Automobiles and Anatomy

In today’s economic crisis the one thing on everyone’s mind is of course money. People are desperately trying to find ways to save money. And money is being squeezed from every possible place in the household. As a result people are eating out less, going to fewer movies and spending less on leisurely items. Whatever it takes to save a buck or two. These are only a few of the solutions people have found. One major place where people are looking to get more out of their money is the automotive market. As you all know in the past few years automotive companies have been pushing for models with better fuel economy. Auto makers from all over the world have started to compete with one another for the car with the best MPG (miles per gallon). Very similar to the mass explosion of cars with better fuel economy, people in the United States in the last couple of decades have begun to stride for more efficient bodies. This is where the connect begins with the two. Cars and the human body have a lot in common.

Like the human body each car has its own personal machinery. Not all bodies are built equally and not all cars are built equally. When you look at a car the engine, drive chain, transmission all have many variations. This is the very same with the human body. Everyone’s metabolism (we can call that that everyone’s engine) runs and is engineered specifically by their genetics. Not everyone will have the same engine driving them. Some will require a lot of energy for it to function. That is the bodies’ V8 (for those that do not know these are very big engines. i.e pick trucks) engines. While others might need less energy to operate. Those are the V4′s (the engine of a Toyota Corolla) of the body. This is why it is important to eat for your body’s need. Eating to much or eating to little can have adverse effects on the body. This is the same when you fill the gas tank of the V8 engine only half way and expect the truck to operate as though it is on a full tank. The same effects are seen when you overfill a smaller V4 engine. Lets say you fill it up all the way and then store extra fuel in your trunk with the red gas containers. Its not very efficient is it? Having all that extra fuel and not using it. The body works in the very same way. This is how people get to an unhealthy weight. By eating to much (becoming obese) or eating to little (anorexia). In either case, it spills disaster for the body leading to other deadly health problems.

Another piece of the puzzle that effects the average miles per gallon of a car is the type of fuel it uses. Did you ever wonder why there are different numbers when you are pumping gas? Those different numbers are there to rate the octane content in the fuel. There is the lowest octane content, regular unleaded. Followed by Mid grade and finally premium with the highest octane rating. Having the lowest octane gas does not effect the efficiency of a car. What matters is that the correct gas type is used for the correct car. Most cars today only require regular unleaded gas but there are newer cars who need premium gas in order to get the most of their engines. Again just like the human body, what fuels the body is very important. When your body needs more vegetables and your not feeding it enough, it will not operate the way you want it to. This octane rating is there to help car owners use the correct rating for their car. If you car about your body then you should treat it in the same manner. Lets say your car needs premium and you give it regular gas. It will not operate the same and could harm the car. Your body needs the correct nutrition as well. There needs to be a balance in what you feed the body. You just can’t eat fast food all the time or no food. You have to tend to your bodies needs.

Finally, your car and your body age the same and have to be maintained. Some cars will not operate as well as they did before but this is where maintenance comes into play. You know that regular maintenance such as oil changes and tire changes allow the car to operate more efficiently. Very similarly your body needs to be maintained. It does it through sleep. Another part of being healthy that is not as emphasized is sleep. The body repairs and recuperates during this time. The short it has to do this the more mistakes and steps it misses. So get that 8 hours of sleep and allow your body to be repaired. If you care as much about your car as you do your body then you should treat it the same.

Wii Health!!

In the fall of 2006, a new video game system called the Nintendo Wii was introduced to the public eye. It became an instant hit and is now a full-fledged craze, selling more than 11 million units in the United States from its release to now. At first glance, this would seem like another loss on the battle between fit and fat, but luckily the Wii is actually an exergame. To describe this, it’s a video game that requires players to use actual physical movements to carry out the action. Employing a wireless handheld controller (about the size of a TV remote, ironically) with acceleration sensors and an infrared camera built into the console, the Wii senses players’ motions and converts them to movements on the screen. For example, in Wii Tennis you swing the controller like a racket; for Wii Golf, the controller is your club. When you play the game you are actually moving like how you would if you weren’t doing it in your living room. But really how much exercising are you doing? That very question is what motivated Schmidt and others to study the exercise benefits of Wii.

To test the potential fitness benefits of playing Wii, a team of exercise scientists at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Exercise and Health Program, led by John Porcari, Ph.D., and Schmidt, recruited 16 volunteers, eight men, eight women, all between the ages of 20 to 29 years old. First, all volunteers were given an exercise test on a motorized treadmill to determine each subject’s maximal heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake.

