Active Expert: Charles Stuart Platkin

Sugar Decreases Life...of a Worm

DietDetective — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:33:12 GMT

You've heard that you should stay away from added sugar -- here's another reason. Researchers reporting in the November issue of Cell Metabolism, say it might also be taking years off your life.

By adding just a small amount of glucose to C. elegans usual fare of straight bacteria, they found the worms lose about 20 percent of their usual life span. They trace the effect to insulin signals, which can block other life-extending molecular players. Although the findings are in worms, Cynthia Kenyon of the University of California, San Francisco, says there are known to be many similarities between worms and people in the insulin signaling pathways. (As an aside, Kenyon says she read up on low-carb diets and changed her eating habits immediately – cutting out essentially all starches and desserts -- after making the initial discovery in worms. The discovery was made several years ago, but had not been reported in a peer-reviewed journal until now.)

Is Agave Syrup Less Calories Than Sugar?

DietDetective — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:06:28 GMT

There was an article in today's Wall Street Journal that did a review of the Mexican plant that is being touted as the new honey -- Agave Syrup. Sugar has about 45 calories per tablespoon, whereas many of the Agave syrups on the market are 60 calories per tablespoon. The argument is that Agave is sweeter so you use less of it - -if that's the case that's great, but is it? Also, advocates argue that it does not raise blood sugar nearly as much as regular sugar. However, according to this article in the Journal "But the Glycemic Research Institute, a Washington, D.C., laboratory, issued a warning Friday that diabetics experienced "severe and dangerous side effects" during testing of an agave nectar."

Bottom-line: Agave is a sweetener and has real calories. Keep in mind, if you're using Agave -it's not a FREE food, use it sparingly, just like sugar. Read more in the WSJ here. Do you use Agave? What about honey? Do you use less than you would if you were using regular white sugar?

Milk Helps with Muscle Recovery

DietDetective — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:11:04 GMT

Researchers at the Division of Sports Sciences, at Northumbria Universityin Newcastle, UK reported in the journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism that Milk may help in muscle recovery. According to the journal abstract: "Exercise-induced muscle damage leads to the degradation of protein structures within the muscle. This may subsequently lead to decrements in muscle performance and increases in intramuscular enzymes and delayed-onset muscle soreness . Milk, which provides protein and carbohydrate (CHO), may lead to the attenuation of protein degradation and (or) an increase in protein synthesis that would limit the consequential effects of Exercise-induced muscle damage." You can read more here.

Do You Eat 100 Calorie Packs? -- Watch Out

DietDetective — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:26:17 GMT

(Source: University of Chicago Press Journals ) Tempting treats are being offered in small package sizes these days, presumably to help consumers reduce portion sizes. Yet new research in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people actually consume more high-calorie snacks when they are in small packages than large ones. And smaller packages make people more likely to give in to temptation in the first place.

Authors Rita Coelho do Vale (Technical University of Lisbon), Rik Pieters, and Marcel Zeelenberg (both Tilburg University, the Netherlands) found that large packages triggered concern of overeating and conscious efforts to avoid doing so, while small packages were perceived as innocent pleasures, leaving the consumers unaware that they were overindulging.

"The increasing availability of single-serve and multi-packs may not serve consumers in the long-run, but-because they are considered to be innocent pleasures-may turn out to be sneaky small sins," write the authors.

One fascinating aspect of the research is the difference between belief and reality. In an initial study, researchers found that consumers believe that small packages help them regulate "hedonistic consumption," where self-restraint is at stake. When participants were asked to choose phone plans, those who thought the plan was for social rather than work purposes tended to choose smaller plans.

The researchers then moved on to food. Participants in one group had their "dietary concerns" activated by completing a "Body Satisfaction scale," a "Drive for Thinness scale," and a "Concern for Dieting scale." They were then weighed and measured, in front of a mirror, to fully activate their awareness. Then those participants (and a control group, which didn't have its "dietary concerns" activated) watched episodes of Friends interspersed with commercials. They believed they were there to evaluate the ads. But researchers were really monitoring their consumption of potato chips. Chips were available to participants in large packages or small ones. The study found that consumption was lowest when dieting concerns were activated and package size was large. People were less likely to open large packages, and participants deliberated longer before consuming from the larger packages.

"Maybe the answer lies in consumers taking responsibility for their consumption and monitoring internal cues of sufficiency, rather than letting package size take control," conclude the authors.

2Cs: Caffeine And Carbs After Exercise Helps Muscles Refuel

DietDetective — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:44:02 GMT

I thought this release from the American Physiological Society was worth sharing -- see below:

Recipe to recover more quickly from exercise: Finish workout, eat pasta, and wash down with five or six cups of strong coffee.

Glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise, is replenished more rapidly when athletes ingest both carbohydrate and caffeine following exhaustive exercise, new research from the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology shows. Athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrate had 66% more glycogen in their muscles four hours after finishing intense, glycogen-depleting exercise, compared to when they consumed carbohydrate alone, according to the study, published by The American Physiological Society.

The study, "High rates of muscle glycogen resynthesis after exhaustive exercise when carbohydrate is co-ingested with caffeine," is by David J. Pedersen, Sarah J. Lessard, Vernon G. Coffey, Emmanuel G. Churchley, Andrew M. Wootton, They Ng, Matthew J. Watt and John A. Hawley. Dr. Pedersen is with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia, Dr. Watt is from St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. All others are with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT) in Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.

A fuller audio interview with Dr. Hawley is available in Episode 11 of the APS podcast, Life Lines, at http://www.lifelines.tv/. The show also includes an interview with Dr. Stanley Schultz, whose physiological discovery of how sugar is transported in the gut led to the development of oral rehydration therapy and sports drinks such as Gatorade.

Caffeine aids carbohydrate uptake

It is already established that consuming carbohydrate and caffeine prior to and during exercise improves a variety of athletic performances. This is the first study to show that caffeine combined with carbohydrates following exercise can help refuel the muscle faster.

"If you have 66% more fuel for the next day's training or competition, there is absolutely no question you will go farther or faster," said Dr. Hawley, the study's senior author. Caffeine is present in common foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, chocolate and cola drinks.

The study was conducted on seven well-trained endurance cyclists who participated in four sessions. The participants first rode a cycle ergometer until exhaustion, and then consumed a low-carbohydrate dinner before going home. This exercise bout was designed to reduce the athletes' muscle glycogen stores prior to the experimental trial the next day.

