Exercise improves thinking in children.

Exercise Improves Thinking, Diabetes Risk In Overweight Children

ScienceDaily (2007-10-22) -- Just three months of daily, vigorous physical activity in overweight children improves their thinking and reduces their diabetes risk, researchers say. Studies of about 200 overweight, inactive children ages 7-11 also showed that a regular exercise program reduces body fat and improves bone density. ... > read full article

Need motivation? The 20 best reasons to exercise.

The most supportive community of people helping each other lose weight and get fit that I've ever seen is at the Million Dollar Body message boards. They are a bunch of regular folks trying to exercise, eat well, and live a healthy lifestyle every day. Sometimes they fall off the wagon, but they always have each other for motivation and a hand lifting them back on when needed.

I wanted to find out what makes them tick. Why do these people tie up their Nike Shox in the morning when the rest of us just hit the snooze button. I asked the MDB community to tell me why they exercise. I got hundreds of responses. Here are some of my favorites:

I exercise...

1. to make me smarter! There was a study of brain function of people who hung out at a Starbuck's in Illinois. The half who had their coffee at Starbuck's got no smarter. But the half who took it to go and walked 45 minutes, 3 times a week actually had improvement in their IQ scores!
2. So I can fit into my speedo on my next vacation to the south of France without hearing a chorus of "eeeeuwwwww!" ... ... ... ... I'm just kidding. I'd never vacation in France!
- TheFitDoc (that's me!)

3. so I can see my step son's face grimace when he hear's guys his age call me a MILF. (which someone had to explain to me to which I then grimaced)
- Katenator

4. so I feel better and have more energy during all hours of the day... no more energy crashes (so Robert Goulet will NOT be messing with my stuff... hope you've seen that commercial ).
5. I now smile instead of frown in dressing rooms because I LIKE how clothes look on me. I've actually started wearing shorter skirts because I'm not embarrassed to anymore.
6. so that I can do laundry on my abs. Ok, kidding... I can't really do laundry on my abs... I don't want to get all soapy-like in that manner.
7. I love fitness because it has helped me to love myself.
-MelanieB

8. to improve my health and finally get a fit body so I can play on the floor and monkey bars with my grandchildren and even maybe my great grandchildren.
-Just_Joyce

9. because its my time with God, when I can talk to him while surrounded by his creation, and where I can hear him speaking back to me. Its my set date with my God.
-TraciM.

10. because the best way to end a day is sweaty and out of breath and exercise is the second best option.
-MAPMD

11. I love that "I rock" feeling that comes after a great workout and pushes me to the next one.

-CourtMK

12. So I can make time with some MILF's. (Hey there ladies! )

13. So I can be a DILF. (Figure it out.)

14. So I can start healthy habits that my kids will learn from by example. My little ones will learn to eat better, work harder, and have a dad that they're proud of.

-LostInDaJungle

15. It's my time alone, to meditate and get into MY zone. It's MY TIME. And as a mother and wife, I NEED that to stay sane!
16. Life just feels better when you workout - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It's ESSENTIAL to living!
-jesika

17. to ease stress so that I do not end up in prison for "losing it" on my boss!!!!
-Charline (note: I hope Charline's boss isn't one of my 3 blog readers!)

18. I exercise and eat right because there are many things life we cannot control, but we can control both of those things!
-daizyhawkinz

19. because I don't want to run out of steam if there's a life to be saved (especially mine)
-fireman_1969

20. to be an example to others around you and help change America from becoming an obese country! We can change the country one person at a time!
-Boysdad

See the full list here.

If you need help staying motivated, join the Million dollar body message boards. There are literally hundreds of people here to help you reach your goals whatever your reason!

Go Bananas: The Monkey Diet.

"The Monkey Diet". (or "What will those crazy Brits think of next?")

What happens when you take a dozen Brits, lock them in a zoo for a dozen days, and make them eat a monkey-like diet? Someone wanted to find that out and televise it, so that is what they did. Researchers gave 12 volunteers a diet of 2400 calories a day consisting of raw fruits, veggies, nuts, honey, and cooked fish. "Overall, cholesterol levels dropped 23%, an amount usually achieved only through anti-cholesterol drugs statins. The group's average blood pressure fell from a level of 140/83 - almost hypertensive - to 122/76. Though it was not intended to be a weight loss diet (with a whopping 2400 calories per day), participants dropped 4.4kg (9.7lbs), on average." This is the type of food our bodies evolved to eat over many thousands of years according to the dietician who designed the experiment. It really makes you think about what you put in your body. Since returning from a New York fitness camp last summer, I've improved the types of foods I've been eating. Without watching calories at all, my body fat has cut down to the lowest level it has ever been in my adult life. The fuel you put in your body makes a difference.

Now if they'll just let me out of the zoo.

Obesity in America: Just open your wallet.

Man, this obesity thing is expensive!!!

Here's a new one from researchers at Emory University, published today in the health policy jounal Health Affairs. _________________________________________________________

From the Washington Post:

The study found that 17.1 percent of European adults are obese but the rate is nearly double — 33 percent — for American adults.

