fat kids

We have school groups in our Gymnastics Club every day. For recreational gymnastics. The number of overweight and obese children is shocking.

Kottke linked to an important Daily Beast article:

Ten years after his seminal book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser reflects on how little has changed in the production, safety, and consumption in America—but why he’s still hopeful.

Every day about 65 million people eat at a McDonald’s
restaurant somewhere in the world, more than ever before. The annual revenues of America’s fast-food industry, adjusted for inflation, have risen by about 20 percent since 2001. …

About two thirds of the adults in the United States are obese or overweight. The obesity rate among preschoolers has doubled in the past 30 years. The rate among children aged 6 to 11 has tripled. And by some odd coincidence, the annual cost of the nation’s obesity epidemic — about $168 billion, as calculated by researchers at Emory University — is the same as the amount of money Americans spent on fast food in 2011. …

Still a Fast-Food Nation: Eric Schlosser Reflects on 10 Years Later

If you’ve never read Fast Food Nation, the Kindle edition is only $3.99.

It’s not easy being an obese child, as 3yr-old Leslie Downes found out in 1935.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Kottke)

Certainly kids need to exercise more. Eat less. But how’s that going to happen?

😦

What Really Causes Heart Disease

Even as a gymnastics coach I rarely pontificate about diet. Weight yes. Diet no.

I’ve always assumed that most of the conventional wisdom is wrong.

This article — for me — rings true — what we are doing now is NOT WORKING.

Dr. Dwight Lundell:

… I freely admit to being wrong. As a heart surgeon with 25 years experience, having performed over 5,000 open-heart surgeries, today is my day to right the wrong with medical and scientific fact. …

Statistics from the American Heart Association show that 75 million Americans currently suffer from heart disease, 20 million have diabetes and 57 million have pre-diabetes. These disorders are affecting younger and younger people in greater numbers every year. …

What are the biggest culprits …

highly processed carbohydrates (sugar, flour and all the products made from them) and the excess consumption of omega-6 vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower that are found in many processed foods …

There is but one answer to quieting inflammation, and that is returning to foods closer to their natural state. To build muscle, eat more protein. Choose carbohydrates that are very complex such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Cut down on or eliminate inflammation- causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods that are made from them. …

What you can do is choose whole foods your grandmother served …

Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease

view from the Penthouse

Morning after the Great West Gym Fest we enjoyed some luxury time up in the Coeur d’Alene Resort Penthouse.

Lisa organized in-suite massage and facial treatments.

The wealthy are not like you and me. They hot tub with vistas like this

Back at the Adlard’s Candle in the Woods log house, I got 12hrs of sleep. Catching up for some short nights during the meet.

I chased Dave around the back roads one afternoon.

more post Gym Fest photos

McDonalds founders make me FIT

McDonald’s CEO Ray Kroc more than any other person “invented” fast food.

How many people have been SUPER SIZED by McDonalds?

Dave Adlard treated me to a work-out at the Krok, Couer d’Alene. Terrific good facility.

… When Joan Kroc died in October 2003, she left $1.5 billion – much of her estate – to The Salvation Army, by far the largest charitable gift ever given to the Army, and the largest single gift given to any charity at one time.

… The money was designated to build a series of state-of-the-art Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Centers nationwide …

… By the end of 2009, the Army operated six centers across the country in Ashland, OH; Atlanta, GA; Coeur d’Alene, ID; Omaha, NE; Salem, OR; and San Francisco, CA. Seven more centers followed in 2010 …

Many more were scheduled for 2011 and 2012. …

Watch a Facilities Video on the Coeur d’Alene branch.

why am I running?

For some bizarre reason — lately — I’ve been “running” for up to 2hrs, several times / week. Must be endorphins.

I jog most of the time. Listening to my book on audio. And stopping frequently to take photos.

One of the best days was at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park near my parent’s place in Parksville, B.C.

Turns out ‘winter’ in the Pacific N.W. is beautiful.

more photos

Spartan Race obstacle course

Dave Adlard is hosting two in Idaho this summer!

Spartan Sprints obstacle races are muddy 3+- mile events with 10 or more obstacles. …

From beginner trail racers and mud run participants to hardcore warriors, tough guys and marathon runners, they all come out to test themselves on the insane obstacle races!

99.9% of all people who try this event will finish …

spartanrace.com

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

New Years 10km

10am January 1st we lined up to start the Tequila 10.

It was fast, perhaps a new New Years time record.

Keep your eyes on the road, Jason.

more run photos

For the historical record, Dave Adlard won the late night poker game. I took home the Silver medal.

paint ball New Years

Dave Adlard has his own paintball course and gear. I joined in the annual tradition of doing unto others before they do unto ME.

Here’s why you ALWAYS wear a face shield.

Andy Dec. 31st, 2011

That was a fluke shot. Right?

Here’s Andy Jan. 1st, 2012.

A paintball can suck the eyeball right out of the socket.

More paintball photos.

atop the Jeepney

Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from World War II and are known for their flamboyant decoration and crowded seating. They have become a ubiquitous symbol of Philippine culture. …

I rode on top from Sagada to Banaue, Philippines. A crazy fun hour descending narrow mountain roads.

GREAT views of the famous mountain rice terraces!

Some of these are 2000-years old.

… Here’s the issue — should you tie yourself on to the roof rack? … Or take your chances jumping to safety just in case the Jeepney goes over the cliff?

I did tie myself on. But was ready at an instant to unclip in an emergency.

What’s the world record for most number of people in a Jeepney? … You don’t want to know. 🙂

More photos of my roof ride.

Dengue fever

Dengue fever is bad. And getting worse.

… The incidence of dengue fever has increased dramatically since the 1960s, with around 50–100 million people infected yearly. …

About 40% of the world’s population is vulnerable.

Sisters, gymnasts from Manila, were just recovering from bouts of Dengue fever. The first people I’d ever met who had been afflicted.

In Philippines, 300 died from it in 2008.

Here it’s most prevalent in the big cities like Manila. That species of mosquito bites day and night.

… Happily I’ve seen very few bloodsuckers in December.

There are people working on a cure. Here’s one very optimistic scenario.

Infecting Mosquitoes With Bacteria To Keep Them From Infecting Us With Dengue Fever

That’s on Co.Exist, a site dedicated to WORLD CHANGING IDEAS AND INNOVATION.