Paleo Summit Online Event Presentations

Hi everyone, I am back from my break/hiatus. Sorry I've been so busy! But I have been catching the Paleo Summit videos on health, fitness, and nutrition. They've been awesome.

When my friend Sean Croxton at Undergroundwellness announced that he was hosting an 8-day online health summit, I really had no idea what to expect.

But after viewing the presentations of the past several days, I must say that Sean has certainly outdone himself.

Reading through the comments posted in the virtual presentation rooms, many attendees are calling The Paleo Summit the best online health conference ever put together.

Mars Inc. Makers of Snickers, Twix, M&Ms New Health/Nutrition "Global Initiatives"

Say Goodbye to King-Size Snickers!

Interesting news... Candy giant Mars Inc. announced that it is ending production of king-sized candy bars as part of an large move towards healthier products. In a company statement, "Mars has a broad-based commitment to health and nutrition, and this includes a number of global initiatives," The company plans to discontinue chocolate products that contain over 250 calories per serving. Trans fat will also be eliminated from all products (thank goodness..no more hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils) and sodium cut down by 25% from 2007 levels by 2015. Although candy bars would still be unhealthy, these changes would definitely make them better. It might be wise for Mars Inc. business-wise; as more people become health-conscious, products that are considered healthier and reduced in fat, salt, or calories will likely be favored over traditional choices. The company will have a better standing with that group of consumers than their competitors.

Man Suffers Heart Attack at the Heart Attack Grill

*Sigh* Today's news involves a male customer at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vagas, Nevada. While eating a "triple bypass burger", a man started sweating, shaking, and having chest pains, all symptoms of a heart attack. Truly ironic you could say. I'm pretty perplexed that people actually eat at a restaurant that serves horribly unhealthy food and encourages bad eating habits and obesity. The "quadruple bypass burger" can easily exceed 8,000 calories. Customers over 350lbs eat free. And come on, the restaurant is pretty ridiculous itself! The staff are called "nurses", the owner "Doctor", and the customers "patients". A bottle of whiskey sits in a sealed case on the wall as an emergency defibrillator. The hospital theme is pretty much a mockery of health. Tasty food is one thing but this is just insane.

Donate to Food Bank of New York City

Hi guys, quick post. Please try to donate money to feed the needy! SigmaThetaRho Fraternity is trying to raise $1500 for Food Bank of New York City. "Proceeds from gifts made through the Virtual Food Drive go toward the programs and efforts of the Food Bank For New York City where they are needed most, in an effort to most effectively fulfill our mission to end hunger in New York City by organizing food, information and support for community survival and dignity. "
Every dollar counts!

 Donate here.

 

Controversial: Preschooler's Lunch Deemed Inadequate, Supplemented With Chicken Nuggets

A very interesting story came up today, reported first by the CarolinaJournal. A North Carolina preschooler was told by an inspector to eat chicken nuggets with her homemade meal. The child ended up eating only the nuggets.

You need to eat these too! Says food monitor

Not good enough...

"The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs — including in-home day care centers — to meet USDA guidelines. That means lunches must consist of one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain, and two servings of fruit or vegetables, even if the lunches are brought from home." The meal consisted of the following: turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice. As you can see, there's one serving of meat (turkey), 1 serving of milk (cheese), 1 serving of grain, and 2 servings of fruit (banana and apple juice). Unless the portions were really tiny, the meal fits the bill. Nevertheless, the child was given chicken nuggets and a $1.25 bill. I'm still very sketchy about chicken nuggets after doing this blog post. Chances are, the school's nuggets aren't that good either.
Since the incident, the mother has complained to North Carolina Representative G.L. Pridgen of Robeson County.
Are these lunch regulations necessary? Do they provide important oversight to help ensure kids are eating healthy, balanced meals? Or do they impede on parents' liberties and send children the wrong message?

Paleo Summit Presentation Coming Soon!

Hey guys! Between February 26th to March 4th, you can tune in to the Paleo Summit to see free videos on all things Paleo. (A reference to the Paleolithic period, a prehistoric time of hunter-gatherer societies.) Many believe that a return to certain Paleolithic ways (eating and exercise methods) can vastly improve our well-being. Over 20 experts, including Mark Sisson and Paul Chek, will be discussing this issue over the 8 day span.
 The event is free; just sign up with your email. You might just learn some very surprising things.

