Archive for September, 2006
If your upper respiratory allergy attacks tend to be mild and short-lived, you might be tempted to ignore them.
It’s a good bet that in 9 cases out of 10, this is fine. But what if the attack follows, or is immediately followed by physical exertion? A lot of huffing and puffing can set you up for a respiratory infection under these conditions, particularly if you have a history of asthma.
This information comes from a Physician’s assistant with whom I had the mixed blessing to converse this week. This resulted from something that happened as I was recording a segment for the podcast where I was climbing ten flights of stairs, as I often do. Normally, this doesn’t over-exhaust me (although it did until recently).
On the day in question, after reaching the top of the stairs, I was especially winded AND my soft palate was itchy and my nose began to run. These minor allergy symptoms happen to me all the time, but usually don’t last long. I chose to blow it off, rather than take my Albuterol inhaler. My, oh my was that an error in judgement!
I am currently suffering a major brochial infection. My physician’s assistant informed me that people who suffer from what she called the “allergic trio” of allergies, asthma, and eczema (guilty!) this is a fairly common progression. What eczema has to do with it, I didn’t think to ask.
I have had Pneumonia several times in the last few years, but never really noticed where it started from. In retrospect, it did usually follow physical exertion. So, to all of you with allergies, take note!
September 29th, 2006
Since I began my new position as Executive Producer for Health Content at Grasshopper New Media, my life has opened up in different ways.
I’ve been accustomed to merely reporting on health news since this blog launched in January of 2005. Now, it seems that I’m something of a public figure. Weird.
In the course of promoting the Health Hacks Podcast, and GNM in general, I’ve participated in public forums like PodCamp Boston, where I lead a (very small) session, befriended some pretty interesting people and saw my boss, Chris Brogan, catapult into the limelight.
So, while I’m not signing autographs or writing my memoirs (yet) I am at least now interview-worthy. Well, at least in the eyes of my compatriot Jimmy Moore of the Livin’ La Vida Low Carb blog. You can read the interview here.
Giving this interview was an awakening because it made me articulate some things that were only loosely formed in my mind. It has sparked a lot of interest, and many people have contacted me about contributing either to the Health Hacks Podcast, or possibly to a new show (Interested? let me know!).
Anyway, in this interview I was asked about being a “former low carber”. I haven’t really discussed my own diet path much here on HHDC, so I wasn’t really expecting the question.
I reponded that I don’t feel like a “former low carber”, but perhaps like a former Atkins dieter. Really, when it comes to diets, I tend toward being “platform agnostic”. One reason I gave for moving on to other Low carb/controlled carb concepts was that BDK, or Ketosis wasn’t very attainable for me and that BDK is one of the major points seperating Atkins from other similar plans.
One reader asked how that made sense, and here is my response:
If I could, I’d like offer a response to Low Carb Tennis Guy’s questions.
First, I’ll answer his second question. Dr. Atkins was not the only person to develop a low-carb diet. William Banting was promoting a LC plan his doctor developed back in the 1800’s. Today there are many low carb plans, most of which differ in small ways. If you include “controlled carbohydrate” diets then you can even lump in the South Beach diet and other similar plans.
One major difference between the plan developed (as a work in progress over decades of gradual evolution) by Dr. Atkins and many of the other plans is the “Atkins Metabolic Advantage”, a physiological response triggered by a near absense of carbs. It is more commonly known as Ketosis, but Dr. Atkins, in his later years, favored the term Beneficial Dietary Ketosis, or BDK.
The reason for the new term is that many DOCTORS (gasp!) didn’t realize that there is a difference between ketosis and a very harmful but completely unrelated condition called ketoacidosis. These doctors would tell patients to avoid the Atkins plan like the plague, out of ignorance.
Now the problem with ketosis is that while it makes your body burn fat rather than other fuels, it can be really hard to trigger ketosis. Moreover many LC dieters found they could lose significant amounts of weight without reaching ketosis.
