"We really don't have an excuse." written by Tinypliny on estrip.org

04/12/10 08:28 - 50ºF - ID#51389

We really don't have an excuse.

My advisor sent out the latest CDC statistics on obesity to our group today. This is not just true for the US. It's true for countries around the planet. In India, children who are 13 years old have myocardial infarctions and plaque-induced coronary artery disease. By 2015, India will surpass US in the number of people with Type II Diabetes and atherosclerotic diseases.

How did this happen? I can't, for a moment, believe the excuse that greater than 30% of the population is genetically prone to obesity or have comorbid conditions making us obese. Our genes have not changed that much in the past 25 years. A good proportion of us just want to believe that we are helpless because it's easier to blame genetics than take personal responsibility for the environmental inputs that we have consciously selected.

Why can't we stop this epidemic?! Is it SO hard to cultivate and maintain healthy habits? Do we always have to blame advertising and prices? Why are we waiting for a magic pill or that "one weird trick" to make it go away?!

Can't we just take one small step at a time and just say no to constant splurging on carbohydrates, snacks and processed foods? Can't we avoid buying whatever processed crap that is on display and use our discretion and good sense for once? Can't we walk a bit more and faster rather than always fire up our cars and whatnots to get anywhere and everywhere?

The one thing that we are always ready to do is spend a fortune on every new weight-loss fad that comes along. And of course, make excuses about how costly healthful food is - which it is NOT. You only have to take a stroll in the produce section of pricerite to get a general idea of how much a meal without processed food would cost.

I fall almost in the lowest earning income group in this country and I still manage to eat ALL the healthy food I want and still save. You could argue that I don't have kids and other expenses and that would be true. However, even factoring in kids and expenses, fresh food costs less than processed because processing is an overhead cost. And don't even tell me that eating fast food is cheaper - because that is another flawed perception. One "combo meal" on an average costs around $4 with taxes. For that price, you could get 1lb of carrots, 4lbs of apples, a serving of oatmeal/bulghur AND a serving of lentils. $4 can go a LOOONG way if you really want to eat healthier.

Yes. I think smoking and overeating are pretty much the same. We know the risks. We know the costs. Yet, we don't care. We are addicted AND we won't take any steps to cure the addiction. We have become a bunch of weak-minded people who comfortably get everything we want. We just can't make any resolve and stick to it.

We love food and smoking too much. We constantly feel the need to justify our addictions and assert that life isn't worth living without "little indulgences". The cost our "little indulgences" are incurring are conveniently ignored. There is no such thing as a free lunch. What it really means today is that free or not, that super-serving lunch is going to zoom right into our adipose stores, because we didn't need so much to start with and additionally, we haven't really done anything to burn it.

I am ranting because this makes me sadder than anything else. Our conceit and excuses are leading us to a catastrophe in terms of health. How can we change if we don't want to face this problem and examine our lifestyles??

metalpeter writes at 02:35:18 04/25/10 - Comment #55912: Just had to add that you are so right about prevention. The reason is that Medical stuff is for profit and if you go after prevention people don't get sick (as much) and it is much cheeper and no one makes any money.

metalpeter writes at 02:31:54 04/25/10 - Comment #55911: I thought Repo Men was great. If you read my post about it I have a link to the fact that the idea came from a musical I want to see that also. What I think makes Repomen such a good movie is that it one of those sci-fi that you could see happen and during your own life time, and yet it also holds ideals that are true currently.

In terms of dying. Here is the philosophy. "hey I'm going to die" "Everyone dies" "Something is going to kill you" so "You might as well enjoy yourself". Who says that eating bad is what is going to kill you. I could get hit by a bus Or go to a Sporting event wearing the rivals Colors and get into a fight, or even catch a stray bullet as a drug deal goes bad.

