What Exercises will Help Burn Fat in the Butt?
If your behind is huge and mushy, you need exercises for a fat butt that will shrink and tighten your rear-end.
The majority of a big rear-end is fat, not muscle. (more…)
Can Holding onto the Treadmill Harm the Hips and Posture?
Do you hold onto the treadmill? Are you aware this may ruin your posture & eventually cause hip problems?
It’s bad for the hips & spine, especially for older people. (more…)
Pinky Tip Suddenly Numb? Cause other than Elbow Nerve
This is about the TIP of your pinkie being numb, rather than the entire finger.
Are you freaking over sudden numbness in the tip of your pinkie? (more…)
Should We Blame Scary Skinny Celebs on Eating Disorders?
We really can’t be putting all the blame on “scary skinny” celebrities on the rash of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.
A teen girl with anorexia nervosa, and more so her alarmed family, may blame the so-called scary skinny female TV and movie stars, fashion models and recording artists on the eating disorder.
“All of us are exposed to magazines that glamorize thin celebrities, but not everyone goes on to develop an eating disorder,” says Linda Centeno, PhD, clinical psychologist, and assistant director of the Koch Center in NJ that specializes in eating disorder treatment.
“Current research postulates that the development of an eating disorder is multi-factorial.
“The confluence of genetics, biology, trauma, deficiency in coping abilities, family issues, and temperament may all contribute to one developing an eating disorder.”
Why are scary skinny celebrities such an easy target for blaming as the cause of anorexia nervosa?
Well, nobody wants to blame a family member for causing a life-threatening psychiatric disorder.
A person may be part of a dysfunctional family and actually believe their family is picture perfect.
But someone has to be blamed for the eating disorder. The family may blame the patient entirely, or, they may be seeking an easy scapegoat: the latest thin glamour star to grace the cover of People Magazine.
Even people who don’t personally know an anorexic often blame Hollywood for the increased diagnoses of eating disorders.
How convenient it is to point to Angelina Jolie and declare, “That’s the cause!” Thanks to the Internet, it’s super easy to pick apart any woman’s body.
Though a teen or woman with anorexia nervosa might outright state, “I became obsessed with dieting when I decided I wanted a body like Taylor Swift’s,” this doesn’t mean that’s the cause.
“Oftentimes in clinical practice, we see that someone who is primed to develop an eating disorder is someone who may have gotten the message that it is more important to please others (vs. themselves), be as ‘perfect’ as possible, and not show (or attend to) one’s emotions,” says Dr. Centeno.
“In turn, these individuals may find coping or comfort in the ability to control their food intake.
“Oftentimes, people who have had an inability to vocalize their struggle are more apt to use food to cope because it is something they can control and they are able to hide (at least initially).
“Very often, the person is unaware of what is bothering them and these feelings become displaced onto food.
“For example, instead of being aware of being upset about something traumatic that has happened, the person may instead focus on how a type of food may ‘make them fat’ or ‘how many calories they ate for dinner.'”
This remolding of perspective then gets out of hand.
Another point to consider: Not all girls/women with anorexia nervosa ever thought, “Gee, I’d be so happy if I had a body like Nicole Richie.”
If a girl wants a body like Nicole Richie, and she begins dieting, but then develops anorexia nervosa…what happened?
Why didn’t she stop dieting when her body weight reached 100 pounds?
What happened that this girl started seeing fat legs in the mirror even though she was now at 95 pounds?
Can we really blame Nicole Richie, at around 100 pounds, for why this girl has starved herself down to 78 pounds and still thinks she’s fat?
“There IS evidence that the media contributes to body dissatisfaction in people with and without eating disorders,” says Dr. Centeno.
“For those individuals who are already at-risk for developing an eating disorder, current research says that the influence of media can make someone more vulnerable to developing a problem (and people who are vulnerable may also seek out media that reinforces certain ideals about weight and food).”
