I mostly agree with WaPo blogger Ezra Klein’s post on the Cheesecake Factory, although I think he’s off base on one point:

If I had gone to the Cheesecake Factory with the intention of ordering relatively healthfully, it’s pretty likely that the miso salmon would have ended up on my plate. A heart-healthy fish with a soy-based glaze? What could be better?

A lot, as it turns out. On first glance, I would have figure the salmon for the lightest entree, followed by the chicken piccata, the carbonara, and the crispy beef. Not so. The salmon weighs in at 1,673 calories — which is to say, a bit more than 75 percent of the food an adult male should eat in a day. The piccata is a comparably slim 1,385 calories. The crispy beef is 1,528 calories. And the carbonara? 2,191. The answer might be that someone looking for a healthful meal shouldn’t go to the Cheesecake Factory. But insofar as you’re already there, or your family wants to go there, making a good decision isn’t a particularly straightforward proposition.

Emphasis mine.  Sure, I agree completely with his point about the importance of knowing the calorie values of restaurant menu items.  But the calorie counts he’s quoting are for full entrees, which are hyoooge, and include sauces and (an often) heaping pile o’ starch.  But it doesn’t have to be that way… I’ve eaten at Cheesecake Factory before, and have emerged unscathed by following my usual ”restaurant rules.”

1. Pass on any bread/butter (or chips/salsa in Mexican restaurants)
2. Pass on any drinks except water, tea (I make occasional exceptions for a single glass of wine)
3. Order grilled chicken or fish (if it comes sauced, leave most of it on the plate)
4. Ask the server to hold the rice or potatoes and substitute a veg (if one already comes with the entree, I ask for double veggies.  In Asian restaurants, when rice is put on the table, I simply ignore it).
5. Skip dessert (order some decaf if others are ordering dessert) 
6. Eat only until comfortably full – bring leftover food home in a “doggie bag” for a later meal.

Thus, making a good decision IS a straightforward proposition, if that’s really what you want to do.  While developing an awareness of portion sizes and calorie counts is a good thing, it’s even better to have a set of food “values” to live by that can be relied on to mitigate any damage, regardless of where you’re dining, be it Cheesecake Factory, La Grenouille or IHOP.

“The MisFits” – Vicky Hallett and Lenny Bernstein - have a nice article in the Washington Post on the value of pedometers.  As small as they are, they can nonetheless have a big impact on the results of a walking program.

…buying a pedometer is not the first — or second, or third — piece of advice you typically receive when you turn to someone and say: “I really need to get in shape, but I hate exercising. What should I do?”

But it probably should be, says Dena Bravata, a physician and senior research scientist at Stanford who analyzed 26 studies of pedometer use and found clear evidence that people who have them get more exercise, lose weight and lower their blood pressure. In fact, the decrease in blood pressure was equivalent to results achieved through much more expensive interventions that involve doctors and pharmacists, she said. And in a relatively short time, many people were able to lower their body mass index enough to move from the “obese” to “overweight” category.

“What we found was, on average, that wearing a pedometer increased people’s physical activity by about 2,000 steps per day,” Bravata said. “That’s equivalent to about a mile.”

…As a rule, people overestimate the amount of exercise they get. Keeping track can be eye-opening. Falling short motivates people to find ways to walk more, Bonin says.

“I have walked the corridors of this building many a night, trying to work off my last steps,” says Bonin, whose goal is 10,000 steps a day, or about five miles.

A pedometer is a simple way to set goals monitor your progress.  Even for something as basic as walking, this sort of accountability can be invaluable.  Most models are quite inexpensive, and readily available at most sporting good stores (although if you own the latest iPod Nano, you already have one – a pedometer function is built in).

It’s time fruit juice loses its wholesome image, some experts say.

Yes. Yes. YES!

One… more… week… to… go…

Gonna make it to the finish line, but I can tell I’m ready for a training break.  I know the feeling: when I come back home after a workout, and feel drained emotionally as well as physically, it’s time.  The workouts themselves are going well, but lately, it’s been hard to reach for that extra “ooomph” needed to power out those last 1 – 2 reps in the last set(s).

