Battling the Bulge: Books and Figures

It is amazing that in these trying times of a faltering economy and the rising rate of poverty, Americans are still getting fat.

An article from The Earth Times mentions statistics from the Center for Disease Control, revealing the following data:
* The entire US, with the exception of Colorado, have a 20 percent obesity rate (body mass index[BMI] is 30 or higher).
* In the Mid-Atlantic area, the obesity rate is between 25 to 29 percent.

The same Earth Times article also enumerated figures from the American Heart Association's 2008 Statistical Fact, noting that the percentage of overweight and obese Americans with a BMI of 25 or higher is between 57.6 and 79.6 percent, depending on sex and race.

Another study of the American Heart Association reveals the alarming increase in incidences of childhood obesity. To quote:

"The number of overweight pre-schoolers has jumped by 36 percent since1999-2000. In 2005, nearly 10 million children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 were considered overweight. They are taking in too many empty and fat-laden calories and not exercising enough. Overweight adolescents have an overwhelming chance of becoming overweight adults, and they are being sentenced to a near future of cardiovascular disease and disability."

All studies point to the fact that Americans are more sedentary and are eating less healthy food, which is why they are putting on the pounds.

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Of course, the solution to the problem of obesity is a return to a healthy lifestyle, and several books created by gurus in the aspect of health and fitness provide us with sound advice.

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For those among us who usually make the excuse of not being able to exercise because they are(1) too busy, (2) too lazy, or (3) too old, there are several books from the Xlibris Bookstore that can remedy that and ultimately trim one's body.

Therafit: the Fat-burning Solution instills in people the right kind of mindset to start them on their journey to fitness. It is a creation by fitness trainer Tim Barnes. More about Therafit can be found at their website, http://www.therafit.com/.







Stop Making Excuses! A Personal Trainer's Guide to Body Sculpting & Fitness precisely targets people's habit of making excuses for not exercising which eventually hinders their capability to attain good health. AFAA-certified personal trainer and model Michael de Porres Dais penned this book based on his 15 years' experience in the arena of fitness.






Exercise Anytime: The Complete Don't Take Time Out to Exercise Plan was written by medical doctor, R. P. Dickey, in collaboration with Mary K. O'Brien. It is the best guide to fitness for adults who know that they should exercise regularly but are simply too lazy or too busy to dedicate time for this endeavor.






Smart Muscle:Physical Training Guide for Busy People provides easy exercise programs that will help people attain a toned body without putting extreme strain on the muscles. Written by Eddie Velasquez, it is an ideal companion for those who lead busy lives, as well as those in their 40s and beyond.






And speaking of those in their twilight years, the perfect book to read is You Don't have to Act Your Age: Physical Fitness for Older Adults. Its author, Win McFadden, is already in his nineties, and yet he still continues to actively in track and field events. It will be difficult not to be inspired by this old-timer's thoughts on exercise and fitness, considering that he practices what he preaches.





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Food intake is another crucial factor in health and wellness, and this is tackled by several books -- still from the Xlibris Bookstore.

Can I Feel Well if I Eat Well? was written by noted nutritionist and medical doctor Barkev Khatchadourian. In this book, he shares his years of research and studies to interested individuals with the desire to learn about the right combinations and proportions of food for a better balanced diet.






Registered nurse Suzanne O'Brien shares her own insights on the different diseases affecting man today, and how these can be prevented through exercise and a proper diet in her book, Take Charge of Your Health: Exercising and Eating Right Are Your Best Defenses for Preventing Chronic Diseases and being in Great Shape!






In his book, Ten Commandments for a Healthy Lifestyle, chiropractor and overall health practitioner Dr. Perry Wolk-Weiss mentions that everything there is to know and observe in health and fitness can be encapsulated in "ten commandments." Even advice on wellness of the spirit is covered by these said commandments.






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There are also other aspects of health and fitness that are brought to the fore through these books from the Xlibris Bookstore.

Who would've known that deep breathing can actually bring about a sound body and mind? This is a principle advocated by martial and internal arts teachers and healers Donald and Cheryl Lynne Rubbo, and they have a book dedicated to the wonders of deep breathing entitled Extraordinary Breath: Making the Power of Deep Breathing Work for You!






The cardiovascular system becomes the main subject of the book, Reduce Blood Pressure Naturally: A Complete Approach for Mind, Body, and Spirit. Its authors, Michael Arluck Scheinbaum and David Getoff, see the need for exercise and the right food to bring about not only wellness of the body but also wellness of the spirit. And everything starts with the heart.





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With all this knowledge and facilities on hand, initiative is the next thing Americans should possess if obesity among the populace is to be curbed. At the end of the day, the decision to strive for better health lies with the individual himself/herself.

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Do You Hurt Your Pets?

Do you hurt animals, usually pets, simply for kicks? (Pun intended)

If you do, then you have a very bright future as a serial killer/rapist/cannibal/psycho.

This is a usual conclusion in several research studies into violence against animals. Many of these studies strongly relate animal beatings/deaths to psychologically-impaired individuals who have a dire need to overpower lesser beings. More often than not, this cycle of cruelty against the family pet/s could extend toward the younger/female members of the family, as stated in an article on HelpingAnimals.com entitled Animal Cruelty and Family Violence.