The athletes did not eat again until they returned to the lab the next day for the second session when they again cycled until exhaustion. They then ingested a drink that contained carbohydrate alone or carbohydrate plus caffeine and rested in the laboratory for four hours. During this post-exercise rest time, the researchers took several muscle biopsies and multiple blood samples to measure the amount of glycogen being replenished in the muscle, along with the concentrations of glucose-regulating metabolites and hormones in the blood, including glucose and insulin.

The entire two-session process was repeated 7-10 days later. The only difference was that this time, the athletes drank the beverage that they had not consumed in the previous trial. (That is, if they drank the carbohydrate alone in the first trial, they drank the carbohydrate plus caffeine in the second trial, and vice versa.)

The drinks looked, smelled and tasted the same and both contained the same amount of carbohydrate. Neither the researchers nor the cyclists knew which regimen they were receiving, making it a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment.

Glucose and insulin levels higher with caffeine ingestion

The researchers found the following:

one hour after exercise, muscle glycogen levels had replenished to the same extent whether or not the athlete had the drink containing carbohydrate and caffeine or carbohydrate only
four hours after exercise, the drink containing caffeine resulted in 66% higher glycogen levels compared to the carbohydrate-only drink
throughout the four-hour recovery period, the caffeinated drink resulted in higher levels of blood glucose and plasma insulin
several signaling proteins believed to play a role in glucose transport into the muscle were elevated to a greater extent after the athletes ingested the carbohydrate-plus-caffeine drink, compared to the carbohydrate-only drink

Dr. Hawley said it is not yet clear how caffeine aids in facilitating glucose uptake from the blood into the muscles. However, the higher circulating blood glucose and plasma insulin levels were likely to be a factor. In addition, caffeine may increase the activity of several signaling enzymes, including the calcium-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase B (also called Akt), which have roles in muscle glucose uptake during and after exercise.

Lower dose is next step

In this study, the researchers used a high dose of caffeine to establish that it could help the muscles convert ingested carbohydrates to glycogen more rapidly. However, because caffeine can have potentially negative effects, such as disturbing sleep or causing jitteriness, the next step is to determine whether smaller doses could accomplish the same goal.

Hawley pointed out that the responses to caffeine ingestion vary widely between individuals. Indeed, while several of the athletes in the study said they had a difficult time sleeping the night after the trial in which they ingested caffeine (8 mg per kilogram of body weight, the equivalent of drinking 5-6 cups of strong coffee), several others fell asleep during the recovery period and reported no adverse effects.

Athletes who want to incorporate caffeine into their workouts should experiment during training sessions well in advance of an important competition to find out what works for them.

Interview with Fitness Trainer Kathy Kaehler

DietDetective — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:06:33 GMT

Kathy Kaehler, author, celebrity trainer, spokesperson and mom has devoted her life to helping people live happy, productive and healthy lives. Beyond imparting the latest in fitness workouts, this lifestyle expert has tackled such subjects as multi-tasking, stress management, nutrition, how to get a good night's sleep and how to keep sexy and satisfied. And lately, she has been touting the benefits of proper hydration, including her favorite fitness water, Propel, as well as the benefits of sun protection with the Azur sun care collection.

For thirteen years, she appeared on the Today show as the fitness correspondent while training such celebrities as Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Aniston, Denise Richards, Claudia Schiffer and Kim Basinger. Most recently her work with Kim Kardashian has lead to a downloadable workout series entitled, Kim Kardashian Workout Video...Exercises Fit For a Princess, while providing fitness and wellness content as well as a weekly blog as the Fitness Correspondent for Firstwivesworld.com. The fitness industry has also recognized Kathy's contributions and this spring, she will be inducted into the Fitness Hall of Fame.She is currently a Podfitness Premiere Trainer and one of the stars of the Lifetime Television series, My Workout.

Name: Kathy Kaehler

Birthday: January 24th

Location: Los Angeles, California

Website: http://www.kathykaehlerfitness.com/

Diet Detective: Hello Kathy, thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us and our readers - we appreciate it. My first question for you is how you get started being a personal trainer?

Kathy: I got started as a personal trainer when I was hired by Jane Fonda to be her personal trainer at her very private spa in Santa Barbara in 1988.

Diet Detective: What do you think is the one most important thing that makes or breaks a diet/fitness program?

Kathy: What makes a diet and fitness program is behavior modification. What breaks it is a program with a focus on getting somewhere for an event or for getting in the skinny jeans.

Diet Detective: What makes it so difficult for moms to keep to a diet and exercise routine?

Kathy: Schedule is why it is so difficult for moms. It is always changing and this puts a tremendous strain on the focus.

Diet Detective: What's your motto?

Kathy: Put it on the daily list and check it off!

Diet Detective: What makes what you do different from other fitness experts and trainers?

Kathy: I am the best there is to creating a fitness program that will leave you wanting more. With 25 years of experience and training I share my secrets with my clients. I have the unique ability to change lives in a positive way through exercise and dietary changes.

Diet Detective: What do you do when you "fall of the wagon?"

Kathy: I never fall off the wagon. Exercise, being active and eating good healthy food is how I lead my life. I make this a choice in how I live and can't imagine it any other way.

Diet Detective: Tell us the biggest secret that trainers typically don't tell their clients, but should?

Kathy: I tell my clients the truth and sometimes that may be something that they would rather have me not tell them. Reality can be hard to swallow sometimes but it is the only way to move forward from where you are. I don't keep any secrets.

Diet Detective: What do you do each day? Do you train at a specific gym? Move around a lot.... What is a "day-in-the life" of a celebrity trainer?

Kathy: I have clients that start at 6am. I teach fitness classes 5 times a week in Los Angeles in a private community. I train in my home gym some of my celebrity clients and I also travel to their homes. I do an extensive pool workout for myself and I spend my afternoons with my three sons doing homework , making dinner, laundry , dishes and walking my two dogs. Red, my English Bulldog puppy and Bull, my big black lab.

Diet Detective: Out of all the celebrities you've trained-who is the hardest working? And why? What can we learn from her/ him?

Kathy: Kim Basinger is the most committed workout gal around. She pushes hard at every workout and when she is not with me she works out on her own. Her drive and focus to keep fitness and nutrition her top priority along with her daughter is truly extraordinary.

Diet Detective: Do you think that women need to exercise and train differently then men? If so, how?

