Oil Energy Crisis Solved: Human Fat Can Be Used For Diesel Fuel

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File this one under humour. Found this little article in a small Canadian newspaper under the “comments” section and thought I would share it with you. A lot of it is tongue in cheek, yet razor sharp, so please don’t let anything offend you.

Apparently Forbes Magazine reported that a Beverly Hills, California plastic surgeon was being investigated for using the fat he extracted from patients during liposuction to create diesel fuel for his SUV.

Amazing. Here is a person that has the answer to America’s fuel problems and he is being sued by a few of his patients because of his ingenuity.  We should all be shouting “Eureka!” and congratulating the fellow instead of taking him to a court of law.

Those of you who have watched American TV channels over the years have probably been appalled at the growing obesity of people South of the border with over 50% of them now considered obese. Not that most Canadians have not seen the same thing happening here. Blame it on fast foods, lack of exercise, or whatever, but it is happening.

The thing is, we should be taking advantage of it. Esso, Shell and all the big oil companies are obviously missing the boat here in search for petroleum. Instead of expensive underground searches, they should be offering free liposuction operations to the overweight.

I firmly believe our oil energy crisis is solved. And as for those too lean in body fat, they could help out by generating electricity while running on their treadmills, an idea that has been suggested before, but which also has significant possibilities.

5 Ways To Measure Weight Loss Without The Scale

Editors Comment: This is a humorous look at why we are obsessed with our scales while trying to lose weight. The fact is, the scale is only ONE indicator only in the weight loss battle. You also have to look at total inches lost (such as off hips and waist), as well as total body fat lost. Body fat is a better indicator to me of good health, and once that drops, the inches and weight usually follow anyways.

Another example to remember is that a 5′10 person can weigh 200 pounds and have 10% body fat, or he can weigh 170 pounds and have 19% body fat. Who is healthier? Ditch the scale and remember to be consistent in working out and eating healthy. Everything else will fall into place.

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5 Ways To Measure Weight Loss Without The Scale

How To Be Fit.com

Source: http://www.howtobefit.com/measure-weight-loss.htm

Source: www.umm.edu/weightloss/about.htm

Even when they have made strides towards eating healthier and increasing their exercise programs, most people gauge their real success by the numbers reflected on the scale. Yes, weve all heard that muscle weighs more than fat and that water retention can skew the numbers. Yet, the scale holds the most weight (yes, pun intended) when determining our dieting loss success or failure.

Our entire mood can be dramatically affected by the daily weigh-in. We can be on top of the world one minute because we have completed our 45-minute aerobic session, yet one step on the scale reduces us to tears. How can I work out that hard and NOT lose weight? You may believe that the session was pointless, because of what the scale says! The beastly apparatus on the floor has become the expert in weight loss feedback. If the scale does not show a shift in weight (lower numbers) every day, then somehow we think we have failed.

Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

Scale Positioning: You know, you stand on the scale anticipating a decrease in numbers. Well, it doesnt show the numbers youd like to see, so you figure that simply moving it ever so slightly in one direction or another will adjust the numbers in your favor. You continue to re-position the scale until just the right numbers show up!

Time of Day: Everyone knows that your weight is generally at its lowest first thing in the morning. However, just to make matters more interesting, you weigh yourself before going to the bathroom and then after. Ahhhh, an eighth of a pound difference. Someone might get the impression that simply going to the bathroom is an effective means of losing weight. Whatever works, right?

Foot Positioning: You are standing on the scale and the number isn’t quite where it should be. First, you move your feet forward. Nope, still not the right number. Hmm, maybe moving them back a bit might get that number where it is supposed to be. With every little shift and adjustment, there is hope that the numbers will reflect a positive change. Oh, wait a minute, gotta take off the socks. They count for at least a couple of extra ounces of weight. And, the dance continues…

Needle Placement: Standing above the scale, you see that the needle is placed just a bit to the left of the zero. Heck, that will add what, another ounce or two to the ideal numbers. So, you move the knob in an attempt to perfectly center the needle over the zero. Somehow it seems impossible to set the needle directly in the center. Why not just go ahead and knock off a pound simply to accommodate the inaccuracy of the needle! We do and, lo and behold, we have lost weight! Yes-s-s-s-ss!

