More people fatter now than in 2007

It's official: We're getting fatter. The number of obese people in the United States has increased by 2.4 million since 2007, according to a CDC special report released Tuesday.

The report also says that 9 states – up from 3 in 2007 – now report obesity levels at 30 percent or higher (in 2000, no states were in that category). Not a single state has reached the 15 percent goal set in the CDC's "Healthy People 2010" initiative.

"Obesity is a major public health problem," said CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden. "We need intensive and ongoing efforts to address obesity, or more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer."

In addition to the added number of obese people, the report also explored the costs associated with obesity and related conditions.

"In 2008 dollars, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billon," Frieden said. "That translates into medical costs for people who are obese that were $1,429 higher per person each year, compared to normal-weight individuals."

Frieden, and Dr. Bill Dietz, Director of CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, went on to say that national programs like the Let's Move campaign and state programs that address health-related infrastructure are steps in the right direction.

"Obesity is a societal problem, and it will take a societal response," Frieden said.

Barriers to Exercise-I Haven't Got Time in the Morning by Lou Haskins

this blog discusses being healthy in America today.

TIME !

OKAY,   you don't have time to exercise, eat right and get healthy.

Sooooo,  let's complete the thought here.............you'll just continue gaining pounds, eating junk food and hardening your arteries.

I know, and you know, that is a recipe for misery and severe health problems.. 

It really is a matter of perspective. In earlier posts I mentioned the MENTAL shift; that change in attitude that causes people to realize if they don't do something, NOW, they will soon have a severe health event or worse!     

Just like working a budget, many people who succeeded in making time for exercise inventoried themselves and analized how their time was actually being spent.

Carl Jung had it right.

If getting up ten minutes earlier was needed for the morning session, they did it. If lunch was a time spent sitting and eating, they changed that. Instead of coming home and frantically trying to be chauffeur, cook and housemaid, they found ways to integrate physical activity into the tasks.

 Here are some real-world examples of people's successful methods to add that TEN stinkin' minutes into their busy day.

MORNINGS

1.  She set the alarm ten minutes earlier and did breathing and stretching.
If you have to, go to bed ten minutes earlier. So what, if at first, you're in bed lying awake at night? Use the time to plan how you will go about improving your health.

2. He bought books and devised his own ten minute meditation/breathing/stretching/yoga/strength program.
You know better than anyone what you like to do; what you hate to do. If you own it, you're more likely to do it.

3. He stretched a bungee cord across the doorway.  
By physically reminding himself that removing it was the signal to ride his bike to work, he did it. Breakfast became fresh fruit, a healthy meal bar and water on the way.

4. She bought a mini-stepper. After breakfast and before leaving for work, she watched TV news and brushed her teeth while stepping her way to fitness!

 







 

5. She planted a small garden.  "It was so relaxing!"

 For non-gardeners....Pulling weeds and raking and pruning gives the body and the mind a good workout. Enjoying the morning quiet time was an unforeseen bonus..

6. He challenged the kids to a duel.  Who ever could beat dad on the balance board got to pick special things. (he came up with a point system for them to earn a much desired item) Guess who won.

  

So, get inventive! If you have decided you really want to improve your health, you WILL find a way! 

A few notes for the purists.  I'm well aware that some of these activities may be less than ten minutes (at first) and the intensity may not be great; but it's a funny thing about exercise. The more you do it, the more you want to do it, as well as making it more challenging.

Inch by inch, life's a cinch. 

If you don't start, NOTHING will happen, right?

Also, don't fall into the trap of skipping breakfast to make time for activity. It has been proven many times over that those who eat breakfast can better manage their weight.

Keep a record of what you do. It is key to maintaining momentum. Put it on the refrigerator door. You KNOW you'll see it there!

Next post-some examples of noon time ten minute exercise breaks.

Barriers to Exercise-NO TIME! by Lou Haskins

this blog discusses being healthy in America today

The late, great comedian, Rodney Dangerfield once said, " If I knew I was gonna live THIS long, I'd have taken better care of myself!"

Take this quiz and get a good understanding of why you're not taking better care of yourself.
                                           Click on Quiz for full-screen size and printing.

Click on Quiz for full-screen size and printing

Courtesy of CDC (Center for Disease Control)

 Time is there, you just have to prioritize it.

In the morning, before breakfast, take ten minutes to do some yoga, deep breathing, or if the kids are up, play with them before breakfast for that all-important ten minutes. It becomes a habit. Surely, you can find TEN minutes.
If you do it before you eat, your metabolism revs up and you burn calories more efficiently.

After all, we are descended from hunter-gathers. They didn't roll over in the cave and pour a cup of coffee and toast a bagle. They had to expend energy and go find breakfast; and often, it fought back!

For a good blog on food, read my friend Brenna, a registered dietitian who counsels diabetic patients.
You can find her at http://eating-simple.blogspot.com/
She sees the effects of poor diet every day. She can help.
Next up, more examples of ten minute exercise examples you can use in your daily activities.

The Time is Now!! By Lou Haskins

this blog discusses being healthy in America today

I recently did a series of postings on how to make Behavior Changes, and why it is so difficult.

It seems logical to follow with this series; what is known by trainers as Barriers to Exercise.



