Sometimes I feel like the dog in this video. Meaning, I do things that don't make a lick of sense.
Like when I might, hypothetically speaking, peer into the refrigerator late at night at the fresh, delicious blueberries that are sitting beside the weeks-old fudge and think to myself, I choose fudge.
Take also Survival of the Fittest. I love it here (in no small part because of the highly entertaining and thought-provoking comments y'all leave for me), yet it's been three weeks since I've blogged. I have, however, made plenty of time for bad Christmas movies.
Part of it's the SAD season, part of it's the hectic schedule, but part of it, I think, is that sometimes you just can't trust yourself to make very good decisions.
So instead I'll provide links to a few of the things I *considered* writing about during the past three weeks. Here ya go, Linkyloos for Y-O-U.
IN THE CASE OF TENDINOSIS, the old adage "no pain, no gain" holds up when it comes to eccentric exercises; here's a good blog entry on the topic by Bill Hartman. (Yet more on the topic in the Experience Life article "Tendon Trouble.")
LET JOHN BERARDI read you a "Bedtime Story" about nighttime catabolism (and how to fuel your muscles while you sleep). More on protein from Berardi here.
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED this Tony Gentilcore blog post about how to choose a high-quality fish oil, but it bears repeating. Because accidentally supplementing with heavy metals is really not the idea. (To read about heavy metal poisoning, check out "Weighing Heavy Metals.")
DO YOU KNOW what your gallbladder does? I don't have one anymore, and sometimes I miss it. You know, just because. Oh, Gary, we had some good times over goat cheese, didn't we?
THORACIC SPINE MOBILITY. Yes, I'm harping on that topic again (see previous posts here and here), but it's important. And because EL just published this article on the topic in the new Jan./Feb. issue.
I RECEIVED A PRESS RELEASE announcing a new Facebook app that "allows users to see what they would look like at their target weight. You upload a photo of yourself, specify how much weight you'd like to lose, and WeightView sends you back an image of yourself at your target weight." No, I will not provide the link; something about it strikes me as a Very Bad Idea. (But if you want to become Facebook friends, I am down for that.)
What do you think about this app: harmless or potentially problematic? Got opinions on other topics in this post? And, whatcha doing for New Year's Eve?
Hey Jen,
New Years - hanging out at a cabin in the woods with a bunch of friends - good times, for sure! (as long as snow doesn't prevent us from getting there!)
Facebook app - depends on the person...if I could make myself look all buff and fit - I could make it my avatar (wait...something sounds wrong about that...). Me, I caught a couple of Christmas movies too...and I missed one of the best - "It's a Wonderful Life".
Here's to a great New Year for you Jen - 2009 is going to be awesome!
I'm not sure about Tony G's blog on fish oil as far as whether it has anything to do with quality. Some of the worst tested brands out there have been "concentrated". How expensive or concentrated a fish oil is is not a guarantee of quality. Most of the retail brands actually test pretty well these days and there are plenty of good sources without paying sometimes up to twice or three times as much for so called "pharmatceutical grade" fish oil.
I'm not sure about Tony G's blog on fish oil as far as whether it has anything to do with quality. Some of the worst tested brands out there have been "concentrated". How expensive or concentrated a fish oil is is not a guarantee of quality. Most of the retail brands actually test pretty well these days and there are plenty of good sources without paying sometimes up to twice or three times as much for so called "pharmaceutical grade" fish oil.
Sorry for the double post. Great info on T-spine mobility, btw!
I have to agree with you, Jen — I think the facebook app is BAD idea. It goes back to body image thing for me: If you set this "ideal" expectation for yourself, you'll never be willing to accept anything less or be happy with where you are right now. Just my two cents.
Speaking of Christmas movies, though, did you watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? That's my all time favorite. It was the first movie Brady and I ever watched together — in JULY! Happy New Year :)
Jennifer, (hi) I disagree about the Facebook app. Why not get a glimpse of what you may look like if you eat healthy and workout? Shouldn't that be motivation for a lot of people?
Gyms usually have magazines to read while exercising with fit people in them, personal trainers who typically look the part and how-to diagrams on machines with in-shape people illustrating how to use equipment properly. In that get-fit environment we are reinforced with healthy body images to show us (in general) the way. For me, seeing people in better shape than me and imagining what results I may achieve with a little extra effort provides motivation!
It's not that I don't understand that certain people with body image issues may abuse this tool, but let's not assume everyone uses InTouch magazine as their basis for fitness.
I think if everyone had an idea of what they may look like if they got fit (mind you, I did not say 'skinny'), it might lead more people to the blueberries versus the fudge and to the gym instead of the mall.
Have a happy New Year and a great 2009!
Dan
Okay, I know what eccentric exercises are but wouldn't it be funny if you meant like batty-old-lady eccentric? I'm all about that kind of eccentric exercising;)
Seriously tho - it sounds like you are on the road to recovery! Happy New Year!
PS> I tried the facebook app - you knew I would, right? - I didn't look the teeniest bit different at my goal weight (10 lbs less than my current). I even resent it and asked them to take off 20 lbs (which if I lost I'd be scary skinny) just to see. Still NO change. Zero. I don't think it works.
Hi,
I don't think it's such a bad idea. I think it could be motivating to see what I might look like losing some weight. If it works and I like what I look like, Great! If I don't like how it comes out I would just disregard it. I think America needs as much motivation as possible and if it gets just one person to lose weight I think it might be worth it. By the way, I think the video of the dog is the funniest thing I have ever seen!!!!! I choose fudge sometimes, too. And that's ok. Next time I'll choose the blueberries.
What's up Jen? For NYE I played Wii and shot zombies until my hand was bleeding, seriously. I have developed a Wii addiction in the last week since I got it. AJ and I played for 10 hours the first day we had it and then she couldn't move the right side of her body for three days. I was fine, however because I used some of the other 14 hours of my day to go to the gym to even things out a bit. As for the fudge, I would have to say just eat all of it at once. Then you will feel sick and not want the fudge next time it is around and furthermore, there will be no more fudge to eat. Why am I not a fitness professional?
I was just like that dog yesterday when I chose to take my squirrelly girls to Super Target yesterday afternoon instead of outdoors to play (hey, it was slightly above 20 degrees--a veritable heat wave!) Squirrelly girls+Super Target=biting your own foot. I don't think we were as hilarious as that video though. Thanks for the morning laugh! And since I'm still warming up to Facebook, I have NO comment on apps.
LMAO @ that dog. That's good stuff.
great analogy with the dog. nice site!
Great dog analogy. Facebook app=bad idea, in my opinion. People need to work that stuff out for themselves.