Placebo Effect

Recently, a 12 year old girl asked if she could interview me regarding "The Placebo Effect" for a school science project. Although I have some knowledge of this effect, I am by no means an expert, but, I thought I would wing it and help her as best I could with my limited knowledge. The same day she said she wanted to interview me, I happened to hear a radio program on NPR called "HumanKind."
The whole entire program was on the placebo effect (serendipity).

Unfortunately, I heard only the tail end, but fortunately, I was able to peruse YouTube and found the same physician, that was being interviewed on the radio show, lecturing on this very topic. His name is Dr. Wayne Jonas and the video I found is priceless. I recommend health professionals or anyone, for that matter, to watch this video. FASCINATING!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROQF6Peocis

Dietary Strategies for Fat Loss

Granted there are no "One Size Fits All" diets for weight (fat) loss but the following 4 strategies may help:

1) Consume no more than 35 grams of sugar/day (ask Siri or google to determine sugar content of foods).

2) Eat only when your hungry (visceral) and don't eat to get full.

3) Eat an adequate amount of protein (1 gram/kilogram of your body weight [~1/2 your weight in pounds]).

4) And lastly, remember this "Lean, Green, and Marine."  Consume Lean meats (grass fed), green vegetables, and fish (salmon)!!

Stop Stretching Your Hamstrings?

The title of this post is to get your attention, I have to admit. But, if you have an anteriorly rotated pelvis, (watch video to understand what I mean), it makes sense.

Summary of Video (for those that understand basic physical therapy nomenclature).

-If your pelvis is rotated anteriorly, your hamstrings are going to be stretched or lengthened. The proximal attachment of the hamstrings is on the ischial tuberosity bones.

-On the other hand, the hip flexors in the front are shortened or TIGHT, so the person with an anterior tilted pelvis should strengthen the hamstrings and stretch the TIGHT hip flexors in the front.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1sfPfsESDQ

IS EXERCISE THE KEY TO WEIGHT LOSS?

In the February issue of Scientific American, there was an article entitled, "The Exercise Paradox." Fascinating article written by anthropologist Herman Ponzer.

I was always under the impression (I'm sure a lot of my colleagues, as well) that the more exercise (especially high intensity exercise) one engages in, the more favorable effects on metabolism (in particular, the more calories we burn at rest).

This article 'disproves' this notion. Pontzer says that humans burn about the same number of calories regardless of activity level. He NOT once says that we shouldn't exercise. It obviously has numerous benefits--increased cardiovascular and immune system function, improving bone health, improved brain function, elevating mood, and the list goes on and on.

As I wrote in my review of literature, when I was at University of Massachusetts, in 1993, "Although it is true that the preferential fuel source during aerobic exercise is fat, dietary restriction provides a greater stimulus for weight loss than aerobic exercise ALONE." Obesity, in most cases, is a condition of taking in far too many calories than expenditure via exercise or activities of daily living (ADL's). Or as Pontzer says it, "All the evidence point toward obesity being a disease of gluttony rather sloth."
He goes on to say, "You can't outrun a bad diet."

For those scientific individuals that want to dig deeper into this subject , click on the link (YouTube Video). NOTE: It is presentation by the author himself (Herman Ponzer). The pertinent info relating to the above topic starts at around 7 minutes.
ENJOY!

STOP FOAM ROLLING YOUR IT BAND

Do us a favor, stop abusing your IT Band. It is our friend and you haven't been treating it like one. This article is absolutely RIGHT ON!!!

http://breakingmuscle.com/learn/your-it-band-is-not-the-enemy-but-maybe-your-foam-roller-is