The thing is that our society has changed. There used to not be suburbs. These changed everything. You work one place, the kids go to school some place else, maybe you shop someplace else, often there might only be one parent. The pace of life has changed. The Best example I can give you is. When I was growing up Vans where cool think the A-team. Or Metal Vans with hot chicks painted on them. Now they are Mini Vans and made to hold 8 people. The Pace of the family has changed and with that eating habits as well. It used to be that Fast Food was a treat. Now it is often the norm.

tinypliny writes at 11:02:50 04/25/10 - Comment #55910: Oh and healthcare IS greedy. In the end the people who control healthcare are no better than people who receive healthcare - because we are the same population.

NO ONE wants to push prevention as a commodity. There is NO funding for research/trials/lifestyle engineering if some drug company is not making profits out of patented costly drugs.

I saw these trailers/posters for some film called Repo Men and I thought to myself - Yes, that is exactly what the future will look like.

Take a look:
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::
:::link:::

tinypliny writes at 10:53:52 04/25/10 - Comment #55909: When time comes to die younger, I am sure no one really wants to die younger. They point fingers at how the healthcare is greedy and not doing enough to save them. Nice.

tinypliny writes at 10:52:45 04/25/10 - Comment #55908: Good points, (e:metalpeter).

You save time - but use that save time for what? Is your lifestyle SO busy that you don't want to devote sometime to parent your kids about good lifestyle and healthful future habits? Don't you want to spend ANY time nurturing them? Is your time SO precious that you don't want to invest some of it in your OWN HEALTH??

Yes, time is money. But most of us don't spend 24 hours making money. We just don't want to spend our time investing in the future. :/

I don't get this logic. Probably, never will.

metalpeter writes at 07:08:57 04/14/10 - Comment #55797: There are a few things I need to say.

In Terms of cheapness bad food (that I eat) is cheaper in a way. Say I go to McDonalds as an example with the family. How much time would it take you to make a meal at home and if you are a single parent with say a couple of kids it will take some time.

Yes there should be more education in the schools about healthy foods.

Advertisers like to try and trick you. What the hell does Lite mean and low salt. They put all these big things on packages but to see what is better you have to read labels of different brands and americans don't do that very often we just don't.

I think you need to understand that there is a part of the population that thinks I would rather eat what a want and be happy now and die younger then not enjoy what I eat. That is a Choice and a life style. What makes things tough is you don't know if people are in this group or the people who would like to eat better.

tinypliny writes at 10:15:46 04/13/10 - Comment #55786: (e:Heidi), I was stuck in a research rut. Your comment helped me dig further and look what I found: :::link:::

I don't think I would have found this, had I not read your comment and been driven to see if there was evidence to support Oliver's approach. In general, I think the TREC approach to research gives me hope that we can make a difference to that map and maybe stop it from getting any worse.

I am getting more and more interested in the genetics of energy metabolism (my latest grant is on an exciting hypothesis - we should talk about it when we get together next. It's even more exciting than my dissertation research!!) So this has added more fuel to the fire. :) Thanks!!

heidi writes at 09:43:11 04/13/10 - Comment #55783: I'm sorry, (e:tinypliny), I shouldn't have responded with a badly written article and a lack of coherency.

tinypliny writes at 09:00:47 04/13/10 - Comment #55782: For (e:heidi): :::link::: (Save as PDF) It's a recent peer-reviewed research that mirrors Jamie Oliver's approach.

tinypliny writes at 12:08:24 04/13/10 - Comment #55767: By the way, I am part of the proportion of the population who wants to blame genetics and comorbidity as primary (instead of contributing) factors that are responsible for the epidemic. But wanting to believe something and being correct about that belief is not compatible. :/

tinypliny writes at 11:42:22 04/12/10 - Comment #55764: LOL @(e:libertad) - you also walk quite a lot ;-)

Also, if you look at my earlier posts, there are posts where I have been obsessed with twizzlers and hot fries and other crazy stuff. However, I haven't stocked up on them just because I happened to like them at that point in time.

Moderation is a word that should be used time and again.

tinypliny writes at 11:35:34 04/12/10 - Comment #55763: Re: Save me from myself...

It seems as if whoever wrote that article has a blinding hatred for Jamie Oliver. I am not sure I would call it a balanced critique.