"We expected to see differences between disease prevalence in the United States and Europe, but the extent of the differences is surprising," said Kenneth Thorpe, the lead researcher and chairman of Emory University's Health Policy and Management Department. "It is possible that we spend more on health care because we are, indeed, less healthy."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80 percent of diabetes, heart disease and strokes could be eliminated through reductions in obesity.

Mr. Thorpe added that if the U.S. is able to bring down the obesity rate to Europe's level, the system could save $100 billion a year.
___________________________________________________

What can you do to reverse the obesity epidemic? Click here to Join the Million Dollar Body Fitness Revolution. Find out how to lose weight, win money, get in shape, and help others do the same! Or e-mail me to learn more.

Dr. Kevin Kane
TheFitDoc
http://www.thefitdoc.com/

Get Paid to Lose Weight? Brilliant!

A new study was reported today showing that people who got paid did better in losing weight than those who didn't.... You don't say!
The folks at Million Dollar Body figured this out and I'm pretty sure thay aren't all rocket scientists! You can play the FREE Million Dollar Body Game for a chance to win up to $1000 each day. All you have to do is log in, then work out (at home, at the gym, wherever.) That's it. I won $300 on August 4th. Talk about an incentive to keep working out!!! CLICK HERE to find out more!

clipped from us.mg2.mail.yahoo.com Cash incentives may spur weight-loss, study suggests. The AP (9/25) reports, "People will lose weight for money, even a little money," according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Researchers paid "200 overweight employees at several colleges in North Carolina" to lose weight as part of the study. The participants were "divided into three groups. One group received no [cash] incentives while the other two groups received $7 or $14 for each percentage point of weight lost. ... Participants didn't get any help on how to lose weight." The results showed that "[e]mployees who received the most incentives lost the most weight, an average of nearly 5 pounds after three months. Those offered no incentives lost 2 pounds; those in the $7 group lost about 3 pounds."

Resistance plus Cardio beats either one alone.

Most studies on fitness and health have tested the effects of aerobic exercise. Some others have looked at the effects of weight training. Only recently have researchers tried to tease out which type of exercise works best for specific purposes. This one shows that for diabetes, doing both is the way to go!

clipped from healthday.com MONDAY, Sept. 17 (HealthDay News) --Most people know that exercise can help beat type 2 diabetes, but one type of fitness regimen might work best, a new study shows. Specifically, workouts that combine aerobic and resistance training exercises appear better at controlling blood sugar than either type of activity alone, researchers say. The study is published in the Sept. 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. "Basically, aerobic and resistance training both do very well, and the combination does even better," said Cathy Nonas, director of physical activity and nutrition for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.

Weight Loss: Secrets of the Losers!

You've worked hard for 90 days. You've exercised almost every day. You've watched what you ate. You are Million Dollar Body.com's newest success story! Congratulations. You look and feel great! You deserve it! Now, your big question is, how do you keep it off?

There is a group of losers (I mean that in the best possible way) called the National Weight Control Registry. It is made up of people who have lost weight - 30 pounds or more- and kept it off for at least a year. They offer a wealth of information about what it takes to keep the weight off. The successful NWCR participants are remarkably similar in how they maintain their weight-loss. Best of all, their results can easily be reproduced by you!

Here's their formula to keep it off:

1. Know thy self. They weigh themselves at least weekly. This nips any gain in the bud It also helps them maintain awareness of their weight which helps them to consistently make healthy choices.
2. Breakfast. Its not just for breakfast anymore. That doesn't even make sense. Just eat your breakfast and think about it later. 78% of weight-keeper-offers eat theirs every day.
3. Low fat diet=low fat you. Low carb is a great way to eat for the initial weight loss, but less than 1% of long-term successful folks in the registry eat this way. Be aware of your calorie intake.
4. Consistency is key. Don't try to diet during the week and binge on weekends and holidays. Folks that do that are more likely to re-gain the weight. Strive for consistency. Don't starve yourself during the week and don't binge on weekends.
5. Keep moving. "A high physical activity level," says James O. Hill PhD an investigator with the NCWR, "may be the primary reason for the success found among the NCWR participants, rather than long term dietary restrictions" Keep an activity log. Many losers got extra bang for their buck (and extra enjoyment) by using their exercise time as a spiritual time or a time to connect with friends.
6. Let others support you! Successful losers often create a new, supportive environment. Some change to a new activity or healthy food related career. Others re-arranged their social circles to support their new weight. A study just came out (July 2007) showing the influence our friends have on our weight gain. Less widely reported was the fact that friends with healthy lifestyles can also influence our weight. The authors didn't write about it because the vast majority of people in their study gained weight instead of losing it!!

The great news is that right here you have found all of the ingredients needed to lose weight and keep it off! TheFitDoc.com has Million Dollar Body's fun exercise programs, diet programs, and social support network that work! ... and work together to help you achieve and maintain the new thin you!

(The NCWR is always looking for new members. It is free and lets you play a part in advancing the scientific understanding of weight loss maintenance. For more information, contact http://www.nwcr.ws/.)