Day 282- 4 out of 10 People in Mississippi are Obese

Although Americans are healthier than they were 20 years ago, obesity and diabetes is taking over; especially in the South. Fried chicken and other fried foods are a staple for many. When money is tight food choices will usually go to what is the cheapest, regardless if it is the healthiest choice or not.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 281- Movember was a Success!

The final event for Movember was last Friday, December 2nd for the OC Mo'Fest. In this one night we managed to raise $2,300, making the grand total for the PriMovember team a whooping $3,000.

The night was a great success, with a huge attendance, live music, tons of raffle prizes, Mo artwork, and a Mo contest.

Here are some pictures to sum up the night:

Awards for best Mo, worst Mo, and most creative Mo

Cali Conscious jamming

Quiksilver Mos

Last year's best Mo winner

This years best Mo winner!

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

280- Endorphins are My Drug of Choice

Well I didn't end up running the Las Vegas half marathon like I thought I was going to. It ended up being a lot more monitored than I would have thought, and so I felt a little guilty running as a bandit. So since I was extremely disappointed in myself I decided to run my own half marathon and then some this afternoon. I ran 14 miles after being what I consider to be a couch potato over the last two months. I think the only reason why I was able to finish in a admiral amount of time was due to a magical thing called endorphins or otherwise known as the "runner's high."

The runner's high according to wikipedia:

"is said to occur when strenuous exercise takes a person over a threshold that activates endorphin production. Endorphins are released during long, continuous workouts, when the level of intensity is between moderate and high, and breathing is difficult. This also corresponds with the time that muscles use up their stored glycogen. During a release of endorphins, the person may be exposed to bodily harm from strenuous bodily functions after going past his or her body's physical limit. This means that runners can keep running despite pain, continuously surpassing what they once considered to be their limit. Runner's high has also been known to create feelings of euphoria and happiness."

In 2008 the runner's high theory was proven scientifically to be a fact by a scientist in Germany. Dr. Boecker tested 10 runners using a PET scan before and after a two-hour run along with psychological testing. "They compared the PET scan images to determine which areas of the brain had the most endorphin activity. They also asked the runners to rate their mood, including their level of euphoria. The reported feelings of euphoria were then compared to the changes in the endorphin levels in certain areas of the brain."

The results of the study showed the following:

1. Endorphins were produced during exercise.
2. The endorphins attached to receptors in the parts of the brain commonly associated with emotions (the limbic and prefrontal areas).
3. The amount of endorphins produced in the brain matched the degree of the mood change reported by the runner (i.e., as a runner described a greater euphoria and mood change, more endorphins were seen on his PET scan).

Although endorphins get all the glory when it comes to the reason for the runner's high, a 2003 study found that there are other factors in this feeling.

"Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that 50 minutes of hard running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle significantly increased blood levels of endocannabinoid molecules in a group of college students. The endocannabinoid system was first mapped some years before that, when scientists set out to determine just how cannabis, a k a marijuana, acts upon the body. They found that a widespread group of receptors, clustered in the brain but also found elsewhere in the body, allow the active ingredient in marijuana to bind to the nervous system and set off reactions that reduce pain and anxiety and produce a floaty, free-form sense of well-being. Even more intriguing, the researchers found that with the right stimuli, the body creates its own cannabinoids (the endocannabinoids). These cannabinoids are composed of molecules known as lipids, which are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier, so cannabinoids found in the blood after exercise could be affecting the brain."

Although the runner's high may not be experienced in all runners I definitely experienced it today, although it may be a different story tomorrow when I try to walk down my set of stairs.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 279- Horse Meat Sashimi?

Everyone that knows me well knows that I do not like horses. I grew up with my mom having them, but since I have had too many experiences involving them go wrong, it is best that I just stay on the opposite side of the fence as them. Although the thought of riding a horse does not sit well in my stomach, I would never wish them any harm. Horses are majestic, beautiful creatures...from a far.

The reason for my tangent on horses?