Faking Before and After Photos of Fitness Testimonials REVEALED

I'm sure most of us take what fitness/diet advertisements say with a grain of salt. But, you may have looked at the before and after photos of such commercials and thought to yourself, "Man. He/she looks amazing now! Did they really follow this program or what?" Youtube user furiouspete123 sheds some light on what may actually transpire behind-the-scenes for those who are depicted in the remarkable shots in ads.
With Pete's theory, the photo shoot actually begins with the after-photo. The person (actor/actress you might say!) does some intense exercises to accentuate their muscles and blood vessels. Next, he or she gets a quick zap in the tanning bed. Then, after a couple of extra exercises, oil is applied to make his or her body extra shiny. Some good lighting, and (if desired) photo editing, and voila! you've got yourself a great after-photo.
The job isn't done yet. For the before-photo, Pete gorges himself with junk food, soda ("diet pop works better because it has more carbonation") and chocolate milk. He then snaps the photo, just under 5 hours from his after-photo. Pete looks astonishingly different; the transformation is a success. A look at the two photos and we can see that they are certainly misleading. On one side, a sullen and completely out-of-shape man; on the other, a handsome buff.

Hopefully, we'll all be a little more skeptical. Although it's likely that some testimonials are genuine, some are not. It's always best to get more information on the product and the people behind the product. Keep the three C's in mind:

1. Credibility-is the company trustworthy? do they have good ratings?
2. Claims- what do they say their product will do?can they back it up with objective and relative evidence?
3. Common Sense- think about it: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't (true).

Scooby's Arm Workout

Scooby's Live Chest Workout Take 2

Another workout! Today Scooby, a popular Youtuber who gives fitness, bodybuilding, and nutritional advice, is having a live broadcast on Youtube. He has over 148 million upload views and thousands of subscribers. The best thing about Scooby is that he has been bodybuilding for 30 years, yet he helps thousands of people for free! Yes, he is not a licensed professional but chances are he is even better than one based on his decades of experience, sound advice, success stories, and vast knowledge. You can see more of Scooby at his website and Youtube channel.

Opportunity to Give Away Books-World Book Night USA

Greetings all. I wanted to share a fantastic community service opportunity. Right now you can apply to be a part of World Book Night (April 23rd) if you reside in the United States of America. The deadline has been pushed back to February 6, 2012. Applicants who are accepted get 20 copies of a book to give out. (In your application, you indicate a first, second, and third choice. Based on availability, you will usually get one of those three.) The idea is to hand out books to people who are light or non-readers. Share the wonders of literature!
I personally applied and was accepted. I'm really excited!

Image credit to WBN

For more info visit http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/about-world-book-night/register-as-a-2012-giver

Michelle Obama's Pushup form on the Ellen Show!

I believe yesterday the First Lady of the United States was on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about various things from her husband, President Obama, to her "Let's Move" initiative. In the midst of the interview, Ellen challenged Michelle Obama to a pushup contest. Now unlike the writer at the Huffington Post, I'll have to say that her pushups weren't very good. That she completed "25 push ups with perfect form," and had "the stamina to keep going" is quite an exaggeration! I can be very picky with these things; nothing against the lady herself. I appreciate her efforts to promote healthy eating and exercise. However, I don't want people to get the wrong idea about pushups. The contest starts @1:30 in the video.




We can see in the video that the First Lady takes a rather wide position, with her elbows slightly angled out from the start. In such a position, it is difficult to actually do a proper pushup. She does not go far down in the pushup either, never nearly getting her chest close to the floor. This poor form results in a very limited range of motion. Fewer muscle groups are engaged fully, if at all, reducing the effectiveness of the exercise, and more stress is placed on the bones involved. With everything in mind, Ellen had better form and probably could have won if she used Obama's form.

A pushup is a excellent full body exercise. It engages muscles from the legs to the shoulders and works the chest and triceps especially. For maximum strength gain and bone protection, do pushups with proper and consistent form. There's no shame in not being able to do a single pushup! Don't compromise by doing pushups with bad form. Do pushups on your knees or against a chair, railing, or table to build up your strength. Although Michelle Obama didn't do the pushups with the best form, many men and women cannot either.

Brilliant Talk and Animate on Changing Public Education

This video was presented in my college English class. Quite a fantastic talk on the public education paradigm- what has led to the formation of this model, what determines it, it's downfalls, and why it needs to be significantly modified. Although it does not delve deep into the complexities of the system, Sir Robinson expertly weaves together an overview of the paradigm (with a video to match it, credit to the RSA!). The speaker, Sir Ken Robinson, "is an internationally recognized leader in the development of education, creativity and innovation.  He is also one of the world’s leading speakers with a profound impact on audiences everywhere." Robinson has delivered speeches, worked with governments and organizations, taught at esteemed universities, and received numerous awards. You can see more of Sir Ken Robinson and his work on his website.
The video is about public education but the messages that are sent go far beyond the single topic. Conformity, economics, individuality, mindsets, and more!

My Preliminary Thoughts/Findings on SixPackShortcuts (Mike Chang)

 Lately, I've been seeing more and more of the Youtube channel sixpackshortcuts. Their channel is being promoted to great extents. I've seen it placed side by side with everything from football highlights to music videos. There are even advertisements on other websites, urging web surfers to see the fastest way to get six pack abs. So just what is the big deal with sixpackshortcuts and it's creator, Mike Chang?
Let's start off with the website itself, http://sixpackshortcuts.com/

Just what is sixpackshortcuts? Who is Mike Chang?