MD’s Scale vs. Home Scale: Ok, so what is it about the doctors office scale? Why do we all seem to weigh ten pounds more on the doctors scale than on our home scale? Why not bring YOUR scale to your next doctors appointment — just to show who is right and who is wrong when it comes to true weight?!

Sick Weight: How many of you have been excited at the thought of weighing yourself after a nasty bout with the flu? C’mon, everyone has done it. WOW! Check it out, I lost three pounds. Who cares if it meant three days of bonding with the ceramic bowl, a whole three pounds was lost! Yes, illness can bring about all sorts of joy, now, cant it?

Pig-Out Scale: Fess up! After an overindulgent evening at a wedding or birthday, how many of you step on the scale just to see the real damage that was done? Just to reinforce the facts that: yes, we have no self-control and yes, the scale WILL punish us for overdoing it. What a great way to reinforce our lack of discipline!

Ok, so you get the idea. The scale has become our gauge when we evaluate our failure or success with weight loss. But, here’s the important thing: a scale can provide guidance, but it cannot tell you how your overall health is doing. A scale simply provides a number that can make or break your day. And, why? Why do we allow an inanimate object to wreak havoc on our emotions? Whose great idea was it that the scale is king?

C’mon, we KNOW when we’ve eaten too much, and we KNOW when we’ve had a really healthy nutrition week. We KNOW when we’ve exercised regularly, and we KNOW when we have not. Why must we continue to rate our weight loss attempts with a scale when, more times than not, it isn’t an accurate reflection of our overall health?

The truth is, the scale can work as a motivating force behind our weight loss efforts, but remember that as much as that scale can build us up, it can tear us down. So, what to do? How can we reconcile ourselves to the fact that the scale is NOT always our best friend, and it often doesn’t give us the straight story?

Well, it begins with understanding the job of the scale. The scale is not a buddy to bond with, because it hides the truth — the truth being health vis a vis weight. Though many of us know that dropping a few pounds will enhance the quality of our life, the scale isn’t always the best source for positive feedback. Making small changes over a long period of time will get us to a healthy goal, but the scale may not reflect positive numbers fast enough.

What often happens is that we then get impatient, frustrated and blow off any attempts to move forward. After all, the scale said it wasn’t working, and the scale is always right, correct? WRONG! The scale cannot tell you that you have begun to make some positive lifestyle changes or that your body composition is changing. NO, the scale only shows that weight has shifted without explanation, because the scale doesn’t care what the explanation is.

It’s the scale’s job to show you a number. Once we understand that the job of the scale is simply to tell us actual body weight and nothing else, you can begin to view the scale simply as a monitor vs. a health evaluation.

I have worked with thousands of women who often gauged their success by the numbers on the scale. And, more often than not, because the scale didn’t shift in a manner that they thought was “good,” they quit. The interesting thing is that no matter how many times they felt the scale “failed them,” they still counted on the scale to encourage their efforts. You KNOW that the scale is going to shift! One way or another, that’s a given. So, why set yourself up for a mental game that can ruin the best of intentions?

Here are some ways to measure your weight loss success rather than using the scale. By the way, when it comes to weigh-ins, weekly weigh-ins are sufficient. If you’re doing the 3 times a day weigh-in, you’re doing yourself (and any attempts to change your lifestyle) a serious disservice. Here’s the scoop:

1. Clothing: You know how it feels to put on a skirt or dress you’ve been unable to wear for a year? Nothing is better than being able to comfortably fit into that article of clothing that you considered giving away because you never thought you’d be able to wear it again!

2. Attitude: When you begin to eat better and exercise more regularly, you will find yourself feeling more positive about the changes you’re making. Having a positive attitude plays a large role in keeping you motivated and moving forward. Feeling positive allows you to make more decisions that are positive!

3. Taking Up Less Space: Before I lost 50 pounds, I always felt like I took up an unusual amount of space wherever I went. Whether it was a party, a meeting or work, I always felt that I took up more space than anyone else there. Once the body and the weight start changing, suddenly the space you take up seems much smaller. Getting into your car, getting on the train, going to the movies or flying. Any of those venues can give us a feeling of taking up a lot of space. Once your nutrition is healthy and your daily activity increases, those spaces will magically seem to have more room!