Once that fitness baseline was established, the subjects were given a quick demonstration on how to use the video game system. Researchers used the standard Nintendo Wii bundled with Wii Sports, which includes baseball, boxing, bowling, golf and tennis games. Previous Wii experience was not required as subjects were given 15 minutes of practice time for each of the five sports and allowed to continue practicing until they were comfortable with the skills needed to play each one successfully. Though it’s possible to carry out the onscreen players using minimal body movement, researchers instructed the subjects to simulate the body movements used in each actual sport. They were told to move their bodies how it would naturally move if they were playing the sports.

Actual testing on the Wii was conducted on a later date. On this day subjects played each of the five sports randomly. Each game lasted 10 minutes and researchers recorded heart rate and maximum oxygen uptake at one-minute intervals. Researchers also interviewed the subjects during the final minute of each sport to determine their perceived exertion levels using the Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE). A five-minute break was given between each game to return the subjects’ heart rates to within 10 beats of their normal resting heart rate prior to beginning testing for the next game.

When the subjects played the games, they felt as thought they were doing the actual movements. They were breathing heavily and actually breaking a sweat. In fact, in addition to burning the most calories, boxing was the only Wii game tested that would be considered intense enough to maintain or improve cardiorespiratory endurance as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Researchers compared the calories burned from playing the Wii to the actual sports. Compared to golfing at a driving range  (3.9 calories per minute), playing Wii Golf burned 0.8 calories less per minute. Actual bowling burns nearly twice as much (7.2 calories per minute) as Wii Bowling, while baseball burns 7.3 calories per minute and Wii Baseball burns 2.8 calories per minute less. Similarly, Wii Tennis burns 2.8 calories per minute less than the actual game (8.1 calories per minute). Finally,  Wii Boxing burns about 3.0 calories per minute less than conventional sparring at 10.2 calories per minute.

The take-home message is that it’s better than sitting around. While not as good as playing the real sport, the Wii certainly does burn more calories and gets your energy expenditure up compared to sitting around playing a sedentary video game. Of course participating in the actual sports themselves provides more cardiovascular and strength benefits than Wii because you’re moving your entire body and swinging things with more weight like baseball bats, tennis racquets and golf clubs. Even so, Wii can be a great alternative workout and a great option for people who can’t find the time or motivation to get out of the house and exercise. For instance, playing 30 minutes of Wii Boxing burns 216 calories, which is 51 calories more than walking, while a 30-minute Wii Tennis match burns a impressive 159 calories. Some people may also find that the natural competitiveness that comes with playing Wii against an opponent can help with their motivation and, thus, their ability to stick with a regular exercise regime. The convenience of exercising in one’s own living room may also improve exercise adherence. Wii can provide some fitness benefits and help with weight management, but the key comes down to simulating the movements used in the actual sports. If you want to get as good a workout as you can with Wii Sports, you really need to mimic the real movements as closely as possible. Too often people look at regular exercise as a chore. The hope is that new exergames like Wii will induce people to get up off the couch and realize that fitness can, in fact, be fun.

Hey There Workout Buddy

Today after discussing what I wrote for the history of the gymnasium, an awesome concept was introduced to me by some very smart and helpful classmates. They talked about how the ancient Greeks exercised together and helped one another. That brought up the idea that why don’t people join more exercise groups in today’s fitness clubs? There are numerous benefits with exercising with a group! One of the main benefits of a group is support. Like most aspects of life, support is always welcomed. Really, when was the last time you heard someone complaining about too much support? Never. When you exercise with a group, like any other situation, there are people who are in the same boat as you. There is a sense of togetherness. When you are dying of thirst and looking like you just took a shower, you look to your side, the person right next to you is experiencing the same thing! I read an article that stated how individuals were more likely to stick to a workout routine when there is a least one person coming along for the ride with you. That makes a lot of sense. The other person, or group motivates you into accomplishing your goals.

Besides encouragement, there is also accountability when exercising with a group or partner. In these situation, individuals are somewhat held accountable for the group. If you miss your workout then you are not just letting yourself down, but you are letting down your group or partner. This makes it so that it makes it that much harder to miss out on an exercise session. This concept works great with athletic teams. If one person in the team fails to complete what they need to do, it hurts the teams as a whole. This can be applied to everyday workouts.

