Top Diets and New Years Resolutions

For anyone thinking about their health goals and looking for a new diet in the new year, I found an article on the top 10 healthiest diets:

The Top 10 Healthiest Diets in America

Part of what interests me about this article, is that I do not recognize six of the top ten diets:

The Structure House Weight Loss Plan
The Step Diet
The EatingWell Diet
The Best Life Diet
The Solutions
The Spectrum

I do not particularly believe in making diets a part of my New Years resolutions. (I think they should be ongoing goals...) However, I do think that at least a couple of times a year it is good to look back and see if I am meeting my continuing goals (whether financial, health, career, etc.). And, why not have a review at the beginning of the year?

Good luck in your health goals in 2009!

Back from My December Vacation

I didn't reach my diet goal before leaving for my December vacation this year, but I had fun anyway. I left a few pounds lighter for vacation than when I first started this journey last April, and probably felt better during the vacation because of it. And now... continuing on in 2009 toward my goal. :)

The Enemy in Fast Food: Corn

It turns out that corn is in almost all fast food meals. An article that came out this week highlighted that out of hundreds of samples, only 12 were not traced back to corn. Yikes. For someone allergic to corn like me, the article is a nice reminder to avoid fast food meals.

Inspiring Weight Loss Stories

I found a nice set of inspiring weight loss stories. I always find them motivating, so I hope that you enjoy!

FDA Now Admits It May Have Been Wrong

In a follow-up to the last post, the FDA has now admitted that the recent criticism "raises important questions" about BPA.

Of course, as I write this, I am at the airport and relegated to drinking water from a plastic bottle, which I am sure is riddled with chemicals... I like to think, if I had an option for a glass container I would choose it.

Busted! The FDA, Not Me. I Have Been Good.

Reports came out today indicating that FDA ignored the damage that BPA (bisphenol A) can do to babies. Worries me that this is in addition to Canada's restricting its use in baby items earlier this year and reports about increases in breast cancer associated with the chemicals in plastic.

Experts: FDA ignored evidence when calling BPA safe

I, other than drinking out of a plastic bottle as I type this, have been good today. I chose the right option at dinner with a colleague, going for a healthy salad instead of the special (fillet topped with shrimp and scallops). Was tough, but I won.

I also managed to sneak in a couple of miles of walking and a wee bit of strength training.

Hearts Like Greens; Meat, Salty, and Fried Foods, Not So Much

A "Western" diet, and even some Asian diets that are high in salt are bad for the heart. A new study, very large in scale (multi-continent, 16,000 people) made a big splash in the news today with that headline. While the conclusion about the Western diet is not new, incorporating many cultures to test the results is interesting.

Greens, Greens, Greens, They're Good for Your Heart: Study

The articles on this same subject did not mention exercise.

I have been a bit delinquent in my posting and in my food journaling, too. However, I have managed to get in exercise at least twice a week (usually four times a week) with my heavy travel schedule. Today, I took a nice stroll in a park near my hotel in Houston. I find travelling weekly (Monday through Thursday every week) tiring, but am trying to find ways to keep my energy up.