Small Steps to Health

Weight and Early Puberty in Girls

asithi — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:00:01 +0000

It is common knowledge that we are getting fatter as a nation. It has long been known that overweight girls tend to mature earlier than thinner girls. But why is that the case? The answer might be in our fat cells.

Walking Through Walls - Book Review

asithi — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:23:07 +0000

Unless you are open to the possibility of spirits and energy healing, Walking Through Walls might be a little too bizarre for Main Street. Fortunately, my Chinese background (think Joy Luck Club) with its various ancestral spirits opens me to the possibility of phenomenon that science cannot explain. My usually genre for reading material are personal finance, health/fitness, science fiction, and historical fiction. Rarely do I pick up a memoir, but I was intrigued with the idea of a psychic healer. Walking Through Walls is Philip Smith's memoir on growing up with a father (Lews Smith) who was an all-knowing psychic healer.

Merry Christmas!

asithi — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:43:46 +0000

Photo by: Kris de Curtis.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my readers and to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I will be taking the rest of this week off to spend time with my friends and family. So no new posts until next Monday. But here are some of my favorite posts that might be of interest to new readers:

Bored Eating

asithi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:50 +0000

Photo by: Ingrid.

When it comes to weight loss, all of us have an Achilles heel. These specific situation can derail our good intentions with a blink of the eyes. Once we can identify of weak spots, we can begin to solve them for permanent weight loss. Often our lifestyle and habits change with time. The cornerstone of successful weight loss is successful problem solving. This post will discuss the diet danger zone caused by bored eating and possible solutions for for successfully solving bored eating.

Electronic Hole Punch and the Automatic Supersize Me

asithi — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:24:56 +0000

Photo by: Tim.

I discovered that we have an electronic 3 hole punch at work because I heard my co-worker, Eric, using it. You stick a few sheets of paper into this contraption, press a button, it makes some noise, and voila! you have 3 holes on the edge of your paper. Right next to this electronic 3 hole punch is your standard commercial grade three hole punch with the metal handle that you manually have to lift and push down. First there was the Automatic Millionaire, then the Automatic Homeowner, now there is the Automatic Supersize Me.

Food Advertising in Schools Contributes to Child Obesity

asithi — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:43:19 +0000

Photo by: hobvias sudoneighm.

My nephew came home last year with a coupon for a Happy Meal for reading 10 books in his school's reading program. I remember watching his glowing face while he waved that coupon in front of me. I am a strong advocate of reading. I remember thinking: "Should I praise him for reading all those books or should I have a discussion about junk food advertisement?" When voters defeat school levies or bonds, where can schools turn to for the funding they need to operate? That is right - food companies are more than happy to fill in the funding gap for displaying advertisements, passing out coupons, or subsidizing learning material.

Public Confusion over Food Choices Good for Profits

asithi — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:00:17 +0000

Photo by: Bobby.

A few posts ago, I mentioned that everyone wants us to be fat. Along the same theme, I would like to discuss how public confusion over food choices is good for the profits of food companies.

The trade associations and public relations group can take the results of a single nutrient research and make across the board claim that their food product contain the beneficial nutrient and lobby for the right to make that claim on package labels. Never mind that food contains hundreds of micro-nutrients and other components that influence health.

Whole Grain White Bread Labeling Confusion

asithi — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:11:58 +0000

Photo by: Lali Masriera.

My husband often falls for healthy sounding labels such as “multi-grain,” “7 gains,” “100% wheat,” and “cracked wheat” when he shops for bread. When the bread is on sale and has a healthy label, it makes it into the shopping cart.

I have no problem with people making the conscious choice to feed their families white bread. I just have a problem with food companies overselling their white bread as “whole grain” bread.

Thoughts on Child Obesity

asithi — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:25:50 +0000

Photo by: Colin Rose.

Though I do not have any children of my own yet, the idea of child obesity is terrifying. I am living in a time period where the possibility of a generation full of sick or dying people due to chronic diseases could be a reality. And when you consider that it is all preventable – that kids are sitting and eating themselves to death – it is staggering.

I think most parents do not make the connection that by taking the easier route they are compromising the future health of their child. It is a duty that deserves equal if not more consideration than which educational toys to put in the nursery or planning for a college education.

Should I Workout When I am Sick?

asithi — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:04:02 +0000

Photo by: Danny Williams.

Most people in my situation would be perfectly happy to skip a few workout sessions. But I am starting to feel fidgety.

Why I feel the urge to work out while I am sick?

All of us need a mantra or a motivational phase to get us to stick to a regular workout schedule. Mine is that “if I do not workout after 3 days, my back will start to ache.” That is what keeps me exercising.

Sick in the Head

asithi — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:51:31 +0000

Nothing worst than knowing on Friday that you will be spending the upcoming weekend sick in bed. That's me. Looks like I caught whatever bug my husband is recovering from earlier in the week. A part of me cannot help but wonder if I will drop a couple of pounds due to my lack of appetite. I know - it is a stupid thought.

slotMusic – Don’t Quit Fitness Bundle Review

asithi — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:03:33 +0000

I regularly listen to music or podcasts with my ipod when I do my aerobic workouts. This post will discuss the Don’t Quit Fitness Bundle – what I like and dislike about this product. Let’s just say that I am disappointed.

Emotions Associated with Weight and Denial

asithi — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:56:40 +0000

Photo by: Loic Le Meur.

The entire spectrum of human emotions can be associated with weight in our culture. You can be jealous, disappointed, frustrated, angry, happy, etc either about your own weight or someone else’s weight. A hundred years ago, the primary concern with weight is rather you are well fed and disease free. Now diet is a dirty four letter word. It changed from what you can eat that will not kill outright to what you cannot eat to keep your hips pubescent.

Is Soy Isoflavones Good for You? - Part 2

asithi — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:20:12 +0000

Photo by: mdid.

This is the second post of my soy series. This post will discuss how Chinese families eat soy, soy isoflavones, and who should limit soy in their diet. While soy is no stranger in our diet, it only amounts to 2 ounces daily (7-8 grams of soy protein). Remember how I mentioned in my last post that most Chinese families do not eat the FDA recommended daily 25 grams of soy protein in order to get its cholesterol lowering effect?

Is Soy Good for You? - Part 1

asithi — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:54:41 +0000

Photo by: Chrys Omori.

This is a two part series discussing the marketing of soy, the soy controversy (including the estrogen factor), how Chinese families generally eat soy, and who should probably not eat soy.