Keeping up with Mom

Motherly update: My mom is keepin' on in her effort to lose weight. She lost 4.5 pounds in 5 weeks (through last week). This week, she didn't lose any weight, but did lose 1/2 an inch off of her thighs. I think she is convincing my sister to take her on in her next challenge. Go mom!

Fat People Are Worse for the Environment

I came across an article today, that struck me as funny (perhaps it is because the title is similar to mine above). The conclusion of the article on CNN.com is that overweight people are worse for the environment because they cause higher fuel usage in transport.

To Toast With a Glass of Wine or Not?

A very good summary article came out today, discussing some of the confusing messages about whether wine is good for your health or not. Key points included that drinking wine may:

• Improve your overall health


• Lead to liver disease


• Increase women's chances of breast cancer


• Lower your chances of heart disease


• Increase your "good" cholesterol


• Be better to drink when you are older


• Increase your blood pressure


• Cause dementia (heavy drinking)


• Decrease the risk of dementia (lighter drinking)

I enjoy drinking wine, and find this article pretty concisely lays out what has been presented in the media in recent years. However, it doesn't really come to a definitive conclusion. That is for us to do, thankfully.

Rolling on...

My mother, as always, is an inspiration. Her report this week included:

• She lost two more pounds and is down to a 14 pound total weight loss so far.


• She's still counting my calories and working out, including hiking and walking at the zoo near her work.


• She has one week left and one pound to go to reach her goal of 5 pounds in 5 weeks.

Daily Red Meat Consumption

A new study came out that indicates that daily red meat consumption increases a person's chance of death. The study also indicates that eating white meat (chicken, fish) has lower chances of death. Some of the articles on the same study suggest eating lentils or other legumes, which appear to the have the opposite affect, instead of meat.

Want to Live Longer? Cut Back on Red Meat

Mom Won the Bet!

In Summary:

Mom lost a whopping 11.5 pounds since we started the bet and increased the duration and consistency of her workouts each week. Go mom!

I lost a respectable 4 pounds total, but ... did not nearly reach my goal, so I will have to pony up the dough. The bet definitely made me be better about exercising when I travel and was fun. Would recommend it, even to those who lose.

My mom is now urging other members of the family to get healthy, too, and she is setting a great example! She is going to continue losing weight over the next few months, so I will keep track of her on my blog.

Men vs. Women in Weight Loss

There is a nice summary of differences between men and women in dieting, and what they can learn from each other in Newsweek.

Why Guys Diet Differently

The summary includes that men tend to lose weight better through competitions and can say "no" to trouble foods more easily. Women are smarter about nutrition.