It is also stated in the same article that it's not only the parents who conduct cruel acts toward the family pet. Children tend to follow what they see from the grownups and continue the maltreatment of the poor animals -- seeing that they have more power over the latter. To quote:

"...Children who abuse animals may be repeating a lesson learned at home; like their parents, they are reacting to anger or frustration with violence. Their violence is directed at the only individual in the family more vulnerable than themselves: an animal. One expert says, 'Children in violent homes are characterized by ... frequently participating in pecking-order battering,' in which they may maim or kill an animal. Indeed, domestic violence is the most common background for childhood cruelty to animals."

In another ground-breaking study entitled The Abuse of Animals and Domestic Violence: A National Survey of Shelters for Women Who Are Battered made by Frank Ascione, Claudia Weber, and David Wood of Utah State University, they were able to create a tangible link between domestic violence and animal cruelty. After doing a survey of shelter programs for battered women an children in almost all states of the United States, results were very enlightening, albeit disturbing. Some of the results are as follows:

* A total of 85.4% of women who come to these shelters talk about incidents of pet abuse.
* A total of 63% of children who come to these shelters talk about incidents of pet abuse.
* A total of 83.3% of administrators of shelters have observed the coexistence of domestic violence and pet abuse.

To further explain the seriousness of such an issue, the said study included a segment from an actual court proceeding regarding a family dispute turned deadly:

"A moment later Francine heard Nicky scream...'Nicky was crying so hard she couldn't talk. I'd never heard a child cry like that. I ... held her in my arms until she calmed down enough to tell me what had happened. Mickey [Francine's husband] had warned her that if he found the cat on the porch he'd wring its neck. When he caught her with it the second time he took it out of her arms and just broke its neck in his two hands'." (McNulty, 1989, p. 165)

"Francine Hughes was charged with the death by fire of her husband, Mickey Hughes, in 1977."(McNulty, 1989, author's note)

"[Her lawyer] asked Francine to tell the story of their pet dog, Lady. As Francine described Lady's death [Mickey had refused to allow his family to assist Lady while she was giving birth] a shockwave of emotion swept the courtroom. The simplicity of the event—a helpless animal, a female, left outside to freeze while struggling to give birth—held no ambiguity, no shadings of motive; it left no room for doubt. The impact of the story was as strong as anything Francine had told so far."(McNulty, 1989, p. 258)

After reading this, I felt no pity for Mickey Hughes. In fact, I think Francine did the whole world a favor by eliminating a scourge to humanity.

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Allow me to reiterate that animals are living beings, too. That is why I see no reason why some people decide to keep pets then eventually neglect them, and even hurt them. There are those who see animals as mere household laborers -- dogs as security guards with a tail, cats as rodent exterminators with fur. And the poor things do their work seriously even at the risk of a kick on the side or serious lack of food and water.

Dogs are ideally given wide spaces to move in and are only kept on a leash when going out with their master/s. However, I know of many dogs whose movements are limited by short chains. They are even barely given a chance to stretch out and exercise their legs. Thus, many of these beautiful animals become ferocious, snarling at anyone who passes their way -- even their masters. (Memories of my sonofab***** ex-father-in-law come into mind. Their poor dog was kept chained on top of a small desk on the porch, and whenever he arrives from wherever, he'd whap the dog with whatever he has in his hand. The dog was put down when one time, it managed to bite the sonofab*****'s hand before he could whack his head again. Hmmm...probably death was his biggest relief from the sonofab*****.)

Cats meanwhile are misunderstood by many people, and thus become the most popular victims of cruelty. Most of them know this, which is why cats are not as friendly as dogs -- thus earning the monicker, "scaredy-cat." For those who encounter humans for the first time, the initial reaction is to run away and hide. If they feel that they are already cornered, they hiss, bite, and scratch. That is why it is a major achievement when one manages to earn the trust and love of a cat. This precious feline can reciprocate with more love and concern than you think it is capable of. I should know: I have four of them who think I'm Superwoman.

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Probably the best introduction to understanding the concepts of love and freedom from cruelty in the eyes of a pet would come from two Xlibris releases, Bulls-Eye Bob and the Backyard Buddies and Bulls-eye Bob and the Boyfriend Bully. Both books are the creations of Melinda Lewis, a school teacher and advocate against bullying.

Bulls-Eye Bob, Lewis' protagonist in the two books, is a dog with a patch of dark hair on his side. It is because of this patch that he earned his nickname "Bulls-Eye." His former owner was a detestable man who would hit Bob with cans and anything else he could get his hands on (Reminds me of my sonofab****** ex-father-in-law), and when he managed to hit Bob's patch, he'd yell, "Bulls-eye!"

Bulls-Eye Bob's sad encounters with his former owner and the boyfriend of his new owner, as well as his personal triumphs over these experiences become the main plot behind these two books by Lewis. Young readers and even not-so-young ones are sure to learn a thing or two about animal welfare, as well as learning to stand one's ground against bullies in their respective environments.

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So once again, I pose to you this question: would you still consider hurting your pet?

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