The #1 reason for not getting the recommended amount of PA (physical activity) each day is.................?
drum roll please..................TIME! 

So, when we GET time, we'll start, right?  Unh Hunh! Yeah!


If you are seriously trying to do do something about you health and fitness, (action phase), don't let TIME get in the way, make it an ally!


The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has updated its' recommendations for exercise Do you know that now, your activity can be broken down into segments? 

Three 10 minute periods of activity a day can meet the minimum requirement of 30 minutes, at least 5 days a week, for physical activity. 

Here's great link to the ACSM updated guidelines as well asMETs.
You really should be looking for this kind of info if you have moved into the planning or action phase.  
 
http://www.bodyresults.com/e2acms_2007.asp

This site gives a terrific explanation of METs and how you can use them to boost your activity. 



 BTW, you'll notice it's now PA (physical activity) and not exercise. This reflects the more inclusive view that anything that gets you up and moving can be beneficial. For example, common chores like washing the car or doing housework. It counts! There's this system called METs (metabolic equivalents) that lets you keep track. Keeping a record is key. 
A good place is on the refrigerator. You KNOW you'll be going there!
 
 

If you have kids, involving them makes it quality time, sets a great precedent for them, requires more calories and  effort, but only a little more time. Kids love to help. Let them! They'll be grown and gone before you know it!

So, think about the ten minutes. Surely you can find ten minutes, right?  Think about that and in the next post, I'll give you some real life examples of what people are doing to get PA of ten minutes, three times a day.

Have You Ever Taken a CPR Course? by Lou Haskins

This blog discusses being healthy in America today

CPR - cardio pulmonary resuscitation, the first treatment for a person who has collapsed and is not breathing and/or has no pulse. It consists of  an external cardiac massage and artificial respiration.

You can use  this lifesaving skill any where, any time without any equipment help.
A lot of things have changed, so even if you had it years ago, you need a refresher.

And, for those who have never learned this simple skill, pray that someone you love never needs CPR while you are helplessly standing by.

The guilt can be overwhelming!

  Make sure you get a course that actually has you practice on a simulated 

 person!

 Reading about it is not enough if you find yourself in this high-stress situation.

Having CPR skills is something you'll NEVER regret!

It Isn't Hopeless! by Lou Haskins, CPT

this blog discusses being healthy in America today

A couple of hours ago, I was a guest of Michael Perskin, MD, on Dr Radio.
http://www.sirius.com/doctorradio

His show is called Healthy Aging.
He had me as a guest because I'm a certified personal trainer and 71 years old.
I'm a healthy and fit; and the idea was for me to answer, with the doctor, caller's questions relating to exercise for older adults.

The first caller described her husband. He's 50,  5'9" and weighs 280lbs. He's had a heart attack and now has developed diabetes!
She was beside herself. No matter what, she couldn't get him to exercise or make positive improvements in his lifestyle.
I really empathize with them.
She married this man, has loved this man, had his children and is now watching him kill himself through inertia and inability to change.
Change! It is so  difficult!
He most most likely feels stuck. He just doesn't think HE can do it-make the change.

If he and she should read this post, I urge you to review the earlier posts I've made on this site regarding this very subject, behavior change.

I have been there! This is me at age 60! Five feet, nine inches and 265lbs!
I didn't even feel like I had a problem, until it was almost too late!




 

Your body is capable of remarkable improvement, no matter what your present condition, if you just give yourself half a chance.

Don't blame it on your genes.

Don't give up because you've had bad experiences and exposures up to now.

Here's an analogy.

Your genes are like a gun.
It is what it is. You can't change it, it can be beneficial or harmful depending on what happens with it.

Our environment loads the bullets.
Now, that gun can be deadly.
 

     But, it is our unhealthy lifestyle that pulls the trigger!
     Stop committing suicide!
     Don't pull the trigger!

     Change your lifestyle!
     It's NOT hopeless!


   
                                        Here's a motto I suggest anyone can adopt.

                                           If HE or SHE can do it, I can do it!

Something's Fishy - by Lou Haskins

This blog discusses being healthy in America today   

As a young man in the Navy,  I was stationed in Argentia, Newfoundland in 1964-68.

I was reminded  of this recently when I got an email from a friend that served with me there. We reminisced about the great fishing.
It was pretty much unspoiled then, and we loved it.
One of the fun things to do was to fish for codfish. It was so simple and easy. You stood on the pier or shore, cast out a big spoon or plug lure and start reeling in. When everything stopped, and it felt like you had snagged a rock, you just had to keep reeling. After a couple of minutes, what felt like dragging an anvil, would turn out to be a 25lb codfish! (or bigger)

With white delicate meat, it made a delicious, healthy meal.

So, here's an updated healthy Mediterranean-style codfish recipe, complete with how to cook it and tell if  it's done, courtesy of the Canadian Department of Marine Fisheries.

Notice the calorie, carbohydrate, salt and fat content in the nutritional analysis below the recipe-it doesn't get much better than that! And, the fat is healthy!

The header on the recipie, how to cook fish, applies to all types.
Most people tend to overcook fish, in which case, it gets dry and tasteless.
If that happens, throw away the fish and eat the pan! It will taste better!
BON APPETIT!