The next big factor is competition. Due to the human condition, it is almost impossible not to competitive. In any group situation, this can be a very strong force. When an individual sees someone working harder than them, they seem to want to do better themselves. This might not be a great quality, but it can means the difference between giving it your all or barely trying.

The social aspect of group exercise is also a benefit. It is an opportunity to meet people and develop  bonds. What better situation is there to become friends with someone than when your huffing and puffing together. Fun also ties in very tightly with this idea. To some people exercising can be like a root canal. When you are exercising, whether it is walking or high intensity cardio, it will always be more fun with someone else. It also passes the time. Exercising can transform from a chore to a game.

So remember if you want to accomplish those goals of yours and have tried everything. Maybe try finding a friend to workout with! It could make a big difference!

The History of the Modern Day Gym

Today the modern gym or fitness club has become more like a dental office than anything else. Everyone knows that their attendance is mandatory for pristine health but dreads even the thought of having to arrive. The body has become the teeth arriving to be cleaned and molded into the image of perfection. They are put through pain and discomfort in order to look their best. That image of the gym has deviated greatly from its adolescence. Like many history lessons, it begins in ancient Greece.

The gym really began with the greek philosophy of a fit mind. They believed that for an individual to excel, they needed to sharpen their cognitive fucntionality. This was done by reading, writing and participating in public speaking. Soon they found out that a part of the puzzle was missing. Yes, the importance of a strong mind cannot be neglected, but with a strong mind, a strong body is needed to complete the perfect balance. The greek word gymnasium means “a place to be naked” (I would not try to repeat this aspect of history anywhere today). The gymnasium was formed as a public institution (early ones were just open fields) where male athletes over eighteen initially received training in physical exercises. Here they practiced for the games played during the year. The first gymnasiums were built not just for physical training but for the basis of being a place to expand one’s knowledge. Here they exercised, trained to fight and more importantly educated themselves. The Greek gymnasiums held lectures and discussions on philosophy, literature, music and functioned as public libraries. They offered vast amounts of knowledge for their athletes.

The supervision of the gymnasiums was entrusted to gymnasiarchs (very much like modern day personal trainers), who played a major role in the operation and maintenance of the early gyms. They were well respected public officials who were responsible for the supervision of sports and games at public festivals. Their most important tasks were to direct the schools and sharpen the competitor’s skills. The gymnastai were the coaches, trainers but most importantly, teachers of the athletes. The gymnastai did not just physically train the athletes, they were also deeply involved in their education.

The early gymnasiums were a social connection for the ancient Greek society. The athletic contests for which the gymnasium supplied the means of training and competition formed part of the social and spiritual life of the Greeks from very early on. The contests took place in honor of heroes and gods, sometimes forming part of a periodic festival or the funeral rites of a deceased leader. The free and active Greek lifestyle reinforced the attachment to such sports and after a period of time the contests became a prominent element in Greek culture. The victor in religious athletic contests, though he gained no material prize other than a wreath, was rewarded with the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Training of competitors for the greater contests was a matter of public concern and special buildings were provided by the state for such use, with management entrusted to public officials. A victory in the great religious festivals was counted an honour for the whole state.

Looking at the history of the gym from the view of the early Greeks, there are many differences from the gyms and health clubs of today. Presently gyms have diverged greatly from what they were centuries ago. Many of the main aspects and importance elements of why the gym had been created has been over looked and forgotten.

The importance of education within the gym has completely been lost. For the Greeks, this was the most important aspect of a gymnasium. Thought it was a place to physically train and compete, the importance of education was highly advocated. In today’s health clubs, it seems as though there is little or no education offered to its patrons. People arrive at the gym and instantly begin sweating and working vigorously, but do they know for what? Gyms should offer a wide variety and detailed education for their members. If they arrive and are not educated on the reasons and rational behind why they do a specific exercise or do a certain routine, then they are not helping themselves. Members need to be better educated on why certain exercises will help their health. When there are better educated members in the gym, they can work on a routine that will help them more in the long run. They could find out that a lot of their time has been wasted on a routine that has not been helping them achieve their goals at all. With the correct information, individuals have a better understanding of what they are doing within the gym. They can adjust their time to what they want to accomplish. Whether it is more or less weight lifting and or more or less cardiovascular exercises. Also education on what individuals should do outside of the gym. Even if tremendous hard work is put in there, it can all be undone by what happens outside of those walls.

Looking at the development of the gymnasiums, it can be seen that taking a step back to the past can conclude to more accomplishments. This aspect of better education can help many that lack this essential element in good health. This can help many individuals on their road to success; whatever that success is at the gym.