I, myself had much trouble reaching ketosis, and was blowing a fortune on ketone test-strips, even though I was losing weight at a good clip. I did find, though, that while Atkins stressed that you wouldn’t need to conciously limit your food intake that didn’t work for me.
You see, in theory, he had a great idea. Atkins was relying on the hunger/fullness mechanism to kick in, which is likely to happen because fats and proteins are filling. However, a certain portion of americans (like me) had such a screwed up way of eating (thanks, McDonald’s!) that we no longer really understood these concepts of “full” and “hunger”.
So, anyway, I found that I did need some external control on portion sizes, which is why I now pair low-carb dieting with the No-S diet (and the Shangri-La diet, but using oil, not sugar).
I still support the Atkins diet both in theory and, for those it suits, in practice. Look at Jimmy- who can argue with that kind of success?!
For more great info on different Low Carb diets, please read Dana Carpender’s excellent “How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet And Lost 40 Pounds”.
September 27th, 2006
For my fellow USians (and others if you feel it applies to you):
Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer extrordinaire has a new job- he designs for Target.
In that capacity, he seems to be trying to curry favor with his new demographic- Middle America (or possibly James Lileks who seems to spend 12 hours a day in the Bullseye Boutique).
Last week Mizrahi appeared on the NPR game show (Yes! They exist!) “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me”. Pointing to popular actor Vince Vaughn, Mizrahi stated that “Fat is the new black.”
Hrmph.
If you thought it was sad living in a country where everyone is on a diet, imagine one where everyone has simply given up.
Do not go gentle into that good night, people.
September 19th, 2006
The two main weight loss systems I’ve been discussing while developing over at the Health Hacks Podcast are the Health Hacks Amalgamated Frankendiet and the Park Far From Work exercise system.
Here are some new insights and factoids:
- I counted the steps in the parking garage; 92
- Weight loss as of this morning (since last week); 4 LBS
- Decrease in pants size in 2 weeks; 1
- Another new diet rule; no reading at lunch- just sit and eat, preferably with eyes closed.
Sample menus are under development. This Wednesday, you’ll be able to hear me brainstorming a few on the new podcast, Episode 4.
In the mean time, check out our VERY SPECIAL PODCAMP SPECIAL episode. In addition to some talk on diet and fitness, Eve the O.T. and I discuss ergonomics and injury prevention extensively, with the assistance of people like Guido Stein, Steve Garfield, Beth Kanter, Justin Kownacki, Shava Nerad, and more!
September 18th, 2006
The New York Times has an interesting article entitled Exercise = Weight Loss, Except When It Doesn’t.
As you may guess the article explains why some exercises may yield less weight loss than one might expect.
One point raised is that if a particular exercise is supposed to burn 300 calories over a certain period of time, you must take into account how many calories you would expend simply by existing during that period and subtract that to see your real caloric deficit. This is the figure upon which you should base your weight loss expectation.
It’s a simple truth which I must admit had never occurred to me. How’s ’bout you?
September 15th, 2006
So, in the latest podcast (episode three @ www.healthhackspodcast.com) I outline a thought experiment regarding combining several diet approaches we’ve been discussing both here and on the podcast.
I have actually put this theoretical diet into action, and combining this with the exercise regimen I’ve discussed over the last three episodes, I’m seeing some results.
The added exercise alone didn’t jumpstart my weight loss. Adding in this new diet has not had a discernable impact according to the scale, however I ended up tightening my belt several notches and eventually losing a pants size.
Reader Ethesis points out, wisely, that beginning any diet can jump-start weight loss. In fact he mentions the idea of rotating diets to keep your metabolism in constant flux. I have always referred to this effect as the “novely factor”.
So what I need to look at in the coming weeks is:
1. Is this plan sustainable?
2. Is it effective?
3. Does it quickly lead to a “brick wall”?
Now, this is just an experiment, and I am neither a dietician nor a nutritionist, but a believer in empirical learning. I have no right to expect this to work, yet I believe it will… but we’ll see.
Jimmy Moore, one of my partners in crime at the podcast, has been involved in a grassroots study of a new low-carb methodology, so I’ll be interested to see what happens on that score as well.
