Ultimate Treadmill Fails

Ok, so I know it is sort of messed up that we humans can find it funny to watch videos of people getting hurt. But laughing is good for your health, and I can't help but say that this compilation of "The Ultimate Treadmill Fails" is pretty much hilarious. Some of these workout catastrophes do look plain old painful (and not so funny). Others look like bad ideas gone wrong, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say bad ideas gone even worse than planned. But in my opinion, the clip 50 seconds in makes the whole thing worth watching. I laughed out loud, both the first time I saw it and when re-watching it. So go ahead and treat yourself to a good laugh!

Exercise....BACON!

Sometimes I like to mix things up a little with a funny post. Life can't be all about health! This picture on cheezburger.com made me laugh, and I can totally relate. I love a good piece of bacon....or three pieces....or five.

http://cheezburger.com/6962356480

Genius!

Exercise and Eating Right May Matter Less if You Sleep Less

The time we spend sleeping has been linked to heart disease, longevity, interpersonal relationships, decision-making, stress and mental disorders, and a host of other health concerns.

Now, a recent study by the University of Washington Sleep Center, which appears in the journal Sleep, shows that sleeping more may counteract some genetic predisposition for weight gain. In the study of twin pairs, lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise were significantly more effective at combating weight gain among those who also got more hours of sleep per night.

Previous research has been able to show that lack of sleep contributes to excess weight. However, this study is unique, because it uses twins to specifically identify the lifestyle contribution to weight gain versus the genetic factor. According to USA Today, "For twins averaging nine hours of sleep, genetic factors accounted for about 32% of weight variations; for those sleeping less than seven hours, genetic factors accounted for 70% of weight variation. For those sleeping seven to nine hours, 60% of the variation was due to genetic factors."

Although they have not yet definitively identified why this link exists, it could involve hunger, fat storage, inflammation, or other metabolic functions. According to the same USA Today article, "Scientists have known for years that sleep deprivation increases levels of hunger hormone and decreases levels of a hormone that makes you feel full." This study, however, takes it to another level. Even if a sleep deprived individual did not eat more than a well rested person, and even if the sleep derived individual exercised the same amount, the study indicates that the sleep deprived would be less successful at maintaining a healthy weight.

Health Magazine quotes lead investigator Nathaniel F. Watson, M.D., who explains, "The less you sleep, the more important genetic factors are to how much you weigh. The longer you sleep, the greater the influence of environmental factors, like meal composition and timing." In other words, the amount of sleep you get can influence your gene expression.

One possible explanation posited by Carl Boethel, M.D., from the Sleep Institute at Scott & White Healthcare is that when an individual is consistently deprived of sleep, the body enters a state of stress. In that situation, the portion of the individual's genes that are designed to handle a stressful environment start to take over by holding calories or altering other metabolic processes.

Regardless of the mechanism for the genetic expression in this research, the message is clear from both this study and a host of others that we can help ourselves stay healthy by getting enough sleep.

Image credit: http://fivehourfitness.com/5-tips-for-better-sleep/

23 1/2 Hours

My friend Stephanie posted a link to this health-related YouTube video on her facebook page. It's all about the best medicine money can buy.

I am still waiting for the day when a scientific study finally proves what I've known all along, which is that Doritos and chocolate are the real life-savers. But until that study goes public, I thought this video was very informative.

There's nothing quite like being convicted by YouTube.

Enjoy!