Last month, President Obama signed a billed that will now reopen American slaughterhouse to horses. Sounds disgusting, right? What American in their right mind would want to knowingly eat a horse. I mean we say it as a figure of speech when we are starving, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," but I don't think there are many of us that would actually follow through with this. Well according to NPR's blog, The Salt, "With the economy hurting for new jobs, slaughterhouse proponents say it's a good time to renew the practice to meet demand for horse meat in countries like France and Japan, where it's sometimes served as sashimi."

Hold your horses (excuse the pun) but before you go burn your cool Obama T-shirt or go to the slaughterhouse to riot hear some of the reasoning behind it. If PETA is somewhat up in the air about it then maybe it's not as terrible as it sounds.

The problem that arose when the ban on horse meat was initiated was that there was a rise in neglected and abandoned horses. So what is better letting horses suffer with neglect; being shipped to inhumane conditions or putting the animal out of it's misery while at the same time giving the animal a purposeful ending, creating more jobs, and putting money in the owner's pocket?

I'm not saying either one is right or wrong.

I guess we wouldn't even have this issue if animal owners took care and responsibility over their own animals. But that's not going to change anytime soon. Just take a look at all the shelters we have for homeless domestic animals.

But that's a horse of a different color...

Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 278- Workout of the Week

• Squats with weighted bar on shoulders, 12x
• Dead lifts with weighted bar, 12x
• V-up sit ups, 15x
• Lunges, 15x each side
• Side plank, 30 sec hold each side
• Side ups on bench or tall step, 15x each side
• Plank hold 1 minute

Repeat each exercise three times through

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 277- Las Vegas Half Marathon

This Sunday I will be participating in the Las Vegas half marathon. Although it has been quite some time since I have run that great of a distance, or for that matter even ran, I figure since I will be in Vegas anyways, why not? How many opportunities do you get to run down the strip without any cars?

If I don't report back on how I did, then there may be a big chance that I ended up finishing the race in a taxi cab.

To view the half or full marathon course, click here.

Wish me luck!

Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 276- The Champagne Diet

I admit it, I'm a sucker for champagne. Drinking this bubbly beverage elicits the feeling of happiness and celebration. But to create a diet around this bubbly treat may be taking it a bit too far. I understand that just as I do, people drink champagne for the same reasons. So including something into your diet that evokes a sense of happiness seems to be the missing ingredient in a normal diet regime. But when you take a look at this so called, "champagne diet," is champagne the reason that people are seeing weight loss results, or is it due to the foods that are suggested during the diet?

Cara Alwill Leyba, is the creator of the Champagne Diet, who will also be releasing a book called "The Champagne Diaries," to explain this new diet that is taking New York by storm. The diet encourages a daily flute or two of champagne a day as part of the weight-loss plan. Or as Cara so eloquently describes the diet, "the Champagne Diet is two parts healthy living, one part fun."

Sounds promising to me!

Why champagne?
Well besides the way champagne makes you feel when you drink it,

“A normal glass of Champagne has just 91 calories per glass,” she says (Laurent Perrier’s Ultra Brut, beloved by Kate Moss, has even fewer at 65 calories). “And because the bubbles reach your bloodstream more quickly, you consume less.”

While the diet encourages the consumption of champagne, there are no dietary no-no's, no restricted foods, and no portion limitations. What the diet does suggest is eating real, nutrient-dense foods. Eating these types of foods verse say a McDonald's cheeseburger just makes you feel better. The diet plan encourages you to glamorize your meals; making your meal match your tasty glass of bubbly. Cara's theory behind this?

"Eating “classy” foods makes you value your body more so you are less likely to overeat. It’s a theory that has weight."

Well it has worked for Cara, who went from always being depressed and stressed out about her weight to a slimmer happier person with a new lust for life.

Is this a diet that I would recommend? Not exactly, although it does follow my beliefs on nutrient-dense real foods, as well as the occasional self indulgences. I think that this should still be done, just sans the daily two flutes of champagne. Not saying that champagne should be completely avoided as there have been studies performed on the health benefits of this beverage, but the daily consumption of alcohol in my eyes is never a healthy choice. Although maybe at first your pants feel a little looser, in the long run your body won't be thanking you.

Pura Vida!
Alica Ryan, NTP

To read more about the Champagne Diet:

• A Diet to Raise a Glass to
• The Champagne Diet