Carole Carson

Do Friends Make You Fat?

A study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine found that our friends can make us fat, even when the friendship is a long-distance one. But wait! If I’m overweight, am I making my friend fat? Or is my overweight friend making me fat?

I can’t answer that question, but I can tell you that the research is right! Here’s what I mean.

My niece lost 80 pounds shortly after the birth of her second child. At the time, she had a 4 year-old and a full-time job as a data manager at a big corporation. Even as a child, she had been overweight. When I learned in amazement that she had become trim and fit, I realized I could do it as well.

Once I made changes in my lifestyle and lost 62 pounds, my family and friends started making changes as well. I don’t take credit for their decision or their resulting weight losses. I just marvel at the chain of events.

My brother has lost about 30 pounds, my son-in-law about 60. My stepson has lost about 45 pounds. My son in France has lost about 35. My mother, in her early 90s, has lost 20 pounds. My older sister, who just turned 70, has lost at least 30 pounds. My tennis partner won’t tell me how many pounds she has lost but judging from her appearance, I would guess at least 20. I could name more, but you get the idea.

The most accurate statement I can make is, perhaps my example became a catalyst for family and friends to examine and change their lifestyle, just as my niece’s example was for me.

The implications of the research are stunning. Each of us needs to understand the impact we have on each other, whether we are a parent, friend, grandparent, son, or daughter.

Each of us has a unique opportunity to be a role model for everyone around us. On the flip side, we can look to others to be positive role models for us, too.

When you think about it, this research isn’t so startling. We humans are, after all, social creatures. When my friend yawns, I yawn. When the grocery clerk smiles, I smile back.

One thing the research makes clear, though, is that we’re all in this together.

We have a choice. We can be negative role models. But as you can see from the weight loss among my family members and friends, when it comes to eating and fitness, we can just as easily be positive examples.

We must make our choices knowing that our decisions help shape not only our own bodies but those of our family and friends.

Take a “No Gain, No Returning Pain” Vacation

I work hard, so I want to enjoy my vacations. At the same time, I don’t want to give up everything I’ve invested in losing weight and getting fit.

 

I could give in and indulge myself, knowing I’ll shape up later? But if I decide to indulge, I may need to brace myself when I see the number on the scale when I return home.

 

I could go on an austere vacation, spending precious time feeling sorry for myself, frustrated that I never get a vacation from eating carefully.

 

Is there a middle ground? Yes. Here are four ideas that I use:

 

1. Drink plenty of water. By staying hydrated, you’ll be more aware of whether your body is hungry or thirsty. You won’t be eating when all you really wanted was a glass of water.
2. Seek fresh food. Buy lunch at the local grocery store. Pick out a salad and some fresh fruit. Or purchase a carton of yogurt and order a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. If you want to eat out, find places that offer healthy options. For a list of those options in the area you are traveling, go to www.healthyhighways.com
3. Keep a cooler packed with healthy drinks and snacks. Include some fruit and other healthy snacks such as a jar of peanut butter, a carton of low-fat cottage cheese, or hard-boiled eggs. Some rental cars have built-in coolers.
4. Take your fitness clothes and gear along. Look for parks that you can walk in, hotels that have exercise options, and fitness centers that have day passes.

 

Facing higher numbers on my credit card statement after returning from vacation is tough enough. I don’t want to face higher numbers on the bathroom scale as well.

 

You can borrow my tips and add your own. That way, both you and I can have wonderful vacations and come back feeling fit, rested and relaxed.

Reduce (or Add) Fat with an Injection—Too Good to Be True?

An injection that makes fat disappear? This revolutionary weight-loss breakthrough reported in major U. S. publications, such as The Washington Post and also internationally, such as The Herald Sun, Australia’s biggest newspaper.

 

Sound like another scam? Consider the source: Dr. Zofia Zukowska.  Be assured, Dr. Zukowska is not a snake-oil promoter. Indeed, she is a highly educated and talented researcher at Georgetown University. The abstract of her research is available in the July 31, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

 

It’s not an easy read. Fortunately for laypersons like me, the remarkable results of her research are summarized in the opening paragraph of the abstract.