It is highly sarcastic in tone and
manages to invoke every clichÃ© of an ill-supported argument. 40% of the article quotes directly from the show. As a reader, I cannot be sure if all the quotes are being presented in context.

The article starts with a broad contempt for British shows, in general - regardless of what their subject matter might be. While Jamie Oliver may not think he is bettering "stupid fat people", the author of that article definitely thinks so - and has spelled it out in so many words.

Also, it is a show - not an documentary. Aren't shows, by definition, meant to be sensational and emotionally maneuvering to raise some awareness? Don't you think the author is missing the point as she mocks Jamie Oliver with his own words and actions? Mocking - definitely. Critique - not really.

I am also not sure I am "blaming the fatties". I am blaming our collective failure as a society to recognize that personal decisions make a substantial impact in who we have become.

This is true for everyone - researchers, non-researchers, fatties, non-fatties, obese, non-obese, smokers, non-smokers. Each group does not communicate with the other because they are busy defending how the environment and lack of time have made them who they are - non-empathetic and oblivious to the condition of the other groups.

There has to be a way to break this impasse. Each of us has to stop and take a moment about how each of our personal decisions is affecting us and others around us.

If we continue to passively blame our environments for this epidemic, the map is going to be searching for newer colours to represent >70% very soon.

libertad writes at 11:00:07 04/12/10 - Comment #55762: Oh, and please don't read my last journal about southern fried chicken, collard greens (slow cooked with bacon), macaroni and cheese, corn bread and bananas foster.

libertad writes at 10:55:23 04/12/10 - Comment #55761: I don't think you are targeting anyone in particular, except all of us who don't take care of ourselves. It isn't just about obesity as you pointed out. I don't think you came off as insensitive. It was more just in your face which can be hard to deal with. You are right in telling people that they are harming themselves because you really do know that they are. Being a woman devoted to the Science of keeping people healthy you really have a lot of authority as to what we should be putting into our bodies. You are also right about the cost of eating healthy. We can be healthy on a low budget.

heidi writes at 10:41:10 04/12/10 - Comment #55759: I'm really not okay with the "blame the fatties" attitude here. A better critique than I can write, particularly regarding Jamie Oliver: :::link:::

(e:tinypliny), your cheap eats require skill, planning, time and interest in cooking. My cooking interest ebbs and flows largely dependent upon the other demands on my time, attention and skill.

tinypliny writes at 10:10:52 04/12/10 - Comment #55751: I couldn't agree more with you (e:jenks). It's fine to treat children as independent decisions-makers but it is DEFINITELY the responsibility of parents/adults/care-givers to make sure these are INFORMED decisions and not just, "Oh, I love pizza, so I am just not going to eat anything else." It is sparing the proverbial rod that is driving us to such a state of ill-health. If we give in to whatever kids believe they need, then what good is our role as adults and role-models?

And we are not even talking about "overweight" here. These statistics are about the truly obese - the ones who surpass the extremes of the normal weight curve, regardless of the whole issue about BMI not being a proper construct/measure of obesity.

Personal responsibility is something that is completely lacking in this issue. It is becoming more and more of a "political correctness" issue. I wonder if this is a manifestation of our collective excuse-making as more and more of us become obese.

I think the media is grossly misinformed if it's trying to point out parallels between societies where "being plump" is considered a sign of social wealth and "being obese". I bet, if these societies were faced with a truly obese person, they would share the same sentiments as the rest of us.

tinypliny writes at 09:51:05 04/12/10 - Comment #55747: :( Yeah, I was harsh. I feel like we are fighting a losing battle sometimes. People think we are targeting them and pointing fingers at their personal habits - so they are very defensive and the excuse-stream starts immediately.

We are part of this problem. The very fact that I came off as harsh and insensitive is part of the problem. I don't think we have an effective way to wake all of us up YET. You could say that researchers don't empathize enough - but how can you empathize when in your heart, you don't agree with what you are seeing? I think we need a rethink about how we communicate our results and how these results are translated to public health.

(e:uncutsaniflush) - that site is pretty impressive. The foundation to good nutrition starts in childhood. Maybe this is approach we need. I guess I needed to get all the negatives out before I plunge into a rethink. :)

jenks writes at 09:42:28 04/12/10 - Comment #55746: grrrrrrr don't even get me started.