Anorexic patients, prior to the disorder’s development, were typically perfectionists–with parents who had unrealistic expectations of them.
While one girl develops a skin picking disorder as a way to feel some control in her life, her sister develops anorexia.
She becomes a master of accounting for every calorie, every crumb–what an incredible rush to know that she can do something that 90 percent of Americans can’t: stick to a strict diet long-term.
Most girls know when to halt the weight loss, but for a small percentage, matching Nicole Richie’s weight isn’t enough; they must keep losing, and losing, ultimately looking nothing like the celebrity, but rather, like a Third World child dying of starvation.
And they still think they’re “fat.” It takes more than the cover of People Magazine to lead to this.
Dr. Centeno works with adolescents and adults. In her private practice her specific clinical expertise also includes anxiety and panic disorder, depression, relationship issues and sexual abuse.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Types of Cancer that Cause Chest Pain
Many cancers, some you’d never even think of, cause chest pain, soreness or aching.
Does this mean that next time your chest hurts, you should fear it’s cancer? (more…)
Why Some Gyms Have Rubber Coated Weights Instead of Metal
Have you ever wondered why some gyms have only rubber coated weight plates?
Why not just use the cheaper metal-surfaced plates? There are very logical reasons for this.
So why do some gyms use rubber coated weights (plates and dumbbells) instead of providing the weights in their natural metal form?
The answer seems obvious, but this question was actually a thread in a bodybuilding forum.
The thread starter asked why gyms use the rubber weights instead of the metal.
Reduction of Sound Volume
Ramming a metal-surfaced, 45-pound plate into another one creates a very loud sound.
The sound of letting such 45-pound plates drop nearly vertically onto another for some models of the calf raise equipment can be heard all over the gym.
With multiple people using multiple 45-pounders at once, the noise is considerable.
Rubber-on-rubber reduces the sound volume, though it can still be loud if a man deliberately slams a large plate into another when loading a leg press machine or bar for squatting.
Even 25-pounders against 25-pounders, when not coated in rubber, can be very loud.
The thread starter had mentioned that he enjoyed the sound of metal crashing against metal.
Some responders to his thread agreed. They admitted that the noise made them feel more macho.
It’s been said that if you want to protect your hearing from the damage caused by loud noise at a gym, to head on over to Planet Fitness.
But a snarky suggestion is never appreciated.
Gym operators who order only rubber coated weights know that there’s just no excuse for banging the plates, but they also realize that it’ll happen no matter what.
However, the sound reduction with the rubber IS quite considerable.
Rubber Won’t Attract Rust
When I was out of town years ago I worked out at a gym with metal-surfaced plates.
They were grimy with rust and smelled. I hated handling them, my hands getting dirty and smelly.
Rubber weights won’t cause this problem, though I will admit, that sometimes rubber weights can smell pungent when they’re brand new. But over time, their “new rubber smell” will diminish.
More Visual Appeal
The sleek black rubber has more visual appeal than old grey metal – especially for dumbbells.
Furthermore, the gym operator knows that the sleek, modern appearance will be less “intimidating” and more inviting to novice exercisers.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained clients of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Lyashenko Egor
Why Don’t Women Grunt Loudly when Lifting Heavy Weights?
Any reason women don’t grunt, at least loudly, during their gym workouts?
Is this an alpha male thing or what?
Sure, some hardcore women do make vocal sounds when pushing out those last few heavy reps, but when compared to men, women are pretty quiet when lifting THEIR maxes. (more…)
Is a Low Body Fat Percentage the Same As Thin or Skinny?
Just what does “low body fat” mean, if there’s a such thing as “skinny fat,” and is a person with low body fat necessarily what we’d consider as thin or skinny? (more…)
Back Squat Comparison to Leg Press: Quadriceps Activation
Find out what research says when the back squat is compared to the leg press for activating quadriceps muscles. (more…)
Daughter Gained Weight in College? Tips for Parents
How should parents approach daughter’s college weight gain?
