Drinking Milk Helps Weight Loss

We've got all sorts of things for weight loss: pills, diet books, surgery, and even vibrating machines you strap around your belly. But, who would have thought the answer would be as simple as drinking milk.

A new study claims consuming milk and calcium helped people lose more weight, regardless of diet.

But, before you go out and buy your own personal dairy cow, take a look at who sponsored the study.

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, experts found study participants (300 overweight men and women, ages 40 to 65, on either a low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carb diet) with the highest dairy calcium intake, 12 ounces of milk - equal to 580 milligrams of dairy calcium - lost 12 pounds at the end of two years, regardless of the diet style.

On the flipside, people with the lowest dairy calcium intake, 150 milligrams of dairy calcium, about half a glass of milk, only lost seven pounds.

The magic might not just be in the milk or the calcium. The researchers say vitamin D levels were higher in the people who lost the most weight. Vitamin D is a nutrient that acts like a hormone, and helps facilitate calcium absorption. Other sources of vitamin D include fatty fish like salmon and algae supplements.

But, the research has a fatal, and sadly all too common flaw, it was supported by the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Research Foundation, i.e. a fad diet company. Atkins advocates a high-fat diet for weight-loss, eating foods like bacon, steak, eggs, and of course milk, so you've got to raise an eyebrow. It's the same as a cigarette maker backing research that claims inhaling tobacco smoke actually improves lung health. Fail.

When a fad diet, activist group, or pharmaceutical company sponsors a study the findings can't be trusted. It's like a mafia don buying a judge.

Image credit: [ henning ]

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Belly Fat Cure

The Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise has found its way to the New York Times Best Seller List, and is one of the latest diets hoping to appeal to the millions of people who struggle with obesity.

Jorge Cruise is also the author of the popular 3 Hour Diet, which instructed dieters to eat every three hours to lose weight.

So, what does Cruise's new diet promote in order to help dieters lose belly fat and the promised "4 pounds a week"?

The basic premise of Jorge Cruise's new diet is based on keeping insulin levels regulated in the body. The Belly Fat Cure states that high insulin levels cause the liver to turn sugar into fat, which ultimately gets stored in the belly.

If a dieter wishes to keep insulin levels within a healthy range he/she must get rid of simple sugars from the diet. Jorge says that The Belly Fat Cure isn't about counting calories, but about paying attention to what kind of calories are being consumed.

Jorge claims that eating less and exercising more doesn't work, and he guarantees if the dieter sticks to his plan "to the letter", he/she will lose 4 pounds a week, and results will be "almost instant".

Cruise offer's prospective dieters a free 7 day plan and promises to be with the dieter every step of the way.

Breakfast 2 or 3 eggs any style with one slice of whole grain toast with a pat of butter or cream cheese. A cup of coffee with cream or half and half; but not milk, its full of hidden sugarSnack LunchSnack Dinner Salad with baby spinach, grilled chicken, crushed black pepper, and olive oil dressing. A side of either broccoli or zucchini, sauteed in butter and topped with melted mozzarella.Dessert Decaf espresso with a dollop of heavy whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon and sweetened with a packet of stevia.While cutting out simple sugars isn't really anything new, and has been shown to be effective in helping people not only lose weight, but to have better health as well, many of Cruise's claims in The Belly Fat Cure aren't based on solid research, and are more or less marketing hyperbole.

Statements such as "results are almost instantly", "eating less exercising more doesn't work", as well as "flavoring each of your three main meals daily with a pinch of salt will also aid in digestion and accelerate your weight loss", are simply not factual.

I signed up for the 7 day sample plan, which was really just a ploy to get me on Cruise's mailing list. It contained very little information, apart from a couple days worth of menus that to me seemed to be quite high in saturated fat, and was designed for a 40 year old woman, which I am not.

In Cruises automated email he claims to be with me every step of the way, yet when I replied to his email with a question, it instantly bounced back saying email quota was exceeded.

Although Cruise is a pretty savvy marketer of his products, by getting attention from Oprah and Dr. Oz, his Belly Fat Cure teaches nothing new and actually encourages dieters to consume high amounts of saturated fat and salt. Not to mention the widely disproved notion that belly fat can be targeted by a certain diet or certain exercises.

