The Official Health and Fitness Thread

[4th Liner]

Also.  How focused on this BMI should I be.  Since it has deemed me obese I cant get it out of my mind.  I have a number  that Ive figured out through the BMI calculator and now set as a goal to get me to be just  overweight but if I reach that number I'll be elated.

First, congrats on the 14 lbs - good job!

On the BMI, I find it seems to be a bit tilted too much to making people think that they need to be bean-poles to be healthy. Even now, where I am the same weight at almost 50 as I was as an athlete in college - it says I'm only just in the "normal" range.

Don't sweat it, just make your own goals and stick to those. If you achieve them, then you can decide whether to push further. For sure, don't let it discourage you - you are doing great!

 

[WalterSobchak]

Way to Go Big D. 14 lbs is nothing to sneeze at. Well done.

At least you have started. I have been stuck in neutral for quite a long while now. Some may call it a rut. Some may say its an excuse.

I have a feeling its one of those things where once you start, it won't stop.

It's that kickstart I need.

 

[maplesyrup]

For anyone interested in how/why sugar is a poison and the finer points of what has been discussed here of late, I suggest watching the 1:30 video by Robert Lustig, M.D. - I just finished it and it's absolutely mind blowing. Some of it may anger you (it did me) but it's stuff you just need to know.... Red Polar Bear - I think you'll love the microbiology.

http://m.io9.com/5881328/scientists-say-sugar-is-as-toxic-as-alcohol-+-and-there-should-be-a-drinking-age-for-soda?tag=madscience

 

[Stebro]

For anyone interested in how/why sugar is a poison and the finer points of what has been discussed here of late, I suggest watching the 1:30 video by Robert Lustig, M.D. - I just finished it and it's absolutely mind blowing. Some of it may anger you (it did me) but it's stuff you just need to know.... Red Polar Bear - I think you'll love the microbiology.

http://m.io9.com/5881328/scientists-say-sugar-is-as-toxic-as-alcohol-+-and-there-should-be-a-drinking-age-for-soda?tag=madscience

I've been watching it for around 20 minutes now, pretty interesting, gonna continue to watch it

 

[TheMightyOdin]

For anyone interested in how/why sugar is a poison and the finer points of what has been discussed here of late, I suggest watching the 1:30 video by Robert Lustig, M.D. - I just finished it and it's absolutely mind blowing. Some of it may anger you (it did me) but it's stuff you just need to know.... Red Polar Bear - I think you'll love the microbiology.

http://m.io9.com/5881328/scientists-say-sugar-is-as-toxic-as-alcohol-+-and-there-should-be-a-drinking-age-for-soda?tag=madscience

Good video. I got through the 90 minutes like it was only 30. A lot of this stuff I already knew but not to this depth.

I started avoiding refined sugar like the plague a few years ago. Really challenging to do but it's been a great life decision.

 

[maplesyrup]

Yeah, as the video shows, even the natural sugar found in fruit (fructose) is the same chemically as sucrose so we need to eliminate that too. - Correct me if I'm wrong (I need to go back to the video perhaps) but he said that fructose found in fruit is generally okay (in small doses) because of the fruit's fibre content but fructose on it's own is also toxic? 

 

[donkeyy0]

So I'm helping my gf get back up to speed after a pretty big deal knee injury about a year ago, we're looking at the Goodlife Toronto Marathon 5k run. Not anything huge as that'd probably kill her.

Anywho, what kind of time should I be looking for? My gf is shooting for 25 mins for 5k but I feel like I can probably beat that. The top runner last year was around 15 mins...but that's 3 minutes per kilometer, don't think I can do that, but top 25 puts me at about 20mins for 5k. Is that like super fast? So much so that it's unreasonable? Or is that a possibility for some of you real runner-types.

 

[maplesyrup]

So I'm helping my gf get back up to speed after a pretty big deal knee injury about a year ago, we're looking at the Goodlife Toronto Marathon 5k run. Not anything huge as that'd probably kill her.

