Category: health & fitness

why I bought carrot sticks …

On By Rick McIn food, health & fitness, travel5 Comments

Christmas day I weighed a svelte 160lbs. I had just gotten back from a 17-day hike around Mt. Everest.

By March I was feeling about as svelte as the Baron Harkonnen.

I blame this guy.

Do you know Jack?

The “founder, CEO, and ad spokesman, … a savvy, no-nonsense businessman”.

Though I’d likely never entered any of his fast food joints in my life, on a one month driving trip in March, my parents and I were in them constantly.

Jack in the Box is the best of the McDonalds clones, in my opinion.

For one thing, the newer franchises list the caloric content of each item prominently. It could not be more transparent.

My go to meal there is the Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, not the combo. That’s less than $5 and a satisfying lunch or dinner.

I know what you’re thinking: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.

I’ve never worried much about nutrition in my lifetime. What I eat seems to make very little difference. But, perhaps, getting older, I’ll experiment with nutrition.

Instead of eating Werther’s (100cal for 3 candies) while driving, I’ll snack on baby carrots. Or Craisens. (Can you buy craisens without added sugar?)

Instead of the tasty, fairly nutritious, fast, inexpensive Chicken Teriyaki Bowl, I’ll shop for unprocessed goods at Whole Foods Market.

Leave a comment if you’ve healthy fast food to recommend. Thanks.

Their business model is to buy the same stuff as Costco, repackaged with old fashioned green labels. And, conspicuously, the catch word “Organic”.

That way they can charge twice the price.

I’d avoided grocery stores like Whole Foods in the past. But picked up some Organic granola. (Is it really any better than regular granola?)

By the way, If you’re ever looking for pretentious California superwomen, look for them at Whole Foods. By the pained expression on their faces, you know they’re disappointed by everything in the Universe.

sustainable Health Care?

On By Rick McIn economics, health & fitness2 Comments

Initially keen on following the American Health Care reform process, … I eventually lost interest.

Once the bill was signed I waited on two sources to dissect the result:

• Slate Political Gabfest audiocast
• Economist magazine audiocast

On Slate, the post-mortem by John Dickerson, David Plotz, and William Saletan was terrible, their worst broadcast yet.

Economist was good, perhaps the best summary I’ve heard to date.

Over half of Economist analysts feel that having the bill passed is slightly better than it not having passed. It’s a “marginal improvement“.

The complaint of Economist magazine is that the biggest problem was not addressed in the bill, the ludicrous cost of Health Care in the U.S.A. … It’s more expensive than anywhere else in the world, with no evidence that the service is any better.

… In spite of the amount spent on health care in the U.S., according to a 2008 Commonwealth Fund report, the United States ranks last in the quality of health care among developed countries.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in 2000, ranked the US health care system 37th in overall performance and 72nd by overall level of health (among 191 member nations included in the study). International comparisons that could lead to conclusions about the quality of the health care received by Americans are subject to debate. The US pays twice as much yet lags other wealthy nations in such measures as infant mortality and life expectancy, which are among the most widely collected, hence useful, international comparative statistics. …

Wikipedia

What America has gained with the bill passing, perhaps they’ve lost in making the nation even more divided than ever between Democrat and Republican. Recent polls still show over half of Americans against the Obama bill.

I highly doubt the Republicans will ever repeal what’s been gained, but they should if they believe even 20% of what they’ve been saying to the media. (I made a special trip to bypass Searchlight, Nevada the other day.)

What should the Americans have done?

Here’s the Rick McPlan:

1) All citizens must have Health insurance. Failure to do so results in an escalating series of warnings, fines and stints in a “work camp”.

2) All insurance companies must offer to insure any citizen. None can be declined for any reason. Any insurance company not wanting to do business in the nation, we show the door.

3) Private companies can offer any Health Care product … under license.

4) Phase out government health care services over 20 years, or so.

… Let the free market sort it out. But with a good safety net for anyone and everyone willing to pay for insurance.

Obviously a percentage of the population are too incompetent or stupid to ever get themselves insured. They’ll be cleaning highways and removing graffiti for the rest of their lives. (That’s the biggest downside to my scheme, so far as I can see.)