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Interview With Ben Davis: "My 120 Pound Journey"

In January of 2009, a young man by the name of Ben Davis had had enough. He was 358lbs, and his weight was taking its toll on his health and his personal life. Then one day he started to run...

If you haven't seen this incredibly inspiring video, do yourself a favor and watch it. Then watch it again, and share it with others. Ben Davis' journey is a true testament of the human spirit and what one can accomplish with dedication, hard work (and some nipple band aids!)

Here's the video:

Determined to get into the head of such a determined and fearless human being, I caught up with Ben Davis, and had the privilege of picking his brain about his amazing journey.

MH: Hello Ben!

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time out to do this.

BD: It's my pleasure; I'm honored.

MH: I was really struck by the line in the video that says "and then I got inspired". Was there a moment/event/epiphany that occurred that sparked you into action? Describe if you can what the turning point was.

BD: There was absolutely a moment for me. It was Christmas of '08. I was spending the break with my grandmother in Massachusetts. She's always been a big supporter of me, but has always been concerned with my health and obesity. Throughout my life, she had always offered me advice and tips on how to become healthy, but where I appreciated it, I had also always kind of dismissed it. Then, this particular Christmas, in one of our many conversations she just asked me if I was happy. At the time, I just nonchalantly told her I was. Later that night, though, I started to think about it, and realized I wasn't happy. I also had the luxury of being able to pinpoint my sadness to my obesity.

So the next morning was Christmas and, being the irresponsible grandchild, I hadn't gotten her a gift. I woke up early and made the website. I wrote the address on a card for her and told her it was my commitment to her, that it was finally time to get my life together. She loved it.

MH: When you decided you were going to start running, did you have a specific goal in mind? Did you ever imagine when you started this journey less than 2 years ago that you would have undergone such a drastic transformation?

BD: There wasn't really any goals at first other than, "lose weight, get fit." But I knew running would be a means to that end, so my brother, Jed, and I signed up for a 5K to kind of kickstart us and give us something to work towards. He had about 50 pounds to lose (and has, by the way) so it was a perfect time for us both to be getting our act together.

But finishing the 5K 17 days later lit a fire in me. I loved the race atmosphere and loved seeing my times improve, so I never looked back.

MH: People start these kinds of endeavors all the time with the best of intentions, but very few of them accomplish what you did. What was it that kept you going, Ben?

BD: A few things, actually. First of all, the fear of going back to the dark place of depression. I knew how sad I was back then and never wanted to go back. I actually wrote a letter to my future self on the blog. It basically said, "Dude, if you're thinking of giving up, just remember, you've never been as happy as you are now. Keep going." And any time I would have a bad run or eat bad for a week, I would remember that letter and keep going.

Second thing was the running scene and the constant races. Having races and goals for those races really keeps the motivation up. I probably wouldn't have been successful if I had gone in just trying to have random workouts each day. With races, you're always kind of on a set schedule, training wise, and always wanting to improve your times, so you're always motivated to keep hitting the track.

MH: You've accomplished such an amazing feat to this point. What are some of your personal and athletic goals for the future?

Being bigger, I'm not really built for speed. I'm more into the long distance, endurance stuff like triathlons and long road races, so my goals are more marathonish type things. Of course, it would be fantastic to run a marathon in all 50 states. That's one of our big goals. More Ironmans, no doubt. And recently we've been toying with the idea of a 100-miler, but nothing set on that. The main goal, though, is to keep going. Just keep doing it. If nothing else, just make sure to stay with it.

MH: Lastly, what message do you have for people out there who may find themselves in a situation similar to yours of 2 years ago?

BD: My four commandments!

1. Be public
If you keep this to yourself, it will be easy to quit. The thing about having a health problem/addiction, is that the natural impulse is to hide it and keep it secret that you're trying to better yourself. But, it's also easier to quit if it's just you that knows about it.

And here's a secret: Unlike some addictions like alcoholism or drug use that are hideable, obesity is different. People know you're obese. It's not your little secret; you're not fooling anyone (no matter how much black or vertical lines you wear). So if you want to change, tell people. It seems embarrassing, I know. And it's hard, but you'll find that the people that love and care about you are going to be excited for you.