So much of lifting is mental… it takes focus and determination – and lately, I’ve had a tough time summoning both. 

At any rate, this was the first of two “Power Boost” weeks, where the majority of exercises are focused on developing explosive power.  Admittedly, most of these were kind of fun – there’s a joyful aspect to plyo work, thanks to all the hopping and jumping around.  It also induced some muscle fatigue, however, which made this week’s 100 rep “Punisher” sets particularly excruciating.  There were Punisher sets for triceps (rope pushdown), back (seated machine rows), quads (walking lunges) and shoulders (dumbbell lateral raises).

We did the shoulders and quad Punishers earlier today.  I’m shredded.

I will say this for the program, though - my shoulders and upper back look harder and more chiseled than they did at the start, so – like it or not – the high volume and overall pounding have done me some good.  John has some pec and leg development going on, too.  So – while I’ll be glad when we’re done – I’ll also be glad we went through it.  I could see myself doing a version of this again, although I’d be inclined to make some exercise substitutions, as well as make it shorter (i.e., 6 weeks vs. 9).

As noted before, Chris Woolston’s ”Healthy Skeptic” column in the LA Times is pretty good.  Here he is on the subject of diet patches…

Some day, scientists might develop an effective weight-loss patch, says Dr. Howard Eisenson, executive director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, N.C. But, to his mind, that day is probably still far off. The patches on the market today “are beyond ridiculous,” he says. “The more hyperbolic the claims, the more people can quickly dismiss the product.”

Eisenson says there’s no evidence that bladderwrack, a common ingredient in weight loss patches, can encourage weight loss or suppress appetite. The seaweed hasn’t been thoroughly tested orally, let alone through the skin, he says.

So far, no diet patch has passed muster in a published, peer-reviewed study, says Dr. Michael Steelman, past president of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians.

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Apparently GNC wants to be more appealing to women.  Time to pull out the pink!  From Monday’s NYT:

The ads, by Arnell in New York, part of the Omnicom Group, feature black-and-white photographs of wholesome women, and resemble ads for antiwrinkle creams or cosmetics.

The products — including be-Beautiful, which promises to revitalize skin, hair and nails, and be-Hot, which promises to “maximize the results of your workout” — are packaged in pastel containers, with pills that also are pink or lavender. Those pills are smaller than the norm for GNC, and have a flavored coating, since company research found a common complaint among women was that vitamins were unpleasant to swallow.

The goal was to “create a brand that looks like it was designed for women, by women,” said Beth J. Kaplan, president and chief merchandising and marketing officer at GNC. Containers have a clear window so women can glimpse pills that are “smaller and colored and really quite pretty,” Ms. Kaplan said.

Because wimminz need pretty pink and lavender pills to gaze at, and – of course – more space, so they can wander around without interfering with the purposeful, driven, barbell-lifting Men!

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I thought this was hilarious…

Nonetheless, it’s also pretty deadly – she’s got the “wedding culture” nailed. It’s pervasive:  everytime I’m in the grocery store, for example, I silently gag at the sight of those ubiquitous ”Bride” mags lining the checkout aisles.  Naturally, there are no “Groom” mags… as the vid illustrates, weddings are pageants focused on the BRIDE.  Thus, with all the pressure to be perfect on that One Special Day, it’s no surprise to see brides-to-be lose their perspectives.

Unfortunately, they may also lose their lives… 

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Bodybuilding.com has recalled 65 products containing suspected anabolic steroids as part of a cooperative arrangement with the FDA. According to Functional Ingredients Magazine:

The FDA has informed the Company that it believes that the Recalled Products contain ingredients that are steroids. Specifically, the FDA has advised the Company of its concern that the Recalled Products may contain the following ingredients that are currently classified, or the FDA believes should be classified, as steroids: “Superdrol,” “Madol,” “Tren,” “Androstenedione,” and/or “Turinabol.” While the Company has not had an opportunity to independently confirm the FDA’s concerns, the company is undertaking this voluntary recall in an abundance of caution.

Click here to read the rest of the article (inc. the list of recalled supps).