Kathy: It seems that we should but I really don't train men and women any differently. They may be able to lift heavier weights and some exercises may be more geared for one sex or the other but we all need cardio, strength and flexibility.

Diet Detective: How do you get someone motivated to stick to a fitness program?

Kathy: I just tell them the benefits of exercise. Improved quality of life, reduced risks of disease, burn more calories at rest, better attitude, sleep better, clearer skin, eat more and better sex. That's the one that usually gets them.

Diet Detective: In all your years of training what do you consider the best non-weight related exercise (e.g. lunge). Can you also explain how to do the exercise?

Kathy: The pushup. You train shoulders, chest and triceps. You can do it anywhere, it can be modified or a challenge. On the knees with the arms supporting the upper body. Body straight like a board. Lower the chest until it reaches a few inches off the floor. Exhale as you press back up. To make it more difficult extend the legs and hold yourself up with the toes.

Diet Detective: What is the worst strength training exercise for women? Or one that is the most frequently done incorrectly?

Kathy: Upright row. I really am not a fan of this exercise. I don't use it very often and never with a weight infrequently with a band.

Diet Detective: What's your favorite "junk food?"

Kathy: I guess my favorite would be the potato chip.

Diet Detective: What's your favorite healthy lunch?

Kathy: Salmon bowl from Whole Foods or a plate of fresh baby spinach with warm lentils, chopped tomatoes, fresh garlic and some goat cheese with a drizzle of olive oil.

Diet Detective: What do you consider the world's most perfect food?

Kathy: The egg. Any way you make it, it is the most natural and untouched food.

Diet Detective: Who do you respect most, or who motivates you?

Kathy: I have many that fit into this question. I respect Jane Fonda for her work in my field, Jack LaLanne for his endless career and my parents for their continued support. I motivate myself. I am very competitive and this keeps me going forward.

Diet Detective: If you had to choose a specific song or band to get you excited for your workout, what would it be? What other songs are on your iPod?

Kathy: I am inspired by old Janet Jackson, Madonna, Chaka Khan, Donna Summer and most of all the disco favorites.

Diet Detective: What do you do to reduce stress/relax/center your mind? Do you participate in an organized relaxation activity such as yoga, meditation or tai chi?

Kathy: I have just getting involved with meditation. I also have acupuncture weekly and a facial every other week.

Diet Detective: What's the most bodacious chance you've ever taken?

Kathy: I created a workout video program for my client Kim Kardashian just before her scandalous sex video was released. The workouts have sold tremendously and we have shot four brand new ones soon to be released. She has also donated to women's charities with some of the proceeds and continues to inspire women to love their bodies no matter what shape they have. This was a chance that some thought it to be risky for me but it has only created a wonderful relationship that has taken my career to new and exciting places.

Diet Detective: What was your worst summer job?

Kathy: I delivered airline tickets to customers of a travel agency.

Thank you!!!!

Fitness Magazine's New Sneaker Suggestions

DietDetective — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:49:48 GMT

Ever wonder which sneakes are best? Check out Fitness Magazine's "Best Sneakers" for your favorite activity.

RUNNING:BEGINNER

ASICS GT-2130 ($95, asics.com for retailers)

WHY : The newest style in the popular 2100 series, this shoe is great for someone who needs light stability and cushioning.

RUNNING:ADVANCED

SAUCONY PROGRID TRIUMPH 5 ($120, saucony.com for retailers)

WHY : The perfect shoe for a runner who wants a lightweight style that can go the distance. Its antimicrobial sock liner is a bonus.

WALKING

NEW BALANCE 759 ($80, newbalance.com for retailers)

WHY : This shoe has extra cushioning in the heel and is de-signed to help stabilize your foot (good for people who overpronate, or whose feet roll in as they walk).

CARDIO REEBOK KFS AGILITY TRAINER ($85, reebok.com)

WHY : A 360-degree support system controls your feet asyou move in all directions, fl ex grooves in the sole provide traction on slick gym fl oors, and DMX foam provides cushioning in the heel.

HIKING Keen Voyager ($90, keenfootwear.com for retailers)

WHY : Unlike most traditional hiking shoes, the rugged

Voyager is made with both leather and mesh, which helps keep your feet cool on warm days.

TRAIL RUNNING

ADIDAS ADIZERO XT ($80, shopadidas.com)

WHY : At 8.8 ounces, this is the lightest trail shoe Adidas makes. Yet it's super sturdy and features a high-traction sole that grips a variety of surfaces.

TENNIS

FILA TORNEO II ($100, fila.com)

WHY : A piece of plastic around the heel cinches your foot into the shoe and provides mega-stability as you crisscross the court.

CYCLING

SPECIALIZED SPIRITA ($85, specialized.com)

WHY : This shoe aligns your foot, knee and hip, supports your arch and prevents delicate nerves from getting

The myth of runner's high revisited with brain imaging

DietDetective — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:01:54 GMT

I saw this and thought it was worth reading and sharing:

Throughout the world, amateurs, experts and the media agree that prolonged jogging raises people's spirits. And many believe that the body's own opioids, so called endorphins, are the cause of this. But in fact this has never been proved until now. Researchers at the Technische Universität München and the University of Bonn succeeded to demonstrate the existence of an ‘endorphin driven runner's high'. In an imaging study they were able to show, for the first time, increased release of endorphins in certain areas of the athletes' brains during a two-hour jogging session. Their results are also relevant for patients suffering from chronic pain, because the body's own opiates are produced in areas of the brain which are involved in the suppression of pain. The researchers, some of whom are also members of the German Research Network of Neuropathic Pain (Deutscher Forschungsverbund Neuropathischer Schmerz, DFNS), which is also funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), thereby show that jogging not only makes you high, but can also relieve pain. The results of the study have now been published in the scientific journal 'Cerebral Cortex'.

Runner's high

Endurance sports have long been seen as reducing stress, relieving anxiety, enhancing mood and decreasing the perception of pain. The high that accompanies jogging even led to the creation of its own term, ‘runner's high'. Yet the cause of these positive effects on the senses was not clear until now. The most popular theory was and still is the 'Endorphin Hypothesis', which claimed that there was increased production of the body's own opioids in the brain. However, since until now direct proof of this theory could not be provided; for technical reasons, it was a constant source of controversial discussions in scientific circles. The result was that the myth of 'runner's high through endorphins' lived on.