Interests??

Some topics that I am interest in are health issues. Anything that has to do with medicine and fitness. I’ve been searching for articles that pertain to what they put into sport supplements but haven’t ran into any of interest. I also have recently become very interested with the technological developments  around the world that might have some ethics in them. (Saw an article that says that androids might be replacing human workers. Very interested.)

Exercise, In Moderation

I ran into an article in the Time Magazine (it can be found at http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857-3,00.html) that had an argument that resembling  Michael Pollan’s argument in In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto.

In Pollan’s book, one of the main point that he enlightens his readers with is the dramatic shift of what people eat today to what previous generations of Americans ate. He argues that people (those contemporary scientists and nutritionists) have stressed out the importance of the nutrients in the food way too much. So much that now that “eaters” have become so concerned about what is in their foods rather then why they are eating it. We now only care about the calories, grams of fiber, sugar, carbohydrates, sodium and so on. We have forgotten why we eat. We eat because we enjoy to eat. Eating is a time to connect with individuals and is done socially.

Like wise, the article entitled “Why Exercising Won’t Make You Thin” by John Cloud makes a similar argument, but like you guessed about the way Americans exercise. His introduction paragraph pulls you in because you can relate to him. He states that, “As I write this, tomorrow is Tuesday, which is a cardio day. I’ll spend five minutes warming up on the VersaClimber, a towering machine that requires you to move your arms and legs simultaneously. Then I’ll do 30 minutes on a stair mill. On Wednesday a personal trainer will work me like a farm animal for an hour, sometimes to the point that I am dizzy — an abuse for which I pay as much as I spend on groceries in a week. Thursday is “body wedge” class, which involves another exercise contraption, this one a large foam wedge from which I will push myself up in various hateful ways for an hour. Friday will bring a 5.5-mile run, the extra half-mile my grueling expiation of any gastronomical indulgences during the week.”

Even I can relate to what he writes. Though I don’t have a personal trainer, I can say that I experienced this today. Finding any available time between classes..to what? Work myself like an animal! Like Pollan, Cloud further goes on to say that Americans have forgotten why we need exercise. He pulls some very persuasive numbers. Such as, now 43 million people belong to a health club as compared to 23 million in 1993. You think to yourself..wait..nearly twice as many people have signed up for the gym since 1993, yet the rate of obesity keeps on getting higher?! I was a bit confused myself. John explains that a lot of people tend to become more hungry after they exercise! And yes..I have experienced this. Right after the gym, I’m extremely hungry sometimes! Right after a intense workout, a lot of people choose to drink sports drinks. Many of which contain lots of sugars and calories. So if you workout hard and consumed those calories you burned off, then it would have been better if you just had walked around for awhile.

Like Pollan, He argues that people have forgotten why we need to exercise. We exercise because it helps our body maintain a healthy state. He states that exercise as in walking, gardening and just moving around. You do not have to sweat to death for hours at the gym in order to get exercise. In the last few years the rates of these low intensity exercises have dropped about 13%. Cloud also included a study of kids and the amount of exercise they participate in during the school hours. They looked at three schools, one  was a private school which mandated around 9 hours of physical activity. While the other two only had their students participate in around two hours of physical activity. They found that kids at all three schools moved around (they measured using a special tool they kids wore during the school day) the same amount and at the same intensity. Showing that a lot of physical activity does not mean more calories burned.

The big picture here is that health officials, like Pollan’s nutritionists (I personally have nothing against them, I actually believe that they contribute greatly to the health field.) have made it so that the wrong parts of exercise have been stressed. If people just got up and did something they actually enjoyed (like going for a walk) that it would benefit them more than going to the gym. But if you are going to exercise at the gym (nothing wrong with that) be conscious of what you do and eat outside of the gym. Because your hard work could be for nothing.

On the other hand this argument is not to deter those who want to lose weight and or just feel better. Other research and common sense disprove the notion that exercise can cause overeating and prevent weight loss. Look around the gym or the jogging trail. If this were the case, wouldn’t those who regularly exercise be the fattest? Cardio (high intensity ) exercise can improve heart health by strengthening the heart (which is a muscle that responds to exercise like skeletal muscle); improving stamina; decreasing blood pressure; lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Even for the non-overweight, exercise provides benefits that no single pill or prescription ever could. It treats numerous chronic conditions, such as heart disease, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, depression and anxiety. Studies show that when students are more active (through physical education, classroom activity, play, etc.) they improve test scores and attendance and experience fewer discipline problems and sick days. Participants in workplace wellness programs have reduced absenteeism, error rates and health care costs. They feel more alert, have better rapport with co-workers and enjoy their work more.

