I was inspired to begin this endeavor because of all the rants on romance I knew would come today, Feb. 14th (Originally written in 2007).
What gets me the most is you would think that with all the different people the rants would sound different, but no. It's the same sad story over and over. With that in mind I have created a template to help make this day more convenient for everyone. My thanks to Laura for her help in creating this.
St. Valentine's Day Rant Template
() Denote editor's marks, please delete these from your template before posting. Please be sure to make a choice when appropriate
(Please include any poetry/literary quotes at the beginning)
St. Valentine's Day hurts me every year. I see the happy people all around (exchanging gifts/making out/obstructing my indulgence in self-chosen depression/fucking everyone but me and/or just not feeling my pain). Really though they are (fools/whores/jerks). Since I (was dumped/never had a girlfriend), I know the true heart of this Hallmark holiday. This is just a conspiracy by (the card and candy companies/women/men/bastards/bitches/insensitive men/an evil cabal made up of (list a few of the examples given)/the cat/other) to pick your pocket.
Please don't fall for this! Join me in boycotting this Evil Holiday!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cart then Horse
A number of reports are talking about research indicating that vegetarian youths are at a higher risk for eating disorders.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Dietitians and Anti-Obseity Bias
This Forbes article highlights an issue amongst dietitians specifically. However, this quote mentions the bias is more widespread.
While I can understand a sort of self-selection bias to be found amongst student intending to become dietitians, to find this idea prevalent amongst many health-care professionals is disheartening. From my research when looking into weight-loss surgery, I found that about 95% of people fail to keep weight off for 5 years after starting a diet. From here that number is questioned, but mostly by changing the definition of success, moving the goalposts. About 80% of people lose 10% of their body weight and keep it off for a year.
What makes this all the more galling for potential patients is that many of them are the sort who are trying to lose weight. They are coming into the office in an attempt to get help to lose the weight they are having trouble losing by themselves. They arrive only to be looked down upon by the person they are hoping to get help from.
Oh the perversities of life; the situation seems not too much unlike a masochist going to meet a dominatrix in her office.
But the students aren't alone in their beliefs and share the biases with other health-care providers, Puhl said, adding that other studies have shown that many health professionals have negative perceptions about very overweight patients. Patients have reported "very many examples of providers who really make very stereotypical comments that suggest that they are making assumptions about a patient's character, intelligence or abilities because of their weight," she said.
While I can understand a sort of self-selection bias to be found amongst student intending to become dietitians, to find this idea prevalent amongst many health-care professionals is disheartening. From my research when looking into weight-loss surgery, I found that about 95% of people fail to keep weight off for 5 years after starting a diet. From here that number is questioned, but mostly by changing the definition of success, moving the goalposts. About 80% of people lose 10% of their body weight and keep it off for a year.
What makes this all the more galling for potential patients is that many of them are the sort who are trying to lose weight. They are coming into the office in an attempt to get help to lose the weight they are having trouble losing by themselves. They arrive only to be looked down upon by the person they are hoping to get help from.
Oh the perversities of life; the situation seems not too much unlike a masochist going to meet a dominatrix in her office.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Tan Lines
I had noticed tan lines from my helmet on my forehead and figured there wasn't much to be done about it. However, it's gotten sillier. I have tan lines from the straps on my helmet too. So I have these bright white lines continuing on from my sideburns. Now, being obese and working out a lot tends to leave me red faced a lot, but this explains why it's been so much more noticeable lately.
In looking at ways to not look so red faced I was pointed to sunless tanners. I found a particularly interesting question/answer on Yahoo answers, keep reading farther down.
OMG Zebra.
In looking at ways to not look so red faced I was pointed to sunless tanners. I found a particularly interesting question/answer on Yahoo answers, keep reading farther down.
OMG Zebra.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Continued Cycling
Other than about 2-3 instances caused by weather or interviews, I have ridden my bicycle to work for nearly two months straight. My route is about 7 miles long one way, which ends up being 70 miles a week just getting to and from work. Then on my off days, I usually get 5-9 miles of riding in each day, more when I missed a day riding my bike to work.