2. Get involved in something official
The feeling of being a part of something bigger than yourself will keep you motivated to keep going. Join a local fitness movement (running club, cycling group, weight watchers, etc...) If you have a group of people with likeminded goals, you'll keep coming back. As a bonus, if you join a running club, you'll have official races (Crazy scary, at first, but really no big deal) that you can work toward to keep you having goals. Get involved. You won't regret it.

3. Do something that you enjoy
Running isn't for everyone, so don't do it if you don't want to. Do you enjoy rollerblading? Good. Do that, but do it enough for it to work. Love cycling? Perfect. Did you swim in high school and kind of wish you could get back into it? Great.

If you hate what you're doing, you won't be doing it for very long. If I had said at the beginning, "I'm going to get really freaking good at doing the elliptical," BenDoesLife would have lasted two weeks. Find something that works for you and kill it. You can do it.

4. Be a smarter eater
And I don't mean you have to find a popular name-brand diet thing. If you want to, fine, but they aren't for everyone. But you have to eat better and, more importantly, smarter. Are you and your friends going out for pizza? Ok. Have two slices instead of seven (which was my number of choice.) Want something easy for breakfast? Toast an English muffin rather than a Pop-Tart.

And, if nothing else, learn portion control. Our portion sizes are completely out of whack these days, and what you think is a small meal is probably still more than you should be eating. It's going to take a month or two before you're used to the smaller portions but you'll get there, and it's imperative that you do. Give it time.

MH: Well, Ben I'm sure I speak for many when I wish you a very heartfelt congratulations and all the best in your future pursuits.

Be sure to check out Ben's blog - documenting his continuing journey and sharing thoughts, tips and other musings.

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Poll: Hugh Jackman May Bulk Up Vegan for Wolverine II

A few weeks ago our weekly poll focused on how a vegan diet almost killed Angelina Jolie.

Now it's been reported that Hugh Jackman is considering using a vegan diet to bulk up for his next movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine II. If a vegan diet almost "killed" Angelina will it produce a ripped, fierce, yet vegetarian wolverine?

In a recent interview with VegNews, Brendan Brazier, (a vegan nutritionist, athlete, author, and founder of vegetarian based Vega), said that he has been working with Jackman to prepare for his up coming movie.

Although the Wolverine bulked up eating a lot of chicken for his previous movie, Jackman has since switched to a mostly vegan diet for environmental and health reasons. Brazier isn't certain if the actor will go completely vegan for his bulk up, but will most likely be primarily vegan.

Will a vegan diet contain enough protein to produce the muscular Wolverine we saw in the first X-Men Origins movie or will we see a punier version in Wolverine II ?

What do you think? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Can a vegan diet be used to produce bulky muscle mass?

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Would This Amount of Exercise Be Considered "Moderate"? [Forum]

today I did a "guts, butts, and thighs" class

It felt like a pretty good workout, but I'm in shape so I wasn't sure, I did hear others say how much it made them sore but idk if I will be feeling that.

the class was an hour and afterward I talked to the instructor and asked her how many calories she estimated it burned. she said of course it depends on weight, which I know, but she she estimates it around of 600 because it is an anaerobic class which mixes cardio and strength.

after the class I ran 3 miles, 2 were a jog and 1 was a six minute mile

then i did some more ab workouts and a little more leg workouts for about 20 minutes

would you consider this moderate exercise or hard exercise?

this will probably only be 1 day a week cause the class is only one day a week

tomorrow I will probably run about 5 miles and do about 30-45 min of strength training

wed. i have a soccer game for an hour

thursday: will be a cardio kickboxing class for an hour then probably run 2 miles, then a hip-hop class
after i will do strength for 30 min

fri-sat are usually breaks
but i might go to a club where i dance for at least 2 hours nonstop and thats gotta be some exercise

and another day i'll probably go for a 3-5 mile walk

but overall the weekends are rest days

the main point is would you considerate my exercise moderate or heavy?

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Can I Lose Weight With ME/CFS? [Forum]

Six months back I was diagnosed with ME/CFS. I am lucky enough that it has not left me bed ridden. I am increasingly aware of those things that make me worse. However, if I do not any exercise I am prone to melancholia, for this reason it is really important that I get out regularly. Also, being laid up in bed for 6 months means I have put on more weight than I had already gained. ME sufferers often need to eat more.