Anywho, what kind of time should I be looking for? My gf is shooting for 25 mins for 5k but I feel like I can probably beat that. The top runner last year was around 15 mins...but that's 3 minutes per mile, don't think I can do that, but top 25 puts me at about 20mins for 5k. Is that like super fast? So much so that it's unreasonable? Or is that a possibility for some of you real runner-types.

Aim for her to just complete it. Anything less than 30 minutes strikes me as a decent enough time... In my world (and I run but don't "train") 25 minutes is super fast... but I'm coming up on 40.  :-\ 

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Yeah, as the video shows, even the natural sugar found in fruit (fructose) is the same chemically as sucrose so we need to eliminate that too. - Correct me if I'm wrong (I need to go back to the video perhaps) but he said that fructose found in fruit is generally okay (in small doses) because of the fruit's fibre content but fructose on it's own is also toxic? 

I look at like this.  How many oranges would it take to make a glass of juice vs just eating an orange? One gives you the whole fruit/fibre the other is a glass of liquid sugar.

 

[Bender]

Yeah, as the video shows, even the natural sugar found in fruit (fructose) is the same chemically as sucrose so we need to eliminate that too. - Correct me if I'm wrong (I need to go back to the video perhaps) but he said that fructose found in fruit is generally okay (in small doses) because of the fruit's fibre content but fructose on it's own is also toxic? 

I look at like this.  How many oranges would it take to make a glass of juice vs just eating an orange? One gives you the whole fruit/fibre the other is a glass of liquid sugar.

Yeah, I mean I can't imagine there's so much sugar in most general fruits that it would be an issue. And I'm not sure if you count berries in this as well, but as far as I know they're one of the best foods for you, and I can't imagine oranges, apples, pears, bananas and what have you, to be bad for you unless you consume them like a maniac.

I think what's killer is all the refined carbohydrates people eat, basically straight sugar lacking in nutritional content, a far cry from fruits - the best of which have tons of nutrients.

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Yeah, as the video shows, even the natural sugar found in fruit (fructose) is the same chemically as sucrose so we need to eliminate that too. - Correct me if I'm wrong (I need to go back to the video perhaps) but he said that fructose found in fruit is generally okay (in small doses) because of the fruit's fibre content but fructose on it's own is also toxic? 

I look at like this.  How many oranges would it take to make a glass of juice vs just eating an orange? One gives you the whole fruit/fibre the other is a glass of liquid sugar.

Yeah, I mean I can't imagine there's so much sugar in most general fruits that it would be an issue. And I'm not sure if you count berries in this as well, but as far as I know they're one of the best foods for you, and I can't imagine oranges, apples, pears, bananas and what have you, to be bad for you unless you consume them like a maniac.

I think what's killer is all the refined carbohydrates people eat, basically straight sugar lacking in nutritional content, a far cry from fruits - the best of which have tons of nutrients.

A big part is when you eat them as well. I'll eat my fruits in the first half of the day, I don't need the sugar in the latter part when I'm just winding down and eventually going to bed.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Yeah, as the video shows, even the natural sugar found in fruit (fructose) is the same chemically as sucrose so we need to eliminate that too. - Correct me if I'm wrong (I need to go back to the video perhaps) but he said that fructose found in fruit is generally okay (in small doses) because of the fruit's fibre content but fructose on it's own is also toxic?

I use to subscribe to this theory.  And by all accounts it does make sense.  But after drinking mostly FRESH fruit/vegetable juice for the last almost 2 months, I can't agree with the experts on sugar in fruit being sugar just like plain old sugar.

There is SOMETHING else that goes on in the body when you consume fresh fruit either whole, or juice.  Now I'm talking fresh juice, not a bottle of juice from the store.  If it's been pasteurized, it's dead.

As far as I can tell, a fresh piece of fruit, or the juice from it contains all sorts of enzymes that help break down the sugars on their own, not requiring anything from the body (pancreas) to break down the sugar.  That's why fresh fruit and juice will eventually turn into alcohol, because it contains everything inside itself to help break it down.  If you try to make hooch out of pasteurized fruit juice, it won't work.