Scientists confirm the endorphin hypothesis for the first time

Scientists from the fields of Nuclear Medicine, Neurology and Anaesthesia at the Technische Universität München (TUM) and the University of Bonn have now subjected the endorphin theory to closer scrutiny. Ten athletes were scanned before and after a two-hour long-distance run using an imaging technique called positron emission tomography (PET). For this they used the radioactive substance 18Fdiprenorphine (18FFDPN), which binds to the opiate receptors in the brain and hence competes with endorphins. 'The more endorphins are produced in the athlete's brain, the more opiate receptors are blocked,' says Professor Henning Boecker, who coordinated the research at TUM and who is now in charge of the ‘Functional Neuroimaging Group' at the Dept. of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn. And further: 'Respectively the opioid receptor binding of the 18FFDPN decreases, since there is a direct competition between endorphins in the brain and the injected ligand'. By comparing the images before and after two hours of long distance running the study could demonstrate a significantly decreased binding of the 18FFDPN-ligand. This is a strong argument in favour of an increased production of the body's own opioids while doing long-distance running. 'We could validate for the first time an endorphin driven runner's high and identify the affected brain areas', states Boecker. 'It's interesting to see that the affected brain areas were preferentially located in prefrontal and limbic brain regions which are known to play a key role in emotional processing. Moreover, we observed a significant increase of the euphoria and happiness ratings compared to the ratings before the running exercise.' Professor Thomas Tölle, who for several years has been head of a research group called ‘Functional Imaging of Pain' at TU Munich, adds: 'Our evaluations show that the more intensively the high is experienced, the lower the binding of 18FFDPN was in the PET scan. And this means that the ratings of euphoria and happiness correlated directly with the release of the endorphins.' In addition, as a spokesman of the ‘German Association of Neuropathic Pain', he feels happy for patients suffering from chronic pain. 'The fact that the endorphins are also released in areas of the brain that are at the centre of the suppression of pain was not quite unexpected, but even this proof was missing. Now we hope that these images will also impress our pain patients and will motivate them to take up sports training within their available limits.'

Running down the pain?

It is well known that endorphins facilitate the body's own pain suppression by influencing the way the body passes on pain and processes it in the nervous system and brain. The increased production of endorphins resulting from long-distance running could also serve as the body's own pain-killer, a therapeutic option which is not only of interest to the German Association of Neuropathic Pain. 'Now we are very curious about the results of an imaging study using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging which we are currently carrying out in Bonn in order to investigate the influence of long-distance running on the processing of pain directly,' Professor Boecker says. Further research is required so as to investigate the exact effects on depression and states of anxiety but also on possible aspects which may promote addiction. That is why the relation between genetic disposition and opiate receptor distribution in the brain is being currently investigated at TU Munich. 'A scary thought,' Thomas Tölle comments, 'if we ran because our genes wanted us to do so.' The first step towards researching these connections has now been made.

Calorie Bargain: You Bar

DietDetective — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:38:43 GMT

The Why: This is a really great idea. You get to build your own energy bar, pick the base, all the ingredients, and you get your very own personalized bar. The company is innovative and smart. We ordered a bar with almond butter, a few nuts, raisins, and cherries. The bar was only 170 calories, which you can control also - and it was delicious. We can't say enough about this fabulous company.

The Health Bonus: All natural ingredients that you choose!!

What We Liked Best: The possibilities are endless, and they guarantee the taste.

What We Liked Least: There are almost too many choices, and it's a bit pricey.

What It Replaces: Power Bar, Cliff Bars, etc.. Basically, all those energy bars with loads of ingredients that you don't need or want.

The Price: 12 regular bars for $40 ($3.33/bar) +$7.99 for shipping and handling

Other Offerings: If you have trouble choosing you can go to their "Popular Bars:" Honey Cashew, Great Date with Chocolate, Breakfast Bar.

Where to Buy: http://www.youbars.com

Nutritional Information: Varies

Ingredients: You pick them from this list.

1. Dates (Fat-free) or Soynut Butter or Peanut Butter or Almond Butter Cashew Butter or Cashew Macademia Butter or Sesame Butter (tahini)

2. Choose up to 3 different proteins: No Protein or Whey (Milk) Protein or Soy Protein or Egg White Protein or Special Requests (½ Whey & ½ Soy; No Protein).

3. Nuts & seeds: No Nuts or Sesame Seeds or Pecans or Roasted Soynuts (Edamame) or Walnuts or Cashews or Ghirardelli Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Almonds or Peanuts

4. Dried fruits and berries: No Fruits or Berries or Raisins or Sweetened Dried or Cranberries or Dried Pineapple or Prunes or Dried Apple or Dried Banana or Dried Apricots or Dried Cherries or Shredded Coconut

5. Sweeteners: No sweetener or Clover Honey or Organic Molasses or Organic Brown Rice Syrup

6. Seasoning: No Seasoning or Natural Cocoa Powder or Ground Cinnamon or Carob Powder or Peppermint Oil or Coffee Crystals or Splenda

7. Grains/Cereals: No Grains/Cereals or Organic Oat Bran or Granola or Nutty Rice Cereal.

8. Infusions: Vita-Min Infusion or Protein Infusion or Fiber Infusion or No Infusion.

Q&A with Christine Lydon, MD

DietDetective — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:10:15 GMT

Since receiving her medical degree from Yale in 1994, Christine Lydon, MD has made it her life's work to educate people about sound nutrition, effective training techniques, and healthy approaches to permanent weight loss. A fitness personality and physique model with a long list of television and print credits, Dr. Lydon has served as a nutrition consultant to large corporations, as well as a personal fitness consultant to a diverse clientele ranging from housewives and firefighters to celebrities like supermodel Carre Otis, Quentin Tarantino, and the late Richard Pryor. Dr. Lydon currently devotes herself to writing and speaking about weight management, disease prevention, and nonpharmaceutical alternatives for increased longevity. People place their confidence in Dr. Lydon's commentaries because, as her photos clearly illustrate, she practices what she preaches.

Name: Christine Lydon

Birthday: July 19, 1966

Location: Rochester, NY

Website: http://www.tenyearsthinner.com/

Diet Detective: Hello Christine, I can't believe all you've accomplished-you really are an example of a renaissance woman. But I'm sure you've heard that before. What motivated you to work in the area of nutrition and fitness? Was there a specific event or situation that inspired you?