I am really struggling as I do not want to put weight on anymore but have no real means of losing it. I go out for walks as my way to lose it but feel that it is never really going to happen for me.

My diet is pretty simple, I eat muselli for breakfast (with juice not milk), protein based food with vegetables at lunch time and carbohydrate meals with vegetables in the evening.

Does any one have any suggestions on how else I can lose weight? Based on my ability to walk between 3 - 5 miles a day how long will it take, and will I even manage to lose weight?

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The Children's Fitness Manifesto

We have a fight on our hands.

A fight to reclaim a physical culture, that I fear has become lost on this current generation. A task of this magnitude requires a basic understanding of the needs of children from an inspirational, developmental and physical perspective.

The following is a bullet-point primer on some philosophies of children's fitness, and how we can help reclaim the health of our youth through activity.

The ultimate goal with any children's fitness initiative is to instil a joy for activity that will carry on into adulthood. One of the most important things we can provide children is the importance of relishing the process.The central nervous system develops spontaneously, but is also formed through the right kind of activity. There are critical and sensitive periods of neural development that are dependant on physical activity.Children get better at moving through opportunity, experience, reward, guidance and proper stimuli. For young children (under 9), fun and play should be the centerpiece of activity. It shouldn't feel like "work". That said, there should be an element of fun at any age.Trying to teach complex skill or designing "plays" makes no sense for children under the age of 6, as they are egocentric. Imposing sets and reps on young children is a form of deprivation of play.Machines are not safer - learning how to move properly is.Slowly introduce rather than force activity on children.Creating inclusive environments are vital to the enjoyment for all.Incorporate variety: Vary the stimulus, including the terrain, situation or the activity.Repetition (within the context of variety) is a good thing. Children need repetition to build familiarity - which begets mastery - which builds confidence. Early sport specialization is detrimental to the overall physical and mental wellbeing of most children. For 6-9 year-olds: This age group should be focused on discovery - put value in the attempt (don't correct form). Incorporate basic skills such as running, climbing, crawling, skipping and jumping. As children progress in age and physical/emotional maturity, add technical skills as needed. There is no such thing as "good" or "bad" coordination. Coordination is a multi-faceted concept that includes balance, spatial awareness and rhythm, to name a few.It's ok for children to fail and yes even cry - this builds resilience and adaptability. Children don't need to be relegated to one emotion. (Note: this doesn't mean we try and "make them cry", it just means that children get frustrated sometimes and we need to tell them it's ok to feel that way).Seize every opportunity you can to get out and be active with your children. Take walks, bike rides, swim or play a sport with them.

Special thanks to the International Youth Conditioning Association and Dr. Kwame Brown for the resources.

Image Credit: geowillis

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Please Help: Ex-nurse, Herbalist, Fat and Confused! [Forum]

Please, read this in its entirety. I am not lacking knowledge by any means. I just think I am missing something and would love some advice to maybe jar my memory.

I am 41, 5'7 weigh 210 look like I'm only about 180. But, Im done with the body builder look, I want to lose weight and tone. I have tried everything. I think there is something wrong that I am not getting. I dont drink any soda, i drink water all day, cup of hot tea at bedtime(no sugar). I dont eat any bread,processed foods,candy and I actually dont like salt. I love spicy foods, take a multi vitamin every day. Do pilates 3 times a week, yoga twice a week. And walk the big doggies 3-5 times a week 3-5 miles every time. I am a very busy, active person. Only sleep maybe 6 hours a night and Im ok with that, hardly ever feel drained or tired. Do not drink any alcohol. Ride bicycle to grocery store and eat mainly fruits and vegetables and nuts. I do eat bison instead of hamburger. And I have a small stomache where I have to eat 4-5 small meals a day, large meals hurt me and will bloat me. I do take fiber daily too.

Not sure if Im forgeting something? Oh-Im sure I eat around 1200-1500 calories a day have kept a diary log-so now what?? I will lose 5 lbs, then gain 7 back? I have eaten this way for years-but it seems that Im actually gaining faster? I have to have something medically wrong? I have tested bloodsugar too just in case and Im pretty darn normal. Stay around 80-112. PLEASE SOMEONE-I beg anyone to show me the light. What am I doing wrong? Or what is wrong? I have had thyroid tested 6 times!! They just say normal levels?? I am so lost. Thank you!!