 

Briefly, what Dr. Zukowska has been able to do in experimental animals is manipulate a particular chemical (neuropeptide Y, referred to as NPY) so that fat is either increased or decreased. The result is that fat can be “remodeled.”

 

The implications of this research are stunning. Lips or breasts could be enlarged through a simple injection. More importantly for most of us, belly fat could disappear with a shot in the stomach. 

 

Human testing is about two years away, but Dr. Zukowska’s research could make dieting and surgical enhancements obsolete, assuming, of course, that any side effects are manageable.

 

Satisfying our desire to look better isn’t enough. We still need to exercise our bodies to build strength, maintain balance, strengthen the heart and remain flexible. Still, trimming down might encourage those of us who are discouraged by our excess weight to become more physically active. 

 

This is exciting research. I’m staying in touch with Dr. Zukowska’s staff because I want to be first in line for a tummy injection. I have a couple of pounds of stubborn fat on my belly that just won’t go away! I’ll keep you posted.

 

Have You Forgotten How Good You Can Feel? Turn Back Your Biological Clock

Do you feel tired? Experience joint pain or stiffness when you move? What about headaches and depression? Don’t make the mistake of attributing these effects to aging. Indeed, they may be nothing of the sort. Instead, like me, you may simply be suffering from surplus body fat and sustained inactivity.

 

In his book, Younger Next Year, co-author Dr. Harry Lodge asserts that we can turn back our biological clocks. If we are willing to exercise regularly and eat on the slim side—even though the clock is ticking away—we can perform both physically and mentally into our 90s. Impressed with the idea of reversing aging, his readers have begun following the advice. Their excited stories and results are posted on Dr. Lodge’s Web site.

 

You simply can’t read the stories without wanting to jump up and join them in their successful effort to reclaim their youthful vitality. When your spirit needs a lift, read a story or two. That’s what I do.

Where to Begin: Taking the First Steps on the Path to Fitness

If you are to reach your fitness goals, you’ll need to learn, grow and practice. In that spirit, pick one, two or all three of these assignments to experiment with this week.

 

F: Fix and eat a vegetarian meal one or more times this week, and replace white rice with brown rice. Researchers report that simply replacing white rice with brown rice reduces the risk of diabetes by one-third.

 

I: Introduce a new form of exercise into your routine. Without making a long-term commitment, decide to try something new and invite a friend to join you. Approach the exercise with an open mind—you are just going to see if you like it.

 

T: Target the one habit that most undermines your fitness and weight loss goals. Examine the habit in detail. Once you get the habit under your microscope, decide how to modify, abandon or replace the habit with a healthier one.

 

If none of these assignments appeals to you, create your own list. Improvising is always encouraged. Whatever you do, begin and then continue.

 

Trivia Question: Does Knee Surgery Trigger an Increase or a Decrease in Weight?

Knee replacement surgery is designed to help patients gain mobility and resume normal activities, including regular exercise. During the two years following knee surgery, how much weight do patients lose or gain?

1. Two-thirds of the patients lose 14 pounds.

2. Two-thirds of the patients neither lose nor gain weight.

3. Two-thirds of the patients gain 14 pounds.

The answer is number 3. Researchers at the University of Delaware found that the majority of patients continued their sedentary lifestyle and gained weight despite their restored mobility through knee replacement surgery. At the end of two years, the average weight gain was 14 pounds.

AARP's FAT-TO-FIT WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

AARP’S FAT-TO-FIT WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
CHALLENGES AMERICANS TO LOSE 10,000 Pounds

“Fat-To-Fit” Program to Track Weight Loss and Lifestyle Changes over Three-Month Challenge

Today (June 21, 2010), we launched AARP’s second annual “Fat-to-Fit Summer Weight Loss Challenge,” an online program challenging people to make positive, permanent lifestyle changes to improve their health. The Fat 2 Fit challenge will be hosted on AARP’s website (www.aarp.org/fat2fit). I will lead the Fat 2 Fit online community members through the summer-long program.

Studies show people are more likely to stick to exercise plans when they have support, and the Fat 2 Fit program will focus on personal interaction with both me and other participants through the Fat 2 Fit online community, which already boasts more than 4,600 members. Here participants will be able to access free diet and fitness tips, informational articles, videos, recipes and more.

