Al Qaeda's In The Cake

Hey Tony,
I find so much comfort in food. Every time I'm having a bad day or I'm angry, I turn to food and usually the kinds I should be staying away from. Since starting P90X I've been able to resist some of those bad foods on a frustrating day, but not completely. Are there any tricks besides simply human disciple, to stop this age old problem?



You are struggling with the same food issues as most Americans. Do you realize that by the year 2015, if the tread continues, 75% of U.S. citizens will be either dramatically overweight or morbidly obese. What the hell is going on? Since when was sitting on your ass and eating junk such a great life choice? The reason why you find so much comfort in food is because you don't have enough other things to give you comfort. This is probably true for 3/4 of the people in this country. The Roman time bomb is ticking and most of us are sitting around waiting for it to go off. Adventurous, purposeful, selfless people don't need food to be happy. They have projects, hobbies, charities, and 6 day a week fitness routines to keep them occupied and fulfilled.

I was back home in the great state of Rhode Island in early July and every year we have a big family ho-down. We celebrate my birthday, my dad's birthday and Independence day. This year we added a couple of engagements to the celebration. While we were all gathering in my cousin Ann's kitchen cutting up the big birthday cake my other cousin Betsy was asking Ann's brother David (who works in DC) if he had heard of any inside info regarding Al Qaeda striking on American soil again. I blurted out that there was a much greater danger of dying from the ingredients in our birthday cake than from Al Qaeda. Cousin David is a lobbyist for several health and fitness companies and added that a terrorist attack couldn't come close to killing as many people as our poor eating habits and lack of exercise. After hearing this my other cousin Mary yells, "Al Qaeda's in the cake!"

The excesses and complacency in this modern world is killing us. Too much of anything is bad for you and too little movement combined with surgery fattening food is the ultimate road side bomb. We have enough technology and conveniences to push us right over the edge. We must put our iphones, play stations and cell phones down and go for a run, read a book, plant a tree, lower our carbon footprint or take a dance class. Too much "I, me, mine" (Beatles) and not enough "Smile on your brother everybody get together and love one another right now" (name that band). When it comes to a better diet, disciple is toward the bottom of the list. Life purpose, fun hobbies and fitness gatherings with like minded people are the best way to find true authentic comfort. I like sweet yummy comfort food too, I just eat them in small amounts every once in awhile. Keep your 3 main meals and 1 snack clean and healthy. If you're going to stray plan the time of day and know what it is in advance.

RED BULL SH%T

We'll throw anything down our throats if it's marketed well. Take Red Bull for example. This sugar water loaded with caffeine is supposed to "Give You Wings." This sleek can and tons of advertising using cartoons is one part synthetic bull bile. Taurine; one of the main ingredients (also known as 2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid) is supposed to assist your enthusiasm for extreme behavior. This inhibitory neurotransmitter (a mild sedative for some) is a man-made antioxidant. Eat blueberries instead! Our next ingredient is Glucuronolactone. The debate goes on about what this is or does. Most information regarding Glucuronolactone is rumor. It's supposed to increase well-being and fight fatigue. Getting a life and 8 hours of sleep can do that. Next is Inositol. A carbohydrate found in animal muscle. Also known as "Meat Sugar." Early studies are showing that Inositol can help people suffering with depression, panic attacks, agoraphobia and obsessive compulsive disorder. Sounds like liquid therapy in a can. Too bad you'll need 360 cans of the stuff for any benefit. Niacin (vitamin B-3) is in here to increase good cholesterol (HDL) and help with energy, but alas there's not enough to do anything. Lastly there's some Sodium Citrate (a preservative for soda and spreadable cheeses) which helps convert glucose into lactic acid during exercise. Yup, when I'm looking for improved performance, I like to get it from a preservative that helps me spread my cheese.

Your Brain on Exercise

There was an astonishing article in Newsweek a few weeks back that just blew my mind/brain/cranium/noggin. Here's what I've learned from this article and further research. We all known that working out and exercising does amazing things for our bodies, and the benefits other than weight lose and getting fit are endless. Most of us also know that when your heart, legs and lungs get pumping you feel much better than if you did nothing. Turns out that 20 minutes or more of cardiovascular and/or high paced resistant workouts effect every aspect of your life. The great thing about this article is that it really laid out the scientific findings over the last few years. Here's the scope. When you're forced to pull more oxygen into the body through exercise you break what's called "the blood brain barrier." It happens when you climb a long flight of stairs and when you're busting through any kind of workout that gets your heart rate pumping. This oxygen filled blood makes it's way into the temporal lobe of the brain. Inside the temporal lobe is an area called the Hippocampus. Inside the Hippocampus lies this seahorse shaped area known as the Dentate Gyrus. As you exercise these oxygen filled blood cells rush into this area of the brain. A chemical/protein IGF-1 is formed then released inside the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus which ramps up another chemical/molecule called BDNF. IGF -1 & BDNF are "Miracle-grow" for the brain.

Studies with kids right up to seniors have proven that high paced workouts (Power 90, Power Half Hour, Master Series, P90X, Tony & The Kids, etc.) cause the release of these chemicals into the brain. Combine this with even more "brain drugs" like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine and you've got yourself a feel good party in your head. Aerobic and elevated heart rate activities cause the release of these chemicals, which in turn helps you focus and gives you energy when you need it. They also help you relax, stay calm under pressure and allow the body to rest properly. It's like a home made chemistry set inside your skull that produces a cocktail simulating the effects of Prozac and Ritalin. Children who play outdoors score better on tests than kids who don't. Regular physical activity improves, memory, mood, and problem solving abilities. Consistent exercise raises self-esteem and decreases anxiety. Study after study has proven that people who exercise 5 to 6 days a week greatly decrease their need for psychotherapeutic drugs. If your brain goes without regular bouts of exercise the hippocampus will shrink and erode, which can lead to neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. When the dentate gryus of the hippocampus is stimulated neuro-genesis or neuro-plasticity occurs. I'm not talking about slowing the aging process, I'm telling you that the brain creates new cells through exercise. Brand new cells that assist in the reversal of aging. If you're looking for the fountain of youth, you can find it inside your head every time you exercise for more than 20 minutes. TMT X 2 anyone?