In the article it also brings up the point of humans not having sufficient “brown” fats like rats do. Apparently this type of fat is more efficient at burning calories than normal “white” human fat. It’s an interesting read if you have a chance to look at it.

Are Cheap Foods Really Cheap?

a I wanted to buy some almonds that weren’t roasted knowing that they were good for me. Looking at the price on the tiny tin can, I slowly place them back neatly on the shelf. What would possess me to spend nearly twice as much as, lets say..a box of Cheez-its? Which I would probably have enjoyed more and would get more substance out of. Like you guessed, I left the store happily with the box of Cheez-its and several cheaper alternatives knowing that I saved a couple of bucks. Or did I?

This example of the healthy almonds and unhealthy Cheez-its is only one of hundreds and thousands cases where the unhealthy food is the cheaper alternative. You notice that in every grocery store the produce and healthier food choices are much much more expensive than something processed in a can or box. I also have witnessed this as I tagged along with my mom on weekend trips to the local Hannafords. Everything labeled “organic” or “healthier” was nearly twice as much as its “unhealthy” counterpart. Fruits and veggies don’t last as long, and more expensive than canned fruits and vegetables. Could this be why so many people these days choose the unhealthy foods? Yes, anyone can argue that this is a main factor to food choices. Some families might not have the funds to eat healthy.

But for those who can afford this option, are you making the right choice by saving money on processed foods? We are paying a very heavy price for unhealthy food — and will pay even more over time.

What does this mean? If you define “food” based only on calories, then it’s possible to argue that junk food or unhealthy food is cheaper than healthy food. Yes, if you want to maximize calories per dollar, junk food is the way to go. But why use calories as the main factor to foods? Are you really trying to maximize your calories?

What about vitamins and minerals per dollar? Antioxidants per dollar? Fiber content per dollar? Using these more desirable factors, healthy, organic, vegetarian food is the cheapest food you can buy. Though they might seem more expensive at the check out, they contain much more essential elements for a healthier mind and body. When you buy foods, you should think about what they can offer you, nutritionally of course. There is more to buying foods than “what can fill me up the most”. In most cases, those foods that “fill you up” cause you to become hungry more quickly.

It’s crucial to accept that good food leads to a healthier lifestyle, and overall health. You would be crazy if you thought that you can be healthy without eating healthy. The negative effects of unhealthy foods may be minor in the short term, but the cumulative effects are devastating.

People eat junk food to save money. But what’s the cost of chronic fatigue? Obesity? Heart disease? Cancer? Early retirement? Early death? All these issues can arise when you choose to eat cheaper foods. In the short term you may be saying money on a weekly basis, but what will the costs be to diagnose and treat these conditions?

You will pay far more in the long run for unhealthy food than you will for good food.

We seem disconnected from the reality of what real food is. Burgers, deep fried chicken, hot dogs, deli meats, fries, chips, soda, donuts, white bread, white pasta, white flours or any other of thousands of processed foods filling the shelters at grocery stores looks like food, but is really a global science project. Such “food” is cheap because it is garbage. It provides little or no nutritional value and it’s usually loaded with sugar, bad fats, preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, GMO’s, pesticides and more, all of which are seriously detrimental to our health.

So next time you think about buying “cheaper” foods, think of it as a marathon and not the 100 meter dash.

Profile: Intellectual Enjoyment

When anyone hears of the word “conflict” it is always viewed as an ugly three-headed monster. Like anyone else in the world, I have seen and been involved in hostile situation where I wished conflict had been avoided at all costs. But there is another side to conflicts. I am talking about those situations where your buddy’s opinion has in no way, shape or form resembles your own. I don’t know if it’s just me, but when those instances arise, I can’t help but to add my two cents in. I have a friend who just loves to argue with me no matter what it is. But this kind of conflict I enjoy quite a lot once in awhile. I can say that about a third of our conversations involves an argument in some way. Sometimes I get put in my place, but that needs to happen. It is refreshing to hear another opinion to a topic. Imagine life with everyone thinking alike and acting alike. How dull would that be? As social beings, humans need to interact with one another. Even if that means that conflict pops its ugly head out occasionally.