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Two-Ton French Fries Record Attempt Fails

Another day, another food-related record breaking attempt. We've had the world's longest pizza, now how about two tons of French Fries to go with that?

Sadly, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the Grand Forks (in North Dakota) attempt at the "World's Largest French Fry Feed" failed.

Despite the rather appropriate name, Grand Forks failed to get enough people forking up fries, as TwinCities.com reported. 4,110 pounds of fries (around 2 tons) were fried - less than the record of 4,890, set a couple of years ago.

Some might say that records are made to be broken, but is this obsession with food-related records a sign of our growing dysfunctional relationship with food? Like competitive eating, producing vast quantities of food (much of which is likely to go to waste) seems at best misguided, and at worst seriously wasteful.

Once, the records we broke were sporting ones: fastest mile, highest jump, longest throw. Let's just hope that today's kids won't grow up aiming to beat the "Biggest Burger Eaten" record...

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Can We Legislate Photoshop Use?

To those who aren't aware: EVERYTHING is photoshopped. Every image you see on a magazine cover is not real.

"I don't think there's a single photograph in those (magazines) that's not retouched. They're all manipulated to hell." Hany Farid, Dartmouth College

A number of countries are beginning to discuss how they might legislate against the practice.

Can we really ask governments to stop what we as consumers (apparently) desire?

UK organizations are beginning to talk about what initiatives could be introduced to curb the practice of digital manipulation.

The magazines defend the practice: "Sometimes readers want hyper-reality in a way - they want to be taken out of their own situation." - Jill Wanless, an associate editor at Look Magazine.

Gabourey Sidibe on Elle - complete with wig and lightened skin.
Image from movie Precious on right.

Australia have recently introduced voluntary guidelines for fashion and media industries. The code of conduct requires:

Disclosing when images have been retouched and refraining from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's body shape by, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist or by removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.

Photographers will not be putting their hands up to 'volunteer'

"Do politicians really so underestimate the populace that they think a warning ought to go on a fashion image?

"Maybe every woman who uses makeup ought to have a warning tattooed on her neck.

"The entertainment media, in general, traffic in fantasy. In that respect, the manipulation of images is a legitimate part of the job of entertainment producers." (source)

Can we really rely on 'voluntary' codes? Or even legislation? Do we as the consumer have a part to play here? Research (and anyone with eyes to see) shows that the size and shape of our bodies are increasingly at odds with media images.

See our exposé on Female Body Shape in the 20th Century if you need more convincing. Or even Wired's infographic on the decreasing size of playmate models.

Does anyone really know how 'hyper-reality' affects us?

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How Can I Lose Weight Without Losing Muscle Mass? [Forum]

Hi,
I am a male, 5'10", 147 lbs., exercising 4-6 times a week for approx. 2 hrs per exercise. My workouts are very intensive, since I train for mountain biking races. It is not unusual for a 2 hr ride to have an altitude gain of 3,000 ft, which, when combined with technical terrain such as rocks and high altitude makes up for quite a calorie expenditure.

I do some basic strength training: pull-ups, push-ups, etc, no heavy lifting involved. My question is: what is the best approach to lose a couple of pounds without losing any muscle mass.

The reason why I am asking is because last summer I was 2 lbs lighter and that really did help on long ascents, however it had a drawback of feeling weak sometimes when overtaking a big rock or another obstacle which required raw muscle power for a few seconds at a time.

Thanks for your input!

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I Need to Lose Weight Before I Get Pregnant [Forum]

Hi All! I need some advice. I am 5'6, 155lbs female and I'm 32 years old. I am going to start to try and get pregnant next month and need to drop some weight before I get pregnant (fingers crossed it happens the first try). My weight lies in my hips and butt. I have been watching what I have been eating and trying to jog an hour every day(its about 5 miles outside). I started a "diet":

Breakfast:
1 cup of coffee, skim milk, splenda
1 lean hot pocket breakfast
snack
1 motts apple sauce cup
Lunch
Lean cuisine meal
snack
1 string cheese
dinner
lean cuisine meal
dessert(sometimes)
I'll have a Skinny cow ice cream sandwich

I am still not dropping weight and I'm afraid of gaining the baby weight. Any advice will help. I really wanted to drop 20 lbs but I don't think that can happen. Advice? Thanks for reading!