I was doing my usual, early a.m. blog surfing today, and ran into this “Dear Abby” column over at Philly.com:

DEAR ABBY: I am slightly overweight and want to lose 5 to 10 pounds. I admittedly have little self-control and always eat whatever is put in front of me.

My problem is, my wife continues to stock cookies, ice cream and other goodies in the house. Even though I have asked her on many occasions to stop, she refuses to honor my requests. She says “the kids” shouldn’t have to suffer because of my lack of self-control. Abby, I’d like our kids to eat better, too. What should I do?

I’d hate to split up over this issue because we have preteens and everything else is going well.

- Frustrated in San Diego

DEAR FRUSTRATED: The print and television media have, for some time, been filled with stories about the importance of children learning healthy eating habits and urging parents to not only stock the fridge and pantry with healthy snacks, but also to set a good example.

Your wife may have missed all of this, or she may have some ulterior motive for making sure you don’t lose the weight. Should this end an otherwise good marriage?

No, but please understand that if you do not draw the line, your children may also wind up paying the price.

Aaarrgh! Is this a pointless response or what?  What does she mean by “drawing the line”?  What sort of actions does she think he should take?  How do they differ from what he’s doing now?

Must be nice to get paid for dispensing perfectly useless “advice”.  This isn’t about the kids.  It’s about two grown-ups acting like kids.

I think I can do better.  Here goes:

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Paul posted a rant about Kellogg’s Froot Loops and Apple Jacks last week, so I figured I’d pile on too… Can’t let him have all the fun, after all.  According to a recent press release:

Kellogg Company Discontinues Immunity Statements On Rice Krispies Cereals

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Kellogg Company today announced its decision to discontinue the immunity statements on Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereals.

Last year, Kellogg Company started the development of adding antioxidants to Rice Krispies cereals. This is one way the Company responded to parents indicating their desire for more positive nutrition in kids’ cereal.

While science shows that these antioxidants help support the immune system, given the public attention on H1N1, the Company decided to make this change. The communication will be on pack for the next few months as packaging flows through store shelves. We will, however, continue to provide the increased amounts of vitamins A, B, C and E (25% Daily Value) that the cereal offers.

We will continue to respond to the desire for improved nutrition, and we are committed to communicating the importance of nutrition to our consumers.

Why are they doing this now?

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We did the last “Strength Max” wave workout today and I’m really feeling it.  The emphasis was on doing 3 sets x 6 reps – but this week there was only 2 minutes rest per set.  We also had to do a couple of drop sets in each workout.  These were tough, as each drop set was performed on the third set… with legs and arms that were already fried from the first two sets.

Today’s workout focused on quads and shoulders… I’m whipped.

Nonetheless, these last 3 weeks were actually my favorites – I thought they were pretty productive.  Not surprisingly, I’m also a little more tired after workouts now, than I was in the earlier weeks.  It’s a good thing that there are only two more weeks left to the program, and these will have a different emphasis (”Power Up”) – I’m juuuust about ready for a training break.

Ok, this covers a variety of “beauty” contraptions, but it’s still amusing…

My girlfriend and I were both stricken by the darn flu virus this week. Not surprising then, that we spent a good chunk of time huddled feverishly in blankets, sipping NeoCitran and watching T.V.

At one point during a commercial break, I became alarmed and had to scrabbled feverishly for my thermometer. What I  had just witnessed convinced me that I had descended into a state of delirium brought on by an upward-surging of my temperature. Surely I was seeing things? Drifting in and out of consciousness? Perhaps hovering in an altered state of consciousness, trapped somewhere between fever-inspired dreams and reality?

Nope.

Apparently, Kellog’s Fruit Loops are now an even more healthful way to start the morning, thanks to added fiber. Yep, it’s true. Fruit Loops are nutritious. Don’t believe me? See for yourself…

According to the NYT, hospitalization rates are increased for obese/morbidly obese people with swine flu infections.

Obesity appears to be a risk factor on a par with pregnancy for developing complications from an infection with pandemic H1N1 influenza, according to the most comprehensive look yet at swine flu hospitalizations.

