Victoria Pendalton and Jess Varnish's Disqualification: Olympics

So there I am sat on the couch, with a can of coke in one hand and a packet of crisp in the other (clearly betraying Gary Taubes) and enjoying one of my favourite events in the Olympics, the Keirin Cycling Sprint. This sport is for the most agile of cyclists, and in order to compete for this even, both your strength and stamina has to be at its maximum. 

 On this particular occasion it was the women who were competing (Australia vs Great Britain). It was very intense because quite a lot of people wanted “team GB” to win but were aware of Australia’s capability and how good they were. Fortunately Great Britain powered their way through the course beating Australia and it was soon announced that Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton had broken the world record! The crowd here hysterical and everyone was really proud, Pendleton was honoured and overjoyed with her effort. 

Whilst the audience were celebrating Great Britain’s success, the mood quickly vacillated (as it often does in sport) from joy to despair as it was announced that Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish had been disqualified! Why?! They gave an outstanding performance and Pendleton could have won 3 medals in one game if she had not been disqualified

 

 

So what was real reason Varnish and Pendleton were disqualified? It is believed it was due to the fact that she had set off too early, a hundredth of a second to be precise. That’s faster than the blink of an eye! This one, tiny tragedy cost both Varnish and Pendleton a gold medal. 

  

Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish World Record:

"Why we Get Fat and What to do About it" By Gary Taubes (book review)

I have just finished reading “Why we Get Fat and What to do about it” by award-winning scientist, Gary Taubes.

Nowadays, many people are disillusioned with advice recommended by GPs to “eat less, move more” in order to lose weight and stay lean. But does it always work? Taubes, however, has a completely different approach to how people become obese, and its cause. He is not alone in his views, albeit at odds with those of the orthodox medical community. And his arguments suggest undereating and exercising may not be the answer to losing weight, to the dismay of medical doctors.

Taubes critiques the “eat less, move more” philosophy, and argues very fairly, with lots of evidence to back up his assumptions using tests from scientists and diet gurus across the world. He also discusses if being obese is a genetic disorder, why undereating only works for a few months, and the truth behind the success of dieting the way Weightwatchers® and other advertising brands promote it.

Taubes’ main argument is about the role hormone insulin plays in making people obese. He explains the cause of it and benefits of different food groups very clearly. Following Robert Atkins’ footsteps, Taubes offers us a more informative and cultivated approach to Atkins’ radical assumptions back in 1972.

Personally, I think what Taubes says in a hundred pages, could have been summed up in fifty. His argument is quite simple, but Taubes has a tendency to go on a bit. However, this was a very appealing and beneficial read that I would recommend to almost everyone. Its use of language and the way it is set out would probably make it one of the best non-fiction books I have read yet.

My Weekend

The Chinese New Year dragon!

Well...I couldn't call this weekend usual. It all started on a trip to Manchester to see the Chinese New Year Festival and what's to come isn't very normal at all.

I've been suffering from excruciating back pains for a few months, they start from the centre of my back and work out towards the bottom and sides. Yesterday (whilst in Manchester) my dad had work so we were seeing him off in his hotel room, it was when I tried to stand up the pain started again. But it wasn't the regular sort of pain I normally get in my back, this pain was unbearable and I couldn't move for one and a half hours! 

Eventually, my mum called the emergency services and next thing I knew a group of paramedics turned up and did a couple of tests (tested my blood pressure and temperature e.t.c) After, they gave me this gas and air, it was a mix of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) and was supposed to numb the pain in my back and make me feel slightly strange and sensational. The feeling was indescribable, it was if I was dreaming and the whole ambulance experience wasn't real. However, it didn't numb the pain completely and I can still feel it now as I am writing this.

When I got to the hospital the doctors carried out a couple of other tests, and weren't quite sure what had caused it. (I am also lack of vitamin d so it might have had something to do with that) But I am going to see a Paediatrician about it very shortly, and they will look further into it.

I have to say, this has been one of the best experiences of my life. And these things don't usually happen to me, so it was quite different. But the hospital and staff aren't at all what they seem like in Casualty or Doctors. What was your Sunday like?

How do people get fat (part 2)

Are Non-Organic Apples Bad for you?

It always seemed to occur to me why organic products were better for you than non-organic products.

But, since I actually started eating organic apples, the answer became more and more clear. They may not look better but they certainly taste better, and when I researched about it I don't think I could eat a regular apple again.

Apples are one of the many fruits that attract insects more than other fruits. The insects like to dig deep into the juicy flesh of an apple and destroy it, making it unedible for people. Therefore, non-organic apples are sprayed with pesticides and chemicals, which are a sort of insect repellent for the apples. But these toxic chemicals destroy the real goodness of the apple, even after being washed and peeled, an apple can still contain pesticides. 4 out 10 of these pesticides can cause hormone interference, cancer, and nervous-system damage. 

Also, these chemicals make an apple look shiny and more appealing to eat. This makes customers want to buy non-organic apples rather than organic ones.

I hope you understand the real cause of what the pesticides can do. And not just to apples, but any vegetable or fruit.

The Reason Why People Get Fat

I have recently taken an interest in the reason why people get fat. It always seemed to amaze me why some thin people eat to their heart's desire but did not put on weight, but some overweight people ate hardly anything yet remained overweight.

Back in 1972 Atkins suggested that eating fat would not make you fat, and 'it was all a big fat lie!'  According to Atkins saturated fat on the meat, and dairy products are not the heart of the problem. But, eating to your hearts desire with foods such as meat and steak, and stuffing your face with eggs and butter, might be a possible solution.

In order to learn how we must lose weight, shouldn't we know how the body regulates fat? Hormones and Enzymes control our growth and development, so which hormone is responsible for regulating our fat tissue? It is a hormone called Insulin. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin)

Simple, refined and easily digestible carbohydrates are responsible for raising the insulin level, to an amount that is not healthy, and can lead type 2 diabetes. It is at this point at which a person is very likely to become obese. Dr. Atkins and Gary Taubes ( a writer who has written a number of books on the reason why people get fat) have a very fair point.

The New York Times, Atkins appearance
(http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html)