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Helpful Resources for Eating Right? [Forum]

Hi,
I recently posted another post regarding weight loss before I get pregnant. My problem is that I work FT and I get home late sometimes and I'm tired and lazy when it goes to meals. So I have been eating Lean cuisines which haven't seemed to help me lose weight. I eat them cause they are so easy and portioned controlled but I hear loaded with salt. So what is good to eat?? My previous post, people suggested to eat vegs/fruits. I appreciate that so now I need to know what to eat. Can anyone recommend a diet or resources for quick recipes. I can't eat salad for the next month but honestly if that is what will work great. Once I get pregnant, I don't want to eat salads also because I want to make sure the baby is going to get nutrition. I do take a mulit-vitatmin daily but is that enough?

I'm a white female, 5'6, 155lbs, 32 years old, and I want to lose about 20 lbs before the end of Oct. I always wanted lean legs as that is where my weight lies:hips, butt, and now I'm seeing cellulite in my arms which I never had(I have it on my thighs). I need help guys. I will also try and drink lots of water-how much though? I'm so clueless. I also try and jog everyday, which i'm not consistent at because I try and go at night and I"m tired. I'm not an early bird but how do I change and wake up at 6am to go jogging! Can anyone help, please!!!! I feel gross. One of the worst parts is that I feel muscle under the fat but cant lose it.

Thanks for reading! I'm frustrated!

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Do You Lack Motivation to Exercise?

One of the best ways to overcome a lack of motivation to exercise, is to find a healthy role model.

But forget Angelina Jolie, or Hugh Jackman, this is Carol Burns... and she's the real deal!

So, what's Carol's advice to the slackers amongst us?

Hey, get off your duff, and get over here and workout... it works for me!

This was Carol celebrating her 90th birthday at the Curves Gym. Yes, you read that right, she is 90 years old... wow!

I love Carol's ethos:

I'll grow old someday, just not today. So, I keep working out, so I don't have to.

Can you see yourself still working out when you're 90 years old?

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More Teenage Girls Getting Questionable Weight-Loss Surgery

When you hear weight-loss surgery, you think image obsessed celebrities, and the morbidly obese - not teenage girls.
Aren't teenage girls only concerned with the latest trends at Hot Topic, and that Justin Beaver character?
No, many teenage girls spend a lot of time worrying about their weight and now more, and more teens are opting for risky lap-band surgery to lose weight.
Even though gastric banding is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, a new study in the journal Pediatrics found the rate of gastric banding between 2005 to 2007 rose five-fold.
Researchers say most of the patients were young white girls, despite adolescent white girls only making up less than half of overweight youth.

Gastric banding places a silicone loop around the top part of the stomach, unlike gastric bypass which divides the stomach into an upper and lower pouch; both procedures facilitate dramatic weight-loss.
Among California teenagers, the rate of gastric banding increased from 0.3 per 100,000 kids to 1.5, whereas bypass surgery, which is considered the "gold standard" of weight-loss surgery, decreased from 3.8 per 100,000 to 2.7.
Gastric banding occupies two-thirds of an estimated $400 million weight-loss surgery market; intense marketing is helping the lap-band industry grow. Not being FDA approved makes this massively unethical.
And, many health experts are alarmed by the raise in gastric banding, finding fundamental and potentially dangerous problems with the surgery; placing a rigid ring around a moving organ could erode the area over time.


To me, this is a no-brainer. Weight-loss surgery is extreme, and should only be used in extreme cases where everything else has failed; i.e. no amount of nutritional intervention or exercise rehabilitation is going to save a severely obese person's life in time. But teenage girls? No, always no.
Teenagers aren't lost causes. Well, except for the 17 year old boy who is still eating paste. If you're younger than 18, your support system is probably stronger than it will ever be. So, between family, friends, school, and your doctor - there has to be a better, safer why to lose weight.
If you start taking the easy way out at 15, 16, 17, you're not exactly setting a good precedent for the rest of your life - are you?
Image credit: Lap Band Gastric Surgery / band bypass ballon
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