If you are interested in helping test drive this new diet, you can get some details in episode three, but remember, you try it at your own risk.
Be well!
September 13th, 2006
I’m a sucker for novely. Although I’m working towards not eating snacks anymore, I just stumbled upon some interesting vegetarian jerky products at the local health food store.
I’m not a vegetarian, but something about them just piqued my curiosity. They are called Primal Strips and are made by Primal Spirit foods of Moundsville West Virginia.
I’m not really sure why I bought them. I chose the Seitan Thai Peanut flavor and the “Hot and Spicy” flavor made from Shiitake mushrooms. Sadly, I lost the mushroom derived one before I could eat it, but I did have an opportunity to try the Seitan.
I’ve tried seitan before, and hated it. However, my love of peanut-flavored Thai food overcame that distaste. I am pleased to say that I really loved it! The Thai peanut flavor was spot on… like a good Pad Thai (which I do miss occasionally), the underlying flavor of the seitan was inoffensive, and the texture was spot on- just like the softer types of beef jerky.
Nutrition panel info:
Calories: 74
Fat: 2G (sat=1g, trans fat=0)
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium: 353 mg
Carbs: 8g (fiber=1g, sugar=4g, starch=3g)
Protein: 10g
Calcium: 2% RDA
Iron: 6% RDA
So, a little sugary, a bit more sodium than I’d like to see, but a good source of protein, filling and very tasty.
Overall a big thumbs up, with the caveat that this may not fit easily into a low carb plan unless used as a meal replacement bar. It is filling enough, though, that this could be done.
Primal Spirit foods, If you’re reading, I’d love to review some other flavors (HINT, HINT).
September 12th, 2006
So, I’m at Podcamp this weekend - and it’s amazing! I’m interviewing all these brilliant and creative minds, giving interviews, and basically being a noodge by annoying people about health topics when they were expecing questions about their podcasts.
I spoke to so many awesome people that I’m really sad I can’t remember who I was interviewing (if you are that person, please remind me!) but a great new personal diet rule occured to me while we were speaking - no eating at the computer. Go have a proper sit down meal, and don’t just mindlessly gulp down whatever’s at hand.
This now goes alongside my other personal, location-based dietary proscription: No eating while driving. I see a theme developing here and it seems to have something to do with being more mindful of the eating experience.
Technorati Tags: Podcamp, diet, eating, food
September 11th, 2006
Chris Brogan over at our podcast has taken the idea of Parkour and morphed it into something anyone can do as a way to keep your running/walking/jogging routine fresh and inspiring. He calls it “Parkour Faux” and I give it a whirl with a test subject this week.
The idea for Parkour Faux came after Chris and I were both waxing poetic over how awesome real Parkour looks and how we’d love to do it, if we were younger/fitter/etc. The “Aha moment” came to Chris while cruising Parkour videos on YouTube.
Chris stumbled across some kids pretending to be Traceurs. They were running around a park, climbing over benches and vaulting over garbage cans. His brain screamed, “Hey! That I can do!”
Fast forward a week. Eager to test this out, I grabbed a test subject and headed out to a derelict skateboard park near my home. Half an hour later it was clear… It ain’t real Parkour, but it certainly rocks!
Hear it for yourself in episode 2 of the Health Hacks Podcast.
September 6th, 2006
Are you familiar with a form of Martial Art called Krav Maga?
Developed in Israel, it is designed to help practitioners survive modern urban crime scenarios, such as armed muggings, bar-fights and car jackings.
I recently had an opportunity to watch some Krav Maga students and their teacher, Kevin Tomasi of New Hampshire’s Salem Self Defense Center do some training, and I have to say that it is intense!
The cardio work involved is amazing. These people are learning physical automaticity at a very high level. They need to, of course, as they are trying to learn to fight for their lives against weapons as diverse as guns, knives and broken bottles. They also learn about the “three psychological types” of assailants and how to always be alert to your surroundings.
Tune into next week’s Health Hacks Podcast to hear my interview with Mr. Tomasi.
September 1st, 2006
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