Has your daughter gained weight while in college and you’re wondering how to approach this topic without offending her?
So what’s a parent (usually, the mother) to do or say, or not say, upon seeing a visible weight gain in her daughter who is visiting home from college?
A mother may have absolutely no intention of hurting her daughter, but ends up doing so anyways, without realizing it.
“It is essential that parents do not overreact, react impulsively or jump to conclusions about weight fluctuations,” says Harry A. Brandt, MD, Regional Medical Director, Eating Recovery Center/Eastern Region in Baltimore, MD.
“During adolescence and early adulthood, bodies naturally go through changes in size and shape that are normal and often are perfectly healthy. It is possible that this is the case.”
What if it’s not the case, and your daughter has been struggling with unhealthy behaviors, negative body image or stress-related eating while at college?
This is easy to do, being that there are unlimited servings for most dormitory cafeteria foods, which include cake, pie, cookies, ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, fries, biscuits, not to mention breakfast foods like sausage, bacon and pastries.
And don’t forget the dormitory’s snack shop: pizza, nachos, etc.
“If the child does not seem to be concerned about her own weight gain, a parent’s comment may trigger unnecessary anxiety that could lead to decreased self-esteem, chronic dieting, obsessive exercising or even serious eating disorders,” says Dr. Brandt.
“The reality is, most individuals (especially college students) who gain weight are already aware of it and do not need a parent to point it out.
“In fact, making statements about weight often causes people to shut down and become defensive.
“Focusing on the weight change is not likely to be the best way to encourage productive further communication with the child.”
This is akin to telling a smoker, “You smoke.”
Dr. Brandt continues, “Unless the child initiates the discussion, weight changes are certainly not best discussed during the early period of reuniting with the child.
“Initially, parents could focus on enjoying the visit with their child, asking questions about school, classes, friends, and other general areas to get a holistic view of how their child is really doing at college.”
It would be unrealistic, however, for the parent to pretend that a daughter’s college weight gain never happened, especially if the parent is worried about possible complications such as insulin resistance, which is a forerunner to type 2 diabetes.
“If parents notice changes in a child’s weight and are considering raising discussion, it is crucial to first reflect on the origin of the concern,” says Dr. Brandt.
“Is it a parent’s own negative body image or anxiety about cultural weight/beauty ideals that is driving the concern over a child’s weight gain?”
Or is it concerns over your daughter’s health and eating too much unhealthy junk food at college?
“Effective parents are able to focus on health and underlying feelings or stressors as opposed to weight and size.
“For example, asking open-ended statements about the transition to college is usually more productive and more informative than asking how much weight they gained or focusing on causes of weight gain (i.e., ‘Looks like you’re not exercising enough.’).”
Here are some open-ended questions that a parent can the daughter who has gained weight at college:
“What’s been the hardest part of this semester for you?”
“Classes sound like they’ve been really stressful. What are you doing to take care of yourself?”
“What is your schedule like on a normal day?”
“Are you sleeping okay?”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“How’s the dining hall?”
“Do you and your friends use the campus fitness center at all?”
Bear in mind that a noticeable weight gain from college doesn’t always indicate that your daughter needs special counseling or is struggling, though it is important to remember that the campus counseling center is always an option if this is indeed the case.
I gained weight in college for the very simple reason that there were unlimited servings of absolutely delicious dormitory food!
The soft, fresh baked chocolate cookies were divine, and the tuna salad sandwiches were out of this world.
The marble cake was impossible to stop at just once serving, and don’t even get me started on the snack shop’s 5-star pizza.
“It is essential that parents do not judge weight gain as a negative,” says Dr. Brandt.
“Parents need to assess whether they are acting in the best interest of their child and not as a result of their own insecurities, negative body image, or cultural prejudices about weight/size.”
Dr. Brandt pursued fellowship training in biological psychiatry and eating disorders at the National Institutes of Health where he eventually became Chief of the NIMH Eating Disorders Program.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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