About a quarter of those hospitalizations have been for people who were morbidly obese, even though such people make up less than 5% of the population. That fivefold increase in risk is close to the sixfold increase observed in pregnant women…When the merely obese are included with the morbidly obese, they make up 34% of the American population. Yet they accounted for 58% of the hospitalizations in the study.

…The researchers found that two-thirds of the obese patients had a health problem that was previously recognized as an underlying risk factor for swine flu. The most common were chronic lung disease, heart disease and diabetes.

But that still left one-third of obese patients without other risk factors, said Dr. Janice K. Louie, lead author of the study and chief of the state health department’s influenza and respiratory syndromes section.

There are many possible explanations.

This parallels a University of Michigan report released a few months ago.

This article from Scientific American is from March, but it’s still quite timely… It provides a common sense answer to a recurring question: whether it’s best to eat vegetables cooked or raw.

The whole article is worth a read, although I’ll give you the conclusion up front:

Comparing the healthfulness of raw and cooked food is complicated, and there are still many mysteries surrounding how the different molecules in plants interact with the human body. The bottom line, says Liu, is to eat your veggies and fruits no matter how they’re prepared.

“We cook them so they taste better,” Liu says. “If they taste better, we’re more likely to eat them.” And that’s the whole idea.

Bingo.  The “raw vs. cooked” debate is one I’ve had to deal with on the forums I mod, too.  When people want to get healthy, it seems that “black/white” rules are innately appealing.  If it isn’t the bestest of the best ways to do something, then it’s just no damn good at all.  But in my humble opinion, a few compromises that make healthy living more palatable and enjoyable are infinitely worth it… health isn’t a religion, so there’s no need to be a martyr.  If you eat a wide variety of both raw and cooked veggies, you won’t be missing out on anything “real” as far as your health and vitality are concerned.

Click here to read a pretty inspirational article in the LA Times.  It profiles 5 different people (including actor Larry Hagman) who were able to eliminate their need for insulin… and other medications as well.  Needless to state, there were no magic supps involved… just lifestyle changes.  Very significant lifestyle changes, too.

It’s safe to say that some of these folks workout more than I do (you won’t catch me jogging or hitting the elliptical every day – lol)!   These folks didn’t start from zero, either… more like minus 10.  Here’s a brief rundown:

• Aaron Snyder: 220 lbs. —> 160 lbs. (low carb diet). Lifts weights 4 days/week + rides a stationary bike for 30 min. 3 days/week.
• Howard Yosha: 240 lbs. —> 175 lbs. (low calorie diet). Participates in 2 – 4 yoga classes/week and walks/jogs 2 – 8 miles/day.
• John Burgess: 305 lbs. —> 211 lbs.(low calorie/reduced carb diet).  Puts in 5 1/2 miles on elliptical/day.
• Louise Valenciana: 242 lbs. —> 189 lbs. (low calorie diet). Walks every day for 40 minutes.
• Larry Hagman: 216 lbs. —> 196 lbs. (reduced calorie/carb diet). Exercises for 1 – 2 hours each day (free weights, cardio machines, walking).

Read the whole thing.  It took a lot of dedication to go from where they were, to where they are now.  Color me impressed.

This was a continuation of the “Strength Max” wave of the the program.  The changes this week involved a) doing 4 reps /set (vs. 6) at a 3-0-1-0 tempo; and b) performing a different superset for each workout.  The supersets were tough to do, as each one was placed towards the end of each workout, when we were starting to tire.  The muscle groups hit by these were triceps, upper back and shoulders.

The “Play Heart” (cardio) workouts are going great – I was able to increase my intensity a bit this week.  Unfortunately, the weather kept us largely indoors and confined to the machines (treadmill and elliptical).  We went shopping today for some cold weather workout gear, however, which will make it easier to do outdoor cardio (and/or Prowler workouts) as long as it’s dry.  The time change is a pain, though, as it’s going to be getting dark an hour earlier… it will be tough for John to get home in time for outdoor workouts during the week.  We may be stuck doing weekends only.

We’re 2/3 of the way through… 3 more weeks to go.