Christine: Thank you! And believe me-- given my politically-incorrect approach-- I've run into enough roadblocks to appreciate that compliment very much. My continued involvement in this industry is out of sheer stubbornness-- and ego! When I see multinational corporations getting rich by selling lies that make people sick, all I want to do is fly in like a superhero and save the day!

Diet Detective: You went to medical school, and I've heard so often that medical doctors learn so little about nutrition, fitness and health prevention - is that a myth?

Christine: That's no myth. The first two years of medical school provided an invaluable foundation-- that's when you learn the basics. Without a fairly comprehensive understanding of biochemistry, physiology, and anatomy-- not to mention the scientific process itself-- it would be impossible to correctly interpret emerging research in the areas of metabolism and exercise physiology. It's the final two years of medical school-- when you're actually working on the wards learning how to treat patients-- that's when the mammoth influence of the pharmaceutical industry takes over and the whole idea of "prevention" gets wiped from the collective consciousness. We were never taught about prevention-- and I believe that was a deliberate omission. Everything I ever learned about nutrition, fitness, and preventive medicine I learned after graduating from medical school.

Diet Detective: You offer quick results in you book-- why the rush?

Christine: There's no rush-- that's just how the program happens to work. Ten Years Thinner has the dual advantage of providing fast, dramatic results-- but in a healthy, sustainable manner.

Ten Years Thinner is not just about weight loss; it's about fat loss. This is not a fad or a magic bullet that will cause your weight to plummet by ten pounds in the first two or three weeks just so you can regain it all in the months to follow. Unlike other popular diet programs that contradict human physiology, Ten Years Thinner harnesses natural processes that transform your body into the healthy, energized, fat-burning furnace it was born to be.

The cornerstones of Ten Years Thinner lie in stabilizing your physiological equilibrium and building a symmetrically-balanced muscle base. These two processes work synergistically to stoke your internal furnace so that it becomes a full-time fat incinerator.

Think of your body as the most brilliantly designed machine in the universe. It wants to run clean. It wants to burn fat around the clock. It feels good when things are working properly. This program simply provides the tools and fuels that your body needs to function according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Diet Detective: You also promise: "Slimmer hips, firmer thighs, flatter abs, more defined arms, and clearer, younger-looking skin in just six weeks?" Do you really think that is medically possible without completely changing your entire life? It seems like so many empty promises that publishers write on book covers to sell books.

Christine: I don't just think it's possible-- I KNOW it's possible! I've seen it over, and over, and over again with my test subjects. But don't take my word for it-- check out the testimonials page of the Ten Years Thinner web site. Look at the before and after photos. Read the testimonials. In fact, I'd be happy to provide you with a list of names and contact information of former test subjects. These are people who lost weight two, three, and four years ago and have kept it off. The most compelling promotional tools at my disposal are the actual people who have tried the program!

Diet Detective: Can you explain the rationale behind the dietary guidelines?

Christine: The organization of the dietary component of TEN YEARS THINNER is based on anthropological data and cutting edge research in the areas of immunology, physiology, and metabolism.

During the first three weeks (phase 1), the reader adopts a meal plan that includes anti-inflammatory foods including antioxidant-rich fruits, leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes, seeds, fish, poultry, eggs, game, and organically raised livestock. The second three-week phase adds limited amounts of dairy, soy, potatoes, dried fruit and fruit juice, grain-based carbohydrates, high glycemic and processed foods, feedlot meat, and dark chocolate. During the third and final ‘maintenance phase,' alcohol is reintroduced along with a weekly cheat meal during which he/she can eat and drink whatever her heart desires. Throughout each phase, readers are advised to follow a supplementation regimen that includes the omega-3 essential fatty acids lacking in contemporary diets.

This multi-tiered organization serves a dual purpose. First, it helps to reestablish physiological equilibrium by combating insulin resistance-- the number one inflammatory process contributing to weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. And second, it permits an objective self-evaluation, providing individuals the opportunity to identify particular foods to which they may be sensitive so they can reduce or avoid their consumption in the future.

Diet Detective: You claim that your 25-minute workout delivers equal or better results than one that takes three times as long. How is this possible? Can anybody do it?

Christine: Exercise physiologists are now proving experimentally what I've known empirically for years-- namely that the most efficient way to induce progressive (and permanent!) fat loss is to elevate metabolic rate around the clock-- an endeavor best accomplished through a combination of resistance training and intense, short-duration exercise. Resistance training builds muscle, and a little muscle goes a long way toward increasing metabolic rate, caloric expenditure, and fat burning. Likewise, brief intervals of intense exercise induce a hormonal response that raises resting metabolic rate and increases overall fat burning for up to two days.

And yes-- the Ten Years Thinner exercise routines can be performed by almost anyone. As long as you can climb a flight of stairs without pain, and lift your arms over your head, you should have little difficulty doing the routines. The 20-minute beginner workout routine permits even previously sedentary individuals to train for fast, visible results. The more strenuous second phase routine has a built-in mechanism to allow for a lifetime of gradual, progressive improvements in conditioning and fitness. The optional third phase routine can be used as a stepping stone to more physically demanding activities like sports or as a training adjunct for competitive athletics. No matter what the phase, two pairs of light dumbbells are the only exercise equipment you will ever need.

Diet Detective: What do you think is the one most important thing that makes or breaks a diet/fitness program?

Christine: Long-term sustainability.

Diet Detective: Do you think that women need to exercise and train differently then men? If so, how?

Christine: Nope.

Diet Detective: In your book you talk about how no gym is needed. I'm wondering, does that mean that you don't think weight / strength training is critical? Can you explain?

Christine: That's not what I mean at all.... What I mean is, you don't need to join a gym, spend a fortune on exercise equipment, or devote your life to the human hamster wheel to see rapid, dramatic improvements in your physique. The Ten Years Thinner routines are built around light resistance training that can be done just about anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. In less time than it would take to watch your favorite sitcom, you can get a safe, balanced, full-body workout that harnesses several physiological principals to accelerate fat loss, build strength and stamina, and endow you with a youthful posture and a toned physique.

Diet Detective: How do you get someone motivated to stick to a fitness program?

Christine: That's tough to do. I'm convinced that motivation must come from within. But when people see and feel results, they are automatically motivated to stick to a fitness program.