Switzerland is the nation, so far as I’ve heard, most closely using this kind of simplified scheme. (It’s the second most expensive in the world, though.)

Should the Americans simply have adopted the Canadian model? … HA!

God no. Ours is totally unsustainable over the long term.

8,920km Baja road trip

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, photos, travel, travel MexicoLeave a comment

Mom, Dad, Pete and myself arrived safely back in Parksville, B.C. after a month. No major problems. How about that?

It was our first time driving to Baja, California, an epic adventure.

We toured the peninsula right to Cabo. Then crossed to the mainland via the surprisingly good La Paz to Los Mochis ferry.

ferry at La Paz, Baja

ferry at La Paz, Baja

Returning via Needles, California, we visited my Uncle Bob Moore and his wife Lydia.

Uncle Bob Moore, Needles, California

… note that his Flames flag is not yet at half mast. Incidentally, Needles is like many parts of California, an economic disaster. You could buy a mobile home in Bob’s river front park for $10,000. Pay $300/month rent. Play golf year round outside your door for $600/year.

map of Needles, CA

Prices have dropped to almost zero. Yet nothing sells in Needles, CA. If you cross the river into Arizona, fuel prices drop from $3.60/gallon to $2.60/gallon.

The most beautiful sections of our driving tour, I thought, were the stark deserts of northern Baja and Nevada.

Driving to Baja is one of those epic trips that we’ll look back at fondly, while doggedly insisting that we’d never do it again.

Actually, I’ll be headed back to La Paz by air later this Spring for final installation of 3 new dental bridges. I’ve got temporaries now.

Mexican truck

health care anger

On By Rick McIn government, health & fitness1 Comment

I’ve just arrived back in the U.S.A. after several weeks not following the insanely convoluted American political process on that debate.

… A USA Today/Gallup poll showed a plurality now favored the new law — yes, favored. After months of Republicans saying Democrats were going against the will of the people, a plurality — 49 to 40 percent — said passing the bill was “a good thing,” …

NY Times Opinion piece – House of Anger

The people have spoken. A small majority think that the Health Care legislation is an improvement.

That’s democracy.

Suck it up, buttercup.

Why are opponents so ungracious in defeat?

As Colbert would say, “WHY DO YOU REPUBLICANS HATE DEMOCRACY“?

I respect the opinions of those against the Bill. But I have no tolerance for anyone who breaks the law in frustration over losing the vote.

Lock ’em up.

I must love the dentist

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, humour, travel, travel Mexico1 Comment

As a kid I had a horrible dentist. And rotten teeth.

I shunned dentists and avoided their haunts.

Older and wiser, two years ago I flew twice to Mazatlan for major dental work.

Last year I got some work done in Kathmandu.

Over the last week in La Paz, Mexico I’ve spent some quality time with my new dentist, Dr. Lorenia Estrada.

… at least 6 extractions, 5 fillings, 3 long temporary bridges, more …

At times lying back in the chair, trying to relax, trying even to sleep, I believe I turned into Patty Hearst. It was Stockholm syndrome, for sure.

I started to get emotionally attached to my captors. My punishment flashed me back to earlier in the day, floating on an air mattress in the outdoor hot tub at the hotel pool. The dentist’s harsh light reminded me of the tropical sun between palm fronds.

Am I going mad in the Apocalypse Now sense of the word?

from La Paz, Baja

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, travel, travel Mexico4 Comments

I write from the La Paz office of RickMcCharles.com, worldwide … Cafe Exquisito.

It’s on the famous Malecón, a stone walkway fronting the bay. Mom thinks it’s the prettiest she’s ever seen.

more interesting photos tagged La Paz, Baja Malecón

Instead of going to my “regular” dentist in Mazatlan, I signed on with Dr. Lorenia Estrada in La Paz. She’s putting in several thousands of dollars of bridges.

My long term goal is to have as winning a smile as Joe Biden, … in my coffin.

I got a rave review for Dr. Estrada from an American expat living in Mexico. He liked the dentist so well that he married her dental assistant.

So far, so good. I’m living on yogurt, ice cream, coffee, pain killers and antibiotics.