I read an article the other day that said that they're about to consider jamie oliver's food revolution [the show where he's trying to overhaul school lunches in west virginia and prove that it's possible] a failure 'because the kids don't like it and they want the pizza and nuggets back'.
The article went on and on about how the school 'has to' put back the food the kids want.
until the best line of the article- at the end when they said "No they don't. that's what being a kid means. the adults get to say "i'm sorry you don't like it, but that's what's for lunch".

And then the other night I saw some documentary about obesity...
started with some 650 lb man.... this man has not left his bed in a year. Which means his wife is 100% feeding him what he wants.
Then a bit about how in Mauritania, fat is a sign of wealth etc, so skinny girls are undesirable, and how they force feed daughters milk in an effort to make them obese. Because of course, this is africa, where there is not a ton of fattening food available everywhere you look. hell, even the cows were skin and bones! But these girls were crying and gagging and puking up their milk, while their mothers pinch their toes in these sticks.

But then it had some 450lb model who was insisting "i'm fat and gorgeous and healthy". The nutritionists begged to differ. And I'm all for people being comfortable with themselves and having self-esteem and all that. And I also certainly understand how easy it is to become a little overweight. And by that I mean 20, 30, 50 lb. Not 300lb.
But they were going on about 'fat acceptance' and how 'fatism' is the same as racism. Um, no it isn't. You can't control your race. You can control your weight. not saying it's easy. But it's possible.

They also had 'fat admirers' saying how it's not fair, and how 'what they eat is none of your business and isn't hurting anyone else'- to which they responded with the argument that yes, indeed, it is hurting others- as obesity-related illness eats up a HUGE proportion of health care dollars.

And it is not the media's fault. it is not america's fault. it is not society's fault. it is your own damn fault.

ugh, sorry for the rant, but it's been on my mind.

And again- I don't mean to sound like some preachy skinny bitch. I've always been a fat girl, and believe me, I know it's hard to get under control. But there's a difference between weighing 150-200lb and 400+.

libertad writes at 09:32:34 04/12/10 - Comment #55744: You really are 100% right on this Tiny. You are a bit harsh, but right. It must be very frustrating for you and for others in your field.

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:29:09 04/12/10 - Comment #55743: Jamie Oliver agrees with you. :::link:::

So do I. But you've met me. For a Sumo Wrestler I'm skinny. But alas I'm not Sumo Wrestler.

Permalink: We_really_don_t_have_an_excuse_.html
Words: 621
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: eating in

04/11/10 09:00 - 48ºF - ID#51377

Super-tasty and easy cabbage stir fry

I think this is the tastiest cabbage stir fry I have EVER had in my life. It's also probably the easiest and the quickest to make. I made it from scratch in around 20 minutes - the time it takes to steam the lentils and bulghur.

Before I forget, the exact recipe:

1. Steam brown lentils and bulghur in the rice cooker: 1:1
2. While they are steaming, add a generous amount of olive oil to the fry pan, add a pinch of cumin seeds, finely chopped garlic, green thai chillies and dried red chillies (crumbled into the oil).
3. Saute till garlic turns almost light brown. Scrape everything to a side.
4. Add chopped zucchini, sprinkle salt on it. Stir-fry for 2 min. Scrape to the side. Mix with garlic et. al.
5. Add chopped carrots, pour minimal amount of soy sauce over it. Stir fry for 2 min. Mix with everything else.
6. Add green chopped cabbage. Toss and saute with everything else. Add a little more soy sauce.
7. Add the steamed bulghur and lentils. Stir and toss till evenly mixed.
8. Turn off heat while cabbage is still crunchy.

ENJOY!

Permalink: Super_tasty_and_easy_cabbage_stir_fry.html
Words: 184
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/13/12 04:25

Category: i-tech

04/11/10 09:35 - 47ºF - ID#51370

Absolutely essential software. Take 2.

In descending order of can't-do-without-it...

