Healthy Recipe Doctor

I saw it with my dad and I've seen it happen to friends' loved ones... I call it the downward spiral. This is when people get so obese or medically challenged that they can't be active. It becomes a downward spiral because the heavier or more medically challenged they get, the harder it is to exercise and be physically active and yet one of the only ways they can improve their situation medically is to be physically active.

Perhaps, like in my dad's case, the window of opportunity to "get with the program" while he still had legs that worked pretty well and the ability to exercise somewhat...came and went. Once there was neurological damage (he had type 2 diabetes) and even small amounts of physical activity were difficult, then it becomes even MORE challenging to lose weight and be active. Enter.... the downward spiral.

Various different reports have been coming out basically telling us that Americans are more (not less) obese than we were 10 years ago. What that tells me is that everything we have been doing as a nation and society to fix this problem over the past 10 years hasn't been working. All those billions of dollars spent (each year) on weight loss products, books and programs...have been a sickening waste of money. Looks like we need a plan B pretty darn quick.

There is no quick fix and America has to face that. Turning this obesity train around is going to take everything we've got...changing the environment we live in (to make healthy eating and regular exercise more possible), it's going to take helping people make permanent lifestyle changes, helping people deal with the personal issues that are contributing to binge-eating and overeating (if this is a factor for them personally), and it's going to take a whole lot of compassion. And we are going to have to do all of this while people still have a chance of turning their health around.

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Labels: exercise, healthy diet, heart health, obesity, weight loss

When traveling or spending a day hiking or wherever your summer plans lead you... packing a couple of energy bars along can come in handy. They have to taste good to you, of course, but what about what's inside?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (and shouldn't THEY know what to look for in an energy bar) if exercising, it's important to select a bar (PDF file):

With about 25-40 grams of carbohydrate

With less than 15 grams of protein, because it's not a crucial fuel source during exercise.

Without too much fat (some bars can pack a wallop of fat grams) because fat slows digestion and isn't helpful as fuel during exercise.

They also suggest eating one bar about an hour before a long workout and if exercising for more than an hour, eat one high-carb bar per hour of exercise (and don't forget to drink ample amounts of water too).

Do my favorite sports bars follow all of the above?