I believe the reason that most people find it hard to stick to an exercise program is because the vast majority of exercise routines that are compact enough to fit into their busy schedules are inefficient for promoting appreciable changes in body composition or improvements in health. Not only that, most exercise programs are tedious and boring. And who in their right mind would bother investing their limited time and energy into doing something they may not particularly enjoy, especially when the promised rewards are so completely exaggerated?

In contrast, the exercise program described in Ten Years Thinner embodies sustainability because it actually DOES deliver the promised rewards with a minimal time commitment. In addition, Ten Years Thinner improves your fitness level as it teaches you how to exercise efficiently. Hence, if you have the time and inclination to take up a sport, join an exercise class, or begin a weight-lifting regimen, you will have at your disposal both the necessary conditioning to undertake more physically-demanding activities, as well as the requisite knowledge to structure your training so that it best supports your health and physique goals.

Diet Detective: In all your years of training what do you consider the best non-weight related exercise (e.g. lunge). Can you also explain how to do the exercise?

Christine: Interval training, consisting of all-out sprints (95-100% MHR) for as long as you can sustain the pace (45-60 seconds in a well-trained individual) followed by two to three minutes of moderate-intensity activity (or until HR has recovered to 60-70% MHR) and repeat. Twenty to thirty minutes of running, swimming, cycling, skating (etc.) intervals will provide a vastly superior workout to doing any of these activities at a moderate, sustained pace (60-80% MHR-- i.e. the "aerobic zone" or "target HR") for 90 minutes.

Diet Detective: If you could only do only one strength training exercise (using weights) what would it be?

Christine: A compound, multijoint movement that utilized free weights to challenge the full motion range of as many muscle groups as possible-- a wide squat (holding two dumbbells) combined with a bicep curl followed by an Arnold Press.

Diet Detective: What is the worst strength training exercise for women? Or one that is the most frequently done incorrectly?

Christine: Ab exercises using a Swiss ball.

Diet Detective: What's your favorite "junk food" - I realize that you don't believe there are any "junk" foods - but indulge us?

Christine: I never said there weren't any "junk foods;" I just said there weren't any bad food groups. We evolved eating plenty of healthy animal protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbohydrates. Unfortunately, the healthy, whole foods that comprised our genetically-perfect diet have been largely eliminated from our contemporary food supply in favor of grains, processed foods, dairy, and feedlot meat. There are lots of crappy foods that humans were never physiologically-designed to eat and would do best to avoid as much as possible. My personal favorite is tiramisu.

Diet Detective: What's your favorite healthy breakfast?

Christine: Dinner leftovers. Or a frozen fruit, yogurt (plain), and whey protein smoothie.

Diet Detective: What do you consider the world's most perfect food?

Christine: Any meal that combines lean protein, healthy fat, and fruits and/or vegetables is a nutritionally "perfect" meal. An example-- chicken kabobs with peppers, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms, generously basted in olive oil and herbs de provence.

Diet Detective: Who do you respect most, or who motivates you?

Christine: Brilliant, passionate, funny people-- truth seekers-- people who don't bury their heads in the sand in the face of adversity. My heroes are Oprah, John Irving, John Stewart, and Stephen Colbert.

Diet Detective: If you had to choose a specific song or band to get you excited for your workout, what would it be? What other songs are on your iPod ?

Christine: I have fairly eclectic (and not terribly sophisticated) tastes in music-- I think I like one song from every band that ever existed. Stuff that currently spins through my iPod includes a lot of Queen, Blink 182, and Jimmy Eat World.

Diet Detective: What do you do to reduce stress/relax/center your mind? Do you participate in an organized relaxation activity such as yoga, meditation or tai chi?

Christine: I read novels. And I write novels-- though I have yet to sell one!

Diet Detective: What's the most bodacious chance you've ever taken?

Christine: Graduating from Yale Med School with six figures in student loans and then quitting my orthopedic surgery residency.

Diet Detective: What was your worst summer job?

Christine: Being an orthopedic surgery resident.

Diet Detective: Define failure.

Christine: Accepting defeat.

Diet Detective: What's the best book about health that you've read? (aside from your own)

Christine: The Anti-Inflammation Zone by Barry Sears, Ph.D. and The Paleolithic Diet by Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

*Thank you!!!! *

Christine: Thank you, Charles, for providing me this wonderful opportunity to spread the word!

Calorie Bargain: Polar Activity Watch

DietDetective — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:03:15 GMT

The Why: It's a very stylish watch that has all kinds of interesting features including a built-in pedometer to help keep you on track for walking 10,000 active steps per day without a transmitter belt. Using the latest in activity technology, an altimeter helps measure active steps and active time to provide an effective calorie count. The Activity Watch is great for hiking, running, or simply walking around and doing your regular activities. If you find yourself too busy for exercise, just strap on the Activity Watch and leave the calculating to the watch.

The Health Bonus: According to a recent walking study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan Health System and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, when you use a pedometer or a device that tells you how long you've walked or run, you are more active.

What We Liked Best: Polar finally came out with a great looking watch that has some cool features besides a heart rate monitor with a strap.

What We Liked Least: While the watch has no familiar chest strap (that you typically find with almost every Polar watch), it also doesn't have a heart rate monitor. Polar, what were you thinking? Can't you please come up with this style watch along with a strapless heart rate monitor like the Mio (www.miowatch.com/ )?

What It Replaces: Timex Ironman

The Price: $199.95

Other Offerings: This particular watch comes in only one style, but Polar offers many heart rate monitor / watches. See their offerings at http://www.polarusa.com/

Where to Buy:www.shoppolar.com/, http://www.paragonsports.com/, or you can go to the store finder at http://www.polarusa.com/findstore/stores_con.asp

Nutritional Information: Walking at 3.0 mph will burn about 231 calories per hour for a 155 pound person.

Ingredients: The Activity Watch's accelerometer specifically measures forward motion and allows for the precise measurement of everyday physical activities such as choosing the stairs versus the escalator or walking the dog. It then combines personalized information including height, weight and age to provide accurate and useful output throughout each active period. The Activity Watch also features a built-in altimeter and barometer to measure both altitude and weather conditions for a more informed experience.

Fountain of Youth? Exercise, Says Research at Kings College London

DietDetective — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:59:39 GMT

(Source: JAMA and Archives Journals ) Individuals who are physically active during their leisure time appear to be biologically younger than those with sedentary lifestyles, according to a report in the January 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Regular exercisers have lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and osteoporosis, according to background information in the article. "A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to aging-related disease and premature death," the authors write. "Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases but also because it may influence the aging process itself."