Internet

Chrome
~~Skype~~
Google Video and Chat plugin

Academic/Writing

Q10. Writing at its core.
Some LaTeX client and BibTeX manager
Some PDF client with ability to highlight and annotate (don't care which one, currently have PDF Xchange viewer)
Some PDF printer driver
Sadly, M$ Word. :/ (None of my academic advisors are comfortable reviewing PDFs.)
Sadly, M$ Powerpoint (I am learning LaTeX Beamer class but progress has been slow. Like S.L.OOO.W)

Art/Diagramming

Paint.NET
myPaint

Utilities

Winkey
7Zip
Vistaswitcher (yep, it works on WinXP)
CCleaner

Analysis:

R

Media

Foobar
VLC
SRS Audio Sandbox

Permalink: Absolutely_essential_software_Take_2_.html
Words: 102
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/26/13 09:05

Category: the odes

04/11/10 02:06 - 52ºF - ID#51367

One carefree moment...

When you find out that your credit card has been used fraudulently:

Permalink: One_carefree_moment_.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: flat hunt

04/10/10 10:33 - 40ºF - ID#51362

Help! NYC flats?

Okay, flat hunting in NYC for my brother has not been going so well. Thanks, (e:Heidi) for putting me in contact with Lisa! I have sent her an email.

My brother and I are visiting NYC to check out flats from Thursday to Sunday this coming week. It's making us really nervous. He needs to move to NYC in the second week of May. We have been looking at craigslist and nycdwellers.com for prospective places. Craigslist, NYC is like 100X dodgier than any craigslist I have looked at! Are we missing any good sources such as artvoice for NYC or something?

Do you know of any friends/contacts who are leasing out places in the range of $900 - $1500 a month? We have been told to hire a broker but I am inclined to take (e:lauren)'s advice and directly talk with people who are leasing their own places out.

Help!

Permalink: Help_NYC_flats_.html
Words: 152
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: i-tech

04/09/10 09:04 - 36ºF - ID#51359

My next computing solution...

Will definitely NOT be a boring old laptop or an ipad. Both lack the flexible stylus/tablet based solution I need. Though this is M$, you have to agree that the concept interface is pretty sweet.

Permalink: My_next_computing_solution_.html
Words: 38
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: whine

03/27/10 02:46 - 43ºF - ID#51274

Dear upstairs neighbour,

If you are the one playing "metalcore"-ish music at full blast right now:

a) I resent the noise.
b) I am trying to write a grant here, and the signalling pathways are not getting any easier.
c) Your taste in music sucks. Bleh. Check out "Running Wild". At the very least, you will know how heavy metal can sound almost as good as baroque.
d) If you don't stop in the next hour, I may have to hotfoot it to the office or call the manager and be a pain in your existence.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgh.

PS: The noise stopped. Maybe the neighbour reads (e:strip) or got tired of their own crappy music.

Permalink: Dear_upstairs_neighbour_.html
Words: 113
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: buffalo

03/24/10 08:39 - 39ºF - ID#51260

Non-driver's State ID: Experiences?

For some complicated reasons that I cannot control, my passport will be in NYC and I will be here in Buffalo for a whole of 20 days. This is creeping the wits out of me right now. Remember that island poll where your flat burns down and you are allowed to take just one thing? (e:tinypliny,49243) Well... I am revising my answer big time. I think I will be glad with just my passport.

Mainly, because of this lot...

And so, I need to get my non-driver state ID before my passport goes away on its AWOL tour. I think I have all the documents now - I checked the DMV site.

Has anyone here ever applied for it? How long does it take? Any pearls of wisdom for getting this thing with the least amount of disruption to a particularly busy workday?

Permalink: Non_driver_s_State_ID_Experiences_.html
Words: 145
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: science

03/23/10 07:50 - 37ºF - ID#51249

11th hour thoughts...

Permalink: 11th_hour_thoughts_.html
Words: 2
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: flat hunt

03/21/10 11:24 - 37ºF - ID#51243

Flat hunting in NYC

So how does one hunt for a cheap flat in NYC without having to share it with a gazillion others??

