In a previous post, I cover-shamed Cosmopolitan magazine for encouraging everyone – women in particular – to think there’s such a thing as “healthy at any size,” and I pointed out a couple obvious reasons that is not the case. Here I want to talk briefly about the HAAS/Fat Acceptance Movement. First, it’s important to […]
A Little Red Pill for the F.A.M. Read More »
First, I want to make it clear that this is not about aesthetics. You don’t have to have a visible six-pack to be healthy. You can have a visible six-pack and still get cancer. So, there’s that. Second, this is not about “shaming.” Being obese doesn’t mean you don’t deserve basic respect. With that out
If you’ve ever wondered how many times a week you should work out or — more specifically — how many times a week you should work each body part, simply search the subject on YouTube and set aside approximately 900 hours to wade through it all. In the “YouTube Fitness” world at least, it’s probably
A common question new clients ask their trainers is, “How many sit-ups a day should I do?” If your primary goal is losing belly fat, the answer is zero. You’re welcome. First, there is no such thing as “spot reduction.” Exercising a body part does not burn fat from that body part. Fat comes off,
We’ve been advised to eat a balanced diet our whole lives. The problem is that “balanced” is often not clearly defined. As a result, most people’s idea of balance is a pizza with veggies on it as opposed to meat. That’s not balance. That’s variety. Balance, nutritionally speaking, is the proper amount of nutrients within
What is a “Balanced Diet,” Really? Read More »
One of the most common refrains in fitness is, “everybody’s different.” Many online coaches and “influencers” (can we please retire that word?) encourage their audiences to “be your own experiment” or “find what works for you.” There is some truth to this. Your age, training experience, metabolism, injuries — and a hundred other factors —
Everybody’s Different (sort of) Read More »
For those of you who suffer from these anxieties over your diet, think about what your mom fed you from the time you could chew until the day you moved out of the house: Breakfast was cereal (and not “whole grain”), milk (not organic) and a big glass of sugar called juice. On the weekend
Eat Kale or Die, Pt. 4 Read More »
Look, up in the sky! It’s a fruit! It’s a grain! It’s… a SUPERFOOD! Superfoods are the magic bullets in health and fitness, touted to do everything from burn fat to increase energy to — in some cases — prevent or even cure disease. How many of the following have you heard such claims for?
Eat Kale or Die, Pt. 3 Read More »
Most people get health news from mainstream media outlets. Most of these have a health section, and that’s where the latest supplements and “super foods” first enter public view. The writers for these sections have content obligations and deadlines to meet. They are always on the lookout for the latest study or discovery, but how
Eat Kale or Die, Pt. 2 Read More »
You know kale is good for you, right? Of course you do — because it’s the “superfood” du jour that its fans will not shut up about. You also know that turmeric reduces inflammation and that inflammation is the grim reaper himself, right? And that beet root powder improves your circulation, and milk thistle will
Eat Kale or Die, Pt. 1 Read More »