Unlike diets and other weight-loss programs, the Fat-to-Fit Challenge is intended to help people make permanent, positive lifestyle changes–not just drop 10 pounds and then return to their old habits. Our hope is to help people break the diet-relapse cycle for good.

Beginning today, visitors to www.AARP.org will be invited to join the Fat-to-Fit Summer Weight Loss Challenge. Participants record their weight and activity and strive to lose pounds. Every time a user updates his or her weight, the Fat 2 Fit site shows how much weight he or she has lost since joining and how many pounds the Fat 2 Fit community has lost collectively. Participation in the Fat 2 Fit online community is key to the contest. Participants are urged to post frequent updates and to exchange ideas, encouragement, recipes and moral support.

The challenge will run through September 6, 2010. Throughout the challenge, I will select weekly prize winners, and when the challenge ends, I will select the top five overall winners. Winners will be selected on three criteria: serving as a role model for the entire community, facing and overcoming challenges, and demonstrating the principles of the Fat 2 Fit program. The first-place winner will receive a one-year Gold’s Gym membership, with six months of personal training, and also receive a trip to Orlando, Florida, where the winner will participate in a health session with me at AARP’s Orlando@50+ National Event and Expo, September 30-October 2, 2010. Official rules and details are available at www.aarp.org/fat2fit.

Sugar: A Rose by Any Other Name

Sugar comes in many forms and hides behind many names in the labels of processed and packaged foods. If you aren’t familiar with its various forms, you may consume more sugar than you realize. The extra calories can trigger weight inflation on the bathroom scale. Even more seriously, for those people diagnosed with diabetes, extra sugar can raise blood-sugar levels and impact health and well-being.

Photo courtesy of Tara Bartal

Here’s how to recognize sugar operating under one of its aliases:

. Corn sweetener

. Corn syrup

. Dextrose

. Fructose

. Glucose

. High-fructose corn syrup

. Honey

. Lactose

. Maltose

. Malt syrup

. Molasses

. Sucrose

. Syrup

Check labels on processed foods for these names. By eliminating or reducing the sugar in your diet, you can more easily manage your weight, health and well-being.

Why Not Begin Today?

Now never seems like a good time to begin to make the changes we need to make in our lives. Yet today is all we have. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is a day away.

So what can you do TODAY?

T: Tell everyone you meet that you are going to lose weight and adopt a new, healthy lifestyle.

O: Organize a team of supporters. Enlist team members wherever you can find them. Consider your doctor, neighbors, colleagues, parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, cousins and friends.

D: Decide how much weight you need to lose, how many minutes each day you will exercise and how many calories you will consume each day. Write it down in a notebook and review it daily.

A: Act immediately. Begin today. Stick to your program no matter what. Make getting fit your first priority.

Y: Yield to your longing for a vital, trim, flexible and athletic body.

If you begin TODAY, you will quickly recover the zestful joy of living you knew as a child. A change of heart, nothing less and nothing more, will help you realize fitness beyond your wildest dreams. Begin TODAY!

Photo courtesy of Sanja Gjenero

Hold the Salt!

Experts advise healthy Americans to eat no more than 1 teaspoon of salt a day, and they recommend that individuals with high blood pressure consume even less. Yet the average American consumes 2 teaspoons a day. Surplus salt is dangerous because it increases blood pressure that can trigger heart disease, stroke or kidney disease. Too much salt also increases the risk of stomach cancer and makes us feel bloated.

How do we end up eating too much salt? Not from the salt shaker on the table. Up to 80 percent of our salt is hidden in processed foods. Here are four ways that you can use to moderate your salt consumption:

1. Avoid the saltiest foods: deli and processed meats, canned soups and salty condiments, like soy sauce.

2. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables along with whole grains. Most unprocessed foods are low in salt.

3. Eat at home. Restaurant food, whether fast food or fine dining, typically contains more salt than home-cooked meals.

4. Read labels. Many food manufacturers are voluntarily reducing the salt in their products with no loss of flavor. For instance, low-salt soy sauce is available.

One recent study concluded that if each one of us ate one-third less salt a day (a change we would hardly notice), we could prevent 100,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths every year and net $240 billion in health care savings. I’m willing to give up some salt to achieve this goal and improve my health. What about you?

Photo courtesy of Mette Finderup