And no. I am not moving but my brother is. We are looking to find something in the range of $1000 to $1500/month. We have been told to stick to areas around Harlem or Brooklyn and ignore the rest of the boroughs.

If you know of anyone renting out a flat - you cannot find a better tenant than my brother (Yes. I know. I could be saying that just because I am related but it's true).

Thoughts or tips, anyone? Former/current NYC dwellers or Buffalo denizens with NYC contacts?

tinypliny writes at 12:38:24 03/23/10 - Comment #55447: my him?! Things are really going downhill at this time. aargh

tinypliny writes at 12:37:20 03/23/10 - Comment #55446: Ya'll are THE BEST!!!! I am swimming in tips. Thanks! I am planning to go and hunt with my him next month. I think hunting is a lot more fun when you have two heads.

As they say, two heads are better than none. That was excellent film, btw. Cheap tomatoes are even better than two heads.

hodown writes at 10:32:33 03/22/10 - Comment #55425: You can get something in Queens for that amount. Also look at Inwood in upper Manhattan. Stay away from the Bronx. Brooklyn is mega expensive (more so than Manhattan) these days. Hoboken is also going to be more expensive. I'd look in JC, but stay near downtown, nothing further in.

lauren writes at 09:37:24 03/22/10 - Comment #55424: All I can say is GOOD LUCK!

Ok. I can say a little more :)

When Felly and I were looking down there, the one thing I noticed a lot of is beware of places that are being advertised/shown by second parties who are not the owner. They often will charge a separate fee on top of the rent just because they showed you the place. If you are willing to pay the fee, they might be helpful, but I am sure you can do it alone as well.

Also, although we never made the final step of actually going down there, I think that is really what you have to do. Find a day or two and get ready to make tons of phone calls and go all over the city if you need to. There is nothing like a seeing an apt. and a neighborhood for yourself to get a real feel for how it will be to live there, what stores, markets, etc. are around and how close it is to public transportation and cheap tomatoes. :)

Finally, you might have to show proof of current employment, income, etc, depending on the place. I was surprised (and annoyed) to find that many places won't rent to people who are just moving to NYC for the first time. So make sure your brother can prove that he is gainfully employed.

And again, good luck!

zobar writes at 07:41:26 03/22/10 - Comment #55420: Vaya con DiÃ³s. I lived in the Lower East Side at Orchard near Rivington, but only because my cousin already lived there; and she only lived there because of some kind of rent-control situation. That was a pretty good neighborhood, but it was gentrifying at the time [1999] and I'm sure it's crazy expensive now.

Hoboken and some areas of Jersey City are also decent places to live, and though not as happenin' as Brooklyn, approximately as convenient. Other areas of Jersey City are shitholes.

- Z

tinypliny writes at 12:11:41 03/22/10 - Comment #55415: wow, that was quick! Thanks, (e:heidi)! :)

(e:James), he will be working in Manhattan (I wonder. Do people in NYC ever work anywhere else? Maybe it should be called Workhattan or Man!Cruelwork - okay, okay. bad joke) He is very good at running everywhere, taking extreme routes and extremely comfortable with the subway. He wants to sell his car though - so anywhere that requires a personal car is out.

I don't think he really has any preferences for any nationality neighbours. His current neighbours are, clockwise (German, Chinese, Russian, German, Thai, Japanese, Brazilian (I think...).

oh - and he doesn't want to pay a lot for tomatoes.
If your insane contacts know any places, I think their insanity is fine with him.

And he is looking to move early 2nd week of May.

heidi writes at 11:47:42 03/21/10 - Comment #55414: My bff Lisa lives in a 1 bdrm in Spanish Harlem for something in that range - I've asked her to connect with you.

james writes at 11:47:12 03/21/10 - Comment #55413: It depends on where he will be working. There are less expensive, good neighborhoods in parts of the Bronx and Queens (which has a ginormous Indian population if that is any appeal).

My contacts in NYC are all bat-shit insane, so I am pretty useless.

Permalink: Flat_hunting_in_NYC.html
Words: 110
Location: Buffalo, NY