Lynn F. Cherkas, Ph.D., of King's College London, and colleagues studied 2,401 white twins, administering questionnaires on physical activity level, smoking habits and socioeconomic status. The participants also provided a blood sample from which DNA was extracted. The researchers examined the length of telomeres-repeated sequences at the end of chromosomes-in the twins' white blood cells (leukocytes). Leukocyte telomeres progressively shorten over time and may serve as a marker of biological age.

Telomere length decreased with age, with an average loss of 21 nucleotides (structural units) per year. Men and women who were less physically active in their leisure time had shorter leukocyte telomeres than those who were more active. "Such a relationship between leukocyte telomere length and physical activity level remained significant after adjustment for body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status and physical activity at work," the authors write. "The mean difference in leukocyte telomere length between the most active who performed an average of 199 minutes of physical activity per week and least active 16 minutes of physical activity per week subjects was 200 nucleotides, which means that the most active subjects had telomeres the same length as sedentary individuals up to 10 years younger, on average." A sub-analysis comparing pairs in which twins had different levels of physical activity showed similar results.

Oxidative stress-damage caused to cells by exposure to oxygen-and inflammation are likely mechanisms by which sedentary lifestyles shorten telomeres, the authors suggest. In addition, perceived stress levels have been linked to telomere length. Physical activity may reduce psychological stress, thus mitigating its effect on telomeres and the aging process.

"The U.S. guidelines recommend that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week can have significant health benefits," the authors write. "Our results underscore the vital importance of these guidelines. They show that adults who partake in regular physical activity are biologically younger than sedentary individuals. This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potential anti-aging effect of regular exercise."

A 6-foot, 5-inch, 247 lb. Vegan Football Player?

DietDetective — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:49:47 GMT

Yes, that's the cover story on the Weekend Edition of the Wall Street Journal. The story is about Tony Gonalez of the Kansas City Chiefs, and his vegetarian ways. According the Journal he lives "solely on plant food, a combination of nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains and the like..." Why did he convert his diet -- . If you have WSJ subscription you can read the story here.

Q&A wth Kacy Duke

DietDetective — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:03:48 GMT

Kacy Duke is one of the world's most sought-after personal trainers and fitness consultants. She has served as a spokesperson for Nike and LifeFitness vitamins. She has developed some of the most innovative fitness programs for the prestigious Equinox Fitness Clubs and corporations in North America, Japan, and throughout Europe.

Name: Kacy Duke

Birthday: March 28^th 19 something (smile)

Location: New York City and beyond

Website: http://www.kacydukefitness.com/

Diet Detective: Hey Kacy, so glad that you're participating in this interview. I remember when Equinox just opened up on the upper west side in Manhattan, I used to see you there training and teaching classes (always the most popular I might add). My first question is something that we all would like to know: How did you get into the fitness business?

Kacy: Honestly, I feel as though I was born into it. Even as a kid, I loved the feeling of movement. Wildly energetic, I excelled at track and field and literally danced my way through my teens. As an adult, I let my body lead the way as I searched for a way to combine the power of running with the grace of dance. I studied dance therapy (healing through movement), taught aerobics, became a Nike Body Elite Personal trainer, and helped create the Equinox Fitness Clubs. Today I feel like my mission to help fitness find a home in everyone's life. My job now is to help the world understand that fitness is not just about the external. It's about the power and grace that also comes from within. It's about understanding that being fit is LIFE SUPPORTING and can give you much more than just a firm butt.

Diet Detective: You train many celebrities? It always amazes me how they can transform their bodies for a particular movie part. How do they do it? What are some secrets you can tell us?

Kacy: I honestly wish there was some secret to tell you! Getting in shape is a celebrity's job, so that can make it somewhat easier. But at the most basic level, they are just people like you and me and they still have to do the work. There are no shortcuts or magic potions. It's interesting that you ask about how they get in shape for a particular movie role, because though that's obviously important for their careers. I do try to have my celebrity clients, whether it's Kirsten Dunst or Rachel Weisz or Bruce Willis, look to themselves, not any particular role, for the motivation to get in shape. It's my experience that once you appreciate your body and believe in yourself, the tough physical work of getting in top shape comes so, so much easier. So I guess that's my secret, look inside, not outside for your motivation. Do it for you.

Diet Detective: Can you explain the concept: "I Am," "I Can," "I Do?"

Kacy: It's a 3-step process for getting, and most importantly, staying in shape. You can think of it as getting the body of your dreams from the inside out. It breaks down like this:

I AM = The Mindset. Taking a complete emotional inventory and exploring your relationship with your body. This is far and away the most important step to getting in shape, but it's the one everyone skips...even most trainers. Nothing positive can happen out of hate. Yet how many women use hate as their motivation? They hate their thighs. They hate their arms. A negative self image may get you in motion. But it can't sustain you; only burn you out. Only positive affirmation can get you where you want to be.

I CAN = The Motivation. Once you believe in yourself, you can start tapping your true strength and potential. This is HIGHLY motivating for clients. I know I really have them when they're in the gym beaming from ear to ear because they can't believe what they're capable of! The more you see you can do the more you want to do. You, not any outside influences, are your own motivation.

I DO = The Movement. This is the final step. This is where you push out of your comfort zone, tap into your inner goddess and make magic happen! Seriously, once you reach I Do, you won't believe the reflection starting back at you from the mirror...or how much you love it from the inside out.

Diet Detective: How do you get a client motivated to stick to a fitness program?

Kacy: I have them go for the unrealistic. It sounds counter-intuitive. But if you come into a training program not believing you can really get what you want, you're not going to be very motivated to hang with it. If you come in and think, "Okay, I'm really going to do it this time" (and of course you have the plan to make it happen), you'll be more motivated to stick with it.

Diet Detective: Tell us the biggest secret that trainers typically don't tell their clients, but should?

Kacy: I have to go back to I AM on this one. You really, really need to start your fitness journey on the inside, in your heart and in your mind. Develop a relationship with your body, don't berate it or beat it up. Love it. Love yourself. Show your body some love. To me, that's what it's all about.

Diet Detective: In all your years of training what do you consider the best non-weight related exercise (e.g. lunge)?