I don't know.  I was all for low-carb, and it does "work" if you are looking to slim down.  For me, the last 6 weeks drinking mainly fresh fruit/veg juice has helped shed pounds, and I feel the best I have in years.

 

[maplesyrup]

Do yourself a favor, watch the video... Fructose and sucrose are the same... The video will show you the science on how your body breaks it down... Having watched it, I'm inclined to believe small amounts of fruit (because they contain fiber) are okay... I'm off fruit juices for good now though. 

 

[Corn Flake]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

 

[maplesyrup]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

Basically, anything that ends in "ose" is bad. Even lactose in milk - though it's the least potent of the "oses." Large quantities of fruit juice and milk can be bad but they contain lots of other goodies that make them okay. - Rule of thumb is avoid all sugars unless there is another nutritional benefit. - There are tons of "fruit juices" that are high in sugar (fructose) content that do little else for you... You might as well be eating spoonfulls of sugar.     

 

[Bender]

http://www.discovergoodnutrition.com/index.php/2011/02/the-truth-about-sugars-in-fruit/

http://www.fitsugar.com/OK-Eat-Plenty-Fruit-Worry-About-Fructose-2874911

http://healthonabudget.com/the-difference-between-sugar-in-fruit-vs-processed-snacks-and-juice/

 

[Bender]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

Basically, anything that ends in "ose" is bad. Even lactose in milk - though it's the least potent of the "oses." Large quantities of fruit juice and milk can be bad but they contain lots of other goodies that make them okay. - Rule of thumb is avoid all sugars unless there is another nutritional benefit. - There are tons of "fruit juices" that are high in sugar (fructose) content that do little else for you... You might as well be eating spoonfulls of sugar.   

No offense, but that's completely extreme. It's like saying all fats are bad, so avoid fats. I've never been of the mindset to avoid foods just because if you eat too much of it it could be bad - nuts are a great example. I don't think they're bad for you, just in the quantities people eat them. To cut them out just because it can be bad if you overeat them I think is just extreme, nevermind the fact that you're missing out on good nutritional content.

But I do agree that fruit juices are basically devoid of much good for you. Im a far bigger fan of making fresh smoothies.

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

I'll bring the carrots and the kale.

 

[maplesyrup]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

Basically, anything that ends in "ose" is bad. Even lactose in milk - though it's the least potent of the "oses." Large quantities of fruit juice and milk can be bad but they contain lots of other goodies that make them okay. - Rule of thumb is avoid all sugars unless there is another nutritional benefit. - There are tons of "fruit juices" that are high in sugar (fructose) content that do little else for you... You might as well be eating spoonfulls of sugar.   

No offense, but that's completely extreme. It's like saying all fats are bad, so avoid fats. I've never been of the mindset to avoid foods just because if you eat too much of it it could be bad - nuts are a great example. I don't think they're bad for you, just in the quantities people eat them. To cut them out just because it can be bad if you overeat them I think is just extreme, nevermind the fact that you're missing out on good nutritional content.

But I do agree that fruit juices are basically devoid of much good for you. Im a far bigger fan of making fresh smoothies.

None taken... Have you watched the vid?

 

[Bender]

Juice? This party is going to be off the hook.

Basically, anything that ends in "ose" is bad. Even lactose in milk - though it's the least potent of the "oses." Large quantities of fruit juice and milk can be bad but they contain lots of other goodies that make them okay. - Rule of thumb is avoid all sugars unless there is another nutritional benefit. - There are tons of "fruit juices" that are high in sugar (fructose) content that do little else for you... You might as well be eating spoonfulls of sugar.   

No offense, but that's completely extreme. It's like saying all fats are bad, so avoid fats. I've never been of the mindset to avoid foods just because if you eat too much of it it could be bad - nuts are a great example. I don't think they're bad for you, just in the quantities people eat them. To cut them out just because it can be bad if you overeat them I think is just extreme, nevermind the fact that you're missing out on good nutritional content.

But I do agree that fruit juices are basically devoid of much good for you. Im a far bigger fan of making fresh smoothies.

None taken... Have you watched the vid?

Not yet (at work). Will watch when I get home though.