Take a guilt trip to weight loss

Throughout high school, I was two parts nerdy smart-ass, one part chubster. I wasn't at risk for a pre-20s heart attack, but I felt uncomfortable. Junior year I was hanging out in the better (or worse) half of 180 lbs., but I was nearly five inches shorter. Shortly after graduation, I decided to shed my lazy ways and told myself to you-know-what or get off the pot. And I did (the former).

All I had to do was take a page from my mother and grandmother's book of nag, and I gently coerced myself into a much healthier lifestyle.

A recent study from a Japanese university says I'm not the only one who drops poundage after feeling a little down about myself. Apparently, negative emotions toward a tubby self can cause an impetus for reformation (in their words, patients "care more" about their state).

For whatever reason, it seems to work. Since then (about six years), I've consistently weighed about 20 pounds less and felt much healthier.

I haven't found a study to boast the benefits of emotional self-flagellation, and I doubt I ever will, but I don't see the harm in relying on a sub-par self-perception to peel a lazy, sweatpanted ass off a couch.

Don't Waste Time with Curls

I've never understood the benefit of the bicep curls. Being a skinny dude, this may sound like bitterness, but I've learned a lot since weight training during my sophomore year of high school. Bicep curls are pretty much useless (Bodybuilding and beach-flexing aside).

Last week in my health writing class, Matt Herring, strength trainer for the University of Florida men's basketball team, offered us a peek into the workouts he and his team designed for the players. They force the players to move laterally, rotationally and front-to-back. Each player must test his balance, strength and agility every time the training staff "tweaks" each exercise.

One of the exercises left out of the training regimen 99 percent of the time? Bicep curls. Herring referred to them "bone exercises," because the players only get to do them when the staff feels like throwing them a bone. Herring said bicep curls are ignored because they serve no functional purpose in basketball (though he hates the buzzword "functional").

Call me bitter or small, but I'm content with my 10-inch biceps, and now I can defend my toothpicks with testimony from someone who trains others for a living.

Running with pain

My part-time job requires me to run for almost six hours every day. The money is good, and the exercise is awesome. Best of all, I think it's fun.

The down side? I have patellar tendonitis (commonly called jumper's knee).

When I run, my right knee pangs every time the corresponding foot pounds the pavement. Somedays the pain is sharp. Sometimes it's barely noticeable. It is always annoying.

I have adapted to running with a consistent pain, but I can't get used to it. Once upon a time, I hated running (and jogging, running's lame cousin), but I learned to love it. This damn tendonitis has me back where I started.

The doctor told me the pain should fade as soon as I find a new job, so I guess I'm to blame for prolonging the situation. I'm leaving Gainesville in Decemeber, and I believe the doctor was right. Until then, unfortunately, I have to pay rent and buy groceries, so the knee has to wait.

Eating Away at Ourselves

The American Dream may be blocking its own path.

I learned at an early age that the United States was the place where anyone could do anything: rags to riches, riches to more riches, more riches to Bill Gates. I heard it so many times that it remains embedded in my DNA.

We are taught to live the American Dream and everything that goes with it, but what about the bad decisions that come with a life of opportunity? Once we have the money, we dine out. The hour and a half we spend at a restaurant usually isn't cluttered with health-conscience reasoning, but it needs to be.

I love the idea of All-You-Can-Eat, but I'm always disappointed with myself when I feel I don't get my money's worth. Until I started this post, I never considered the prospect of being disappointed by choosing to gorge myself at CiCi's buffet. I never considered that a decision to glut meant a solid jab to my overall health, and that the ensuing disappointment contradicted my ingrained belief in a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Once upon a time, Americans could expect to outlive the folks across the pond, but things have changed. Poor eating habits are contributing to the world's view of Fat America, and, internally, the government is spending hundreds of billions to fight preventable chronic illnesses, such as Type-2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

We have to be embarrassed. The United States is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, but we're killing ourselves. Forget the ado about federal health care reform. Eat right and reel in health care costs.

H1N1, Please go away

Who would have thought swine flu would make a bigger comeback than small pox?

A few months ago, the world media fell into the grips of the villainous H1N1 virus (the trendiest animal flu since the avian outbreak of late 2005). Luckily, the swine flu and its infamy seemed to have been brushed to the way-side before the midpoint of 2009. The nea

r-pandemic had been quelled to the degree that we could go back to breathing good, old-fashioned fresh air, without donning a flimsy surgical mask.

On the contrary, the latter half of the calendar year has descended upon us with the intentions of reawakening our swine fear -- sorry to all my pork-producing friends.

Leading the charge of hypochondriacs are 165 universities across the country. The pitchfork-wielding leader of the mob is none other than schools in the Southeastern region of the country.

Great. My own region has gone insane with paranoia.

As far as I can tell, H1N1 is about as threatening as sneezing while you're on the john. A bit uncomfortable, maybe a little concerning. Nothing more.

Everyone gets a little sick, and I hope everyone who contracts a slice of this bogus epidemic receives prompt and proper care.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep on keepin' on. If I fall into the afflicted 1 percent, I don't want to be completely spooked when I am headed to the doctor's office.

A brief introduction.

Hello potential readers,

This blog will cover a variety of issues stemming from the astoundingly broad topic of health and fitness. I'll relay my personal experiences, as well as report broader trends. Hell, I'll even make random observations, and you can determine the relevance (which won't be difficult because relevance is my aim).

Keep an eye on this blog in the coming months, as I'll be updating frequently.

Thanks, and enjoy!

Adam