So I've averaged a little more than 10 miles a day.
Even more importantly though, I find excuses to ride my bike everyday. Even those days I can't ride to and from work I get at least 5 miles in. I don't think I've gotten less than 5 miles of riding for any day since mid-December. My energy level is through the roof and I feel great nearly all the time. (Except for when I have to ride 7 miles against a 20 mph wind. ugh.)
However, my appetite has gone crazy and I am having trouble controlling it. I may only lose 4 lbs this month which actually means I am losing ground on my 3 year goal. Of course, fitness appears to be more important than weight-loss. Diabetes and fitness and Survival rates correlate better with fitness than lower BMI for veterans(Trying to find studies for younger/non-diabetic people more analogous to my situation.)
So I've averaged a little more than 10 miles a day.
Even more importantly though, I find excuses to ride my bike everyday. Even those days I can't ride to and from work I get at least 5 miles in. I don't think I've gotten less than 5 miles of riding for any day since mid-December. My energy level is through the roof and I feel great nearly all the time. (Except for when I have to ride 7 miles against a 20 mph wind. ugh.)
However, my appetite has gone crazy and I am having trouble controlling it. I may only lose 4 lbs this month which actually means I am losing ground on my 3 year goal. Of course, fitness appears to be more important than weight-loss. Diabetes and fitness and Survival rates correlate better with fitness than lower BMI for veterans(Trying to find studies for younger/non-diabetic people more analogous to my situation.)
Friday, January 9, 2009
Update
I have been avoiding updating for quite some time and I am not sure why. The news has been good overall.
1. I am off the phentermine. I didn't start gaining weight when I transitioned away.
2. I tried intermittent fasting for a month and it was surprisingly easy. I would eat 2200-2400 calories 2 days and then fast on the third. This allowed me to maintain about 1500-1600 cal/day without struggling too badly. I found the days I fasted I would get hungry but never with the same edge as days when I tried to eat 1400 cals without phentermine to support it. Of course, if I did break the fast early, I tended to overeat badly. I am not sure I would recommend this strategy to anyone.
3. I have started biking instead of walking. My activity level has shot up and become much more consistent. I ride my bike to work every day I can weather permitting. My caloric intake has shot up, but with the exercise I am doing my weight is still going down. I had to stop fasting because I had trouble maintaining my activity level without eating more.
4. The bad news. I have been eating way too many carbs. Still, I have maintained weight-loss because the carbs work very well to fuel my biking. I end up almost carb-loading for the next day when I get home. I get veggies, fruit, some protein, and then lots and lots of carbs. I am working on recalculating my diet given the increased activity.
1. I am off the phentermine. I didn't start gaining weight when I transitioned away.
2. I tried intermittent fasting for a month and it was surprisingly easy. I would eat 2200-2400 calories 2 days and then fast on the third. This allowed me to maintain about 1500-1600 cal/day without struggling too badly. I found the days I fasted I would get hungry but never with the same edge as days when I tried to eat 1400 cals without phentermine to support it. Of course, if I did break the fast early, I tended to overeat badly. I am not sure I would recommend this strategy to anyone.
3. I have started biking instead of walking. My activity level has shot up and become much more consistent. I ride my bike to work every day I can weather permitting. My caloric intake has shot up, but with the exercise I am doing my weight is still going down. I had to stop fasting because I had trouble maintaining my activity level without eating more.
4. The bad news. I have been eating way too many carbs. Still, I have maintained weight-loss because the carbs work very well to fuel my biking. I end up almost carb-loading for the next day when I get home. I get veggies, fruit, some protein, and then lots and lots of carbs. I am working on recalculating my diet given the increased activity.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
BMI and its failings
I talk about my Body Mass Index quite a bit. In general, it forms a useful way to compare relative obesity for people of different heights. Of course there are several flaws in this mechanism.
However, people are talking about the failures of
However, people are talking about the failures of
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