4. Active Participation: I don’t know about you, but before I lost my weight, going anywhere with friends or family was dictated by the amount of exertion involved. The thought of long walks, or heaven forbid, climbing something, was an immediate, No thanks. Once I started practicing a healthier lifestyle and my body began to respond, I wasn’t as reluctant to try new things and go places.

5. Friendly Comments: The best part of changing your lifestyle to healthy eating and daily activity are the comments you’ll begin receiving from others. Being told, You look great! goes a long way in reminding us that our efforts are well worth it.

A scale cannot measure feeling great, and looking great cannot be seen through a scale. Making positive lifestyle changes and connecting with the way your body responds to them is a wonderful way to reinforce the benefits of eating well, exercising well and living well! Scale down the need to weigh in every day and get your reinforcement through a means that makes sense!

Nicki Anderson is president and owner of Reality Fitness, a full-service personal training studio in Illinois. She is also a certified personal trainer and fitness practitioner — and the author of Reality Fitness Inspiration For Your Health And Well-Being.

The Perks Of Being Over 50

Perks of Being Over 50…

• Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
• In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
• No one expects you to run into a burning building.
• People call at 9 PM and ask, “Did I wake you?”
• People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
• There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
• Things you buy now won’t wear out.
• You can eat dinner at 4 P.M.
• You can live without sex but not without glasses.
• You enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.
• You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
• You have a party and the neighbors don’t even realize it.
• You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
• You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
• You sing along with elevator music.
• Your eyes won’t get much worse.
• Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
• Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.
• Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either.
• Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

Suddenly Sixty And Other Shocks Of Later Life

Take a deep breath and drink it in. It seems like just yesterday that you were fifty – and now – without warning, you turned the big six-o. Six times ten doesn’t sound so bad, but looking forward, it’s only ten years removed from seventy which – yipes – is the official age of seniordom. You’re now at that age when you either become that famous grandpa with the kids, or become famously invisible to teenagers. Take your pick.

Well, what do those kids know anyways? Your cranium may be overstuffed with names, stats and events dating back to 1947, but you are now at the peak of your intellectual power. You’re earning more money than at any time in the past; you’re technologically savvy, and you can still network with the best.

There is however one dead giveaway – that body. By now, if you haven’t taken care of it – or if gravity has defied your best effort to shore up support south of the back fourty – the wrinkles appear deeper, the eye bags more colourful and the pains more severe.

But you would never trade your friends, your wonderful life, and loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly – or would you? Not likely. Let’s face it; you’ve finally become less critical of yourself, despite that swimsuit stretched over a bulging body. You now swan dive off the three metre board with flailing arms, while defying the pitying glances from the younger set. Now that’s real maturity.

Hair is also a dead giveaway. While young, you may have spoken with your hairstyle, but now, it speaks for you – without permission. Either it’s gray or not there at all. A shiny palate that reflects the sun is not necessarily the excusive domain of seniors anymore, but those wispy, thin and delicate gray hairs, by and large, are still an identifying colour of the older class.

This is also a time of stampeding change for deep set personal habits. Nowadays, six in the morning is when you get up, not when you go to sleep. And computer time, a wasteland for younger people, is where you actually get some work done.

To save money, you no longer drink at home before going to the bar, so now there’s actually more food than beer in the fridge. This of course helps you forget what time Taco Bell closes.

Your home life becomes a hotbed of responsibility as you become more organized; taking the garbage out on time and actually keeping the potted plants alive.

The trade off’s are those “senior moments” which come around every now and then, when you get to wondering what you were just thinking about. But I guess that’s a good substitute for the 40 years spend behind the plow. You now have less to think about, but those things can be important – like taking the proper medications and remembering you have a cat, not a dog. Cats don’t like leashes and they won’t roll over for you.

Still, you take it all in stride and realize the only limit on age is what we put on ourselves. Some are old at twenty and others young at ninety, so smile and present yourself as an ambassador of a “new” generation.

Yes, the Pulitzer or Nobel Prize may have eluded you, but you’ll still meet people who influence you; do things that broaden your horizon; and go places that expand your education. Enjoy it – you’ve earned it.