We take the ferry over to the mainland on Tuesday.

is the Baja dangerous?

On By Rick McIn health & fitness, travel, travel Mexico1 Comment

My Dad and I were warned at a tourist information kiosk in California that hundreds of tourists were beheaded in Baja recently!

I discovered one of those victims on the beach.

Loreto, Baja - beach junk

The beheading warning stems from news that Police officers near Tijuana were beheaded after they attempted to investigate a party being held by arrested drug kingpin Javier Arrello Felix in 2009. Beheading is a terror tactic used against law enforcement.

The last time I was here, Baja was considered safe, mellow … but too much like California.

… Then came the great drug wars, with the first gruesome headlines coming out of Tijuana. Suddenly, anyone contemplating a trip across the border was placed on suicide watch.

Leave aside for the moment that the drug cartels aren’t targeting tourists, that their internecine battles rarely break out anywhere near tourist districts, or that crime has actually declined around Tijuana recently as the field of combat shifts to northeastern Mexico. For some travelers, those early headlines will remain indelible.

That doesn’t mean Baja is off the itinerary. …

read why – San Francisco Chronicle – Don’t write off Baja just yet

Your biggest danger in Baja is hitting a cow while driving at night. Or going broke. It’s just as expensive as Canada or the States though quality and reliability of goods and services is far inferior.

There are plenty of valid reasons not to travel to Baja: wind, dust, litter, dogs, bad roads. No need to exaggerate the risk of being killed in a drug shoot out.

I wouldn’t travel to Mexico ever … except that dentists are an exception. They charge about 40% of the price in Canada for the same job. My first appointment is Tuesday in La Paz.

more interesting photos tagged Baja California

Spring allergies in February?

On By Rick McIn about Rick, bad news, health & fitnessLeave a comment

Rockin and I were both suffering … during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

What’s with that? … Bloody GLOBAL WARMING.

Normally my allergies peak about May 24th in Calgary.

I’m allergic to some sort of tree.

naked chef wins $100k TED prize

On By Rick McIn food, health & fitnessLeave a comment

I’ve not been a fan of controversial British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

I find him strident. And not all that amusing.

But I’m thrilled he won the prestigious TED prize for 2010.

At the heart of Oliver’s work is an assault on the obesity epidemic: The CDC states that one in four Americans are considered obese. It is estimated that 43 percent of Americans, or 103 million people, will be obese by 2018. The cost of this epidemic is anticipated to reach $344 billion per year. It currently accounts for almost 10 percent of the yearly US health care costs, and that rate will rise to 21 percent by 2018. WHO’s latest projections indicate that, globally in 2005, approximately 1.6 billion adults were overweight and projects that by 2015, that figure will rise to 2.3 billion.” …

2010 TED Prize goes to Jamie Oliver

God knows he’s passionate. If interested, click over to TED to watch his scary 18min presentation.

skiing Nakiska mid-week

On By Rick McIn health & fitnessLeave a comment

We try to avoid skiing the Canadian Rockies on weekends.

For Rocco’s birthday we made the 55min drive from west Calgary to Nakiska, the ski destination built for the 1988 Olympics.

Construction was mocked at the time as Mt. Allan hardly ever gets any snow. It’s on the “dry” side of the Rockies.

Happily, I can report we had a great day. If you like sliding and gliding, this is your hill. Ideal for beginners and veterans who don’t want to fall.

Actually, the resort has been improved and expanded recently:

In 2008 Nakiska Ski Area was named the official Training Centre of Alpine Canada (ACA). Each year Nakiska, welcomes Alpine Teams from around the world for early season ski training. During the summer of 2008 the ski area embarked on a series of renovations. Snowmaking enhancements increased capacity by 33%.

The 100 metre Monster Magic Carpet was added and the creation of a dedicated Training Run was completed on Mapmaker.

In 2009, in preparation for the 2010 Olympics, more enhancements occurred. A new High Speed Quad lift was installed (Gold Chair Express) replacing the original fixed grip chairlift. The ride time is 4.7 min compared to the old time of 9.7 min.

In 2009 new ski trails were also created with the addition of … Monster Glades.

Rocco and Garth

Mid-week one lodge was closed. As were some of the runs.