Kacy: Well, obviously I'm a little biased, but I think my Warrior moves (long lunges combined with high knee sweeps) are hands down the best non-weight moves for toning and tightening on the outside while also making you feel really, really good on the inside!

Diet Detective: If you could only do only one strength training exercise (using weights) what would it be?

Kacy: Honestly, I would rather do high-energy I DO moves, where you're leaping and jumping and using your own body weight for resistance than weighted moves any day. You end up feeling stronger, lighter, and more agile than if you do heavy weighted exercises. But to answer your question, I would probably pick flip squats.

Diet Detective: What is the worst strength training exercise? Or one that is the most frequently done incorrectly?

Kacy: I would have to say crunches. When they're done properly and with precision, they can be an excellent exercise. But they're easy to cheat or do incorrectly. I recommend one or two similar ab moves in my book, but I'm very careful to give explicit directions for making them work.

Diet Detective: Can you tell us one strength training myth that we probably have not heard about? Or would be surprised to learn?

Kacy: A lot of people still insist that women cannot "bulk up." I'm sorry, but that's just not true. No, maybe they can't get quite as big as a man; but depending on your muscle fibers and genetic makeup, it is possible for some women to bulk up. That doesn't mean they shouldn't strength train. They just need to take a different approach. I don't worry about this too much with my clients, because I don't use heavy weights. I increase the resistance and work effort in other ways that I find creates lean, pretty muscles.

Diet Detective: If you could eat one forbidden or unhealthy food (candy, cakes, etc..) whenever you wanted without gaining weight, what would it be?

Kacy: I really don't like the term forbidden food. It puts the food on some impossible pedestal and gives it a prominence in your life that it shouldn't have. Food is food. There's no forbidden food. I eat steak and bread and chocolate and drink alcohol. It's all about appreciating your body enough to understand the role those foods play. When everything is in its proper place, and you're respecting and loving yourself, your diet naturally falls into a balance where the most nutrient dense foods take prominence and the sweets and accessories round it out.

My favorite treat? That would be Red Velvet Cake! All my friends know it has to be from Make My Cake, a great bakery up in Harlem here in New York City. I love it!!

Diet Detective: What is the one food or meal you always eat before training? What do you advise clients to eat?

Kacy: I try not to be that rigid about what I eat. Because what happens if I can't get that food? Then I'll be thrown off, and I don't like that. I do have my own energy mix of almonds and dried cranberries, which is perfect for keeping hunger at bay while providing me with lasting energy, and of course valuable nutrients. I tell my clients to eat something nutritious and light one to two hours before their workout. A handful of nuts. Half a banana. Just a little something so they're fueled up, but not weighed down, for the work ahead.

Diet Detective: What's your favorite breakfast?

Kacy: 0% fat Greek yogurt with a little honey, blackberries and Fiber one cereal.

Diet Detective: What do you consider the world's most perfect food?

Kacy: Edamame. They're the perfect blend of carbs, protein, and healthy fats. You can also flavor them with darn near anything. I've been known to spice them up with everything from curry powder to strawberry juice! Love ‘em.

Diet Detective: On those days when you're not motivated to work out, but you should, what's the one thought that gets you going?

Kacy: How much better I'll feel 10 minutes into my workout. Listen, we ALL have those days when we'd rather sink deeper into the sofa than get up and move; but that's when your body needs movement most. It's all physics. Once you get in motion, your body wants to stay in motion!

Diet Detective: What person do you respect most, or who motivates you?

Kacy: My mother. She would say "Jump Kacy and let the net appear" but she has always been my net. That was her way of saying dream big and never give up! I love her so much.

Diet Detective: What do you do to reduce stress/relax/center your mind? Do you participate in an organized relaxation activity such as yoga, meditation or tai chi?

Kacy: I'm very spiritual. I talk to God. I study about the Goddesses from long ago. I burn candles and mix teas and tinctures. I use bath salts. I practice positive affirmations every single day. I live a pretty hectic life here in NYC. It's important to use all the tools I can to reduce stress, stay focused, and center myself. I talk about that quite a bit in my book, because I think inner peace is the first step to outer fitness.

Diet Detective: Do you have a Calorie Bargain?

Kacy: I don't necessarily think in terms of calorie bargains, but I know what you mean. It would probably be Wasa Crispbread. I love it with sashimi-style salmon. It's satisfying without being overly starchy.

Diet Detective: What was your worst summer job?

Kacy: Not having one

Diet Detective: Define failure.

Kacy: Not using the gifts God gave me to my fullest potential.

Diet Detective: What's the best book about health that you've read? (Aside from your own)

Kacy: I've read so many great ones, this is tough. How about if I tell which one I'm loving right now? This book is not so much about health, as it is about your body and the muscles you're training. I think it's a great one. It's called Strength Training Anatomy by Frederic Delavier.

Diet Detective: Do you have a pet?

Kacy: Not currently. I did have Starr, my most beloved dog, who passed away last year. Right now Starr still has my heart and I'm not yet ready to take it back. I do miss him so.

Diet Detective: What did you want to be at the age of 5? (as far as a career)?

Kacy: A dancer actor doctor!

*Thank you!!!! *

More Research That High-Protein Diets May Help with Long Term Weight Control

DietDetective — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:02:14 GMT

More research from Dr. Noakes (read the DD interview with Dr. Noakes here) from Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia. The researchers tracked 79 healthy women with an average age of 49 and a body mass index of about 33 (basically obese). After one year, the researchers found that weight loss was greater in the study participants who reported consuming a higher-protein diet, both in grams and as a percentage of energy. Read the abstract of the study here.

Active Expert: Charles Stuart Platkin

Sugar Decreases Life...of a Worm

Is Agave Syrup Less Calories Than Sugar?

Milk Helps with Muscle Recovery

Do You Eat 100 Calorie Packs? -- Watch Out

2Cs: Caffeine And Carbs After Exercise Helps Muscles Refuel

Interview with Fitness Trainer Kathy Kaehler

Fitness Magazine's New Sneaker Suggestions

The myth of runner's high revisited with brain imaging

Calorie Bargain: You Bar

Q&A with Christine Lydon, MD

Calorie Bargain: Polar Activity Watch

Fountain of Youth? Exercise, Says Research at Kings College London

A 6-foot, 5-inch, 247 lb. Vegan Football Player?

Q&A wth Kacy Duke

More Research That High-Protein Diets May Help with Long Term Weight Control

Fountain of Youth? Exercise, Says Research at Kings College London