On the homepage, a video plays immediately with Mike Chang delivering a presentation of the sixpackshortcuts program. Mike claims to be a ISAA certified personal trainer. The basis of his invention is the after-burn effect. After-burn: The amount calories burned up to 48 hours after your workout. According to Chang, the program is designed to maximize after burn effect through weight training, high intensity cardio, and nutrition. (He claims to have learned how to get ripped abs from his personal trainer, "Zach", and personal research. He says that he has clients that pay him thousands of dollars for what he is giving you for free. He even goes on to say that he'll have to take down the video! Absolutely absurd.)

The 4 key variables he outlines are Resistance, Rest, Repetition, Intensity.

Sixpackshortcuts is split into 4 stages:

1. Making your metabolism more active and ready to make lean muscle.

2. Burn your belly fat.

3. Build up your core muscles.

4. Maintain physique.

Interestingly enough, the first testimonial in the sixpackshortcuts presentation is Dan Rose, who happens to work with sixpackshorts in at least one video, seen here. In that same video, Chang explains the "Top 3 Fat Loss SHORTCUTS". Before starting though, Rose opens by saying there are shortcuts to getting abs: working out, eating right, and "doing things in a smarter way to get results faster". However, ridiculously enough, the first "shortcut" Chang tells viewers is to "look leaner without actually being leaner". Obviously, that is not a fat loss shortcut. The second tip he gives us is "when you're doing your cardio, use your entire body instead of just half your body". This makes sense because you will burn more energy and lose fat. It's still a bit of a stretch to call it a shortcut. Some might call it common sense. The last fat loss "shortcut" Chang explains is to have back up plans, for both workouts and meals. Yes, having back up plans can certainly help you stay on track but frankly, it's a bit silly to call this one a shortcut.
A shortcut is:
n.

1. A more direct route than the customary one.

2. A means of saving time or effort.

The sixpackshortcuts system comes with his workout plans, eating system, and 30-day membership to Mike's Advanced Fitness Coaching Program (After the first month, there will be a recurring charge of $67 for five months if not cancelled within the trial period. Chang says members will get extra videos and the ability to email trainers/consultants.). The system is priced at a retail value of $491(I am not sure how this is calculated) but offered for $97 dollars. See it for yourself here: https://sixpackshortcuts.com/cart/

Conclusion:

In all honesty, what the sixpackshortcuts program gives you is decent. It appears to teach you how to lose fat without diet pills and ineffective training. However, a lot of the information they provide you is a bit common place if you are willing to do a little research yourself. It seems as though they use the term "shortcuts" as a marketing tool..although some of the advice they give are arguably shortcuts. The price tag of $97 is steep for me, especially when there are many free sources of information, such as Scooby's Workshop and arthlete.com. Also, high intensity workouts are not for everyone. Mike Chang stresses that the program consists of 30 minute workouts, 4 times a week, and that it is scientifically proven. It should be duly noted that his program is not scientifically proven, but the fact that high intensity workouts are proven to burn calories post-workout. Despite this, there are many ads that are displayed on Youtube that imply otherwise.

Note: The ad does not depict Mike Chang. Additionally, this ad says "Cambridge scientists"

Incredibly misleading, photoshopped without a doubt! Here it says "Scientists in China"!

Major discrepancy in the two bodies.

Follow up on Scooby's Workout

Hi everyone. There was a big hoopla yesterday when Scooby had technical difficulties with his Youtube stream. He said that he forgot to press "start broadcasting" but it's still odd considering many people were able to view it through embedded video. Not sure, I just hope it works out. I might think about putting future streams on my blog. Also, Scooby said that it will be at the same timeslot (starting 1pm EST, GMT -5:00) 2/4/11 for a chest workout again.
I was very much impressed by the number of people who did try to attend the live workout. There were thousands of people, from around 10 different countries. Definitely awesome. Go Scooby!
An aside: It was kind of fun for Scooby to call Synergy Complex the slime of the world or something like that. xD 

Source: http://scoobysworkshop.com/2012/01/28/problem-during-live-workout/

Live Workout with Scooby Werkstatt-Complete!

Alright! Today Scooby, a popular Youtuber who gives fitness, bodybuilding, and nutritional advice, is having a live broadcast on Youtube. He has over 148 million upload views and thousands of subscribers. The best thing about Scooby is that he has been bodybuilding for 30 years, yet he helps thousands of people for free! Yes, he is not a licensed professional but chances are he is even better than one based on his decades of experience, sound advice, success stories, and vast knowledge. You can see more of Scooby at his website and Youtube channel.

Scooby Werkstatt: "Workout with me! All you need to do this chest workout with my live is a set of dumbbells and a floor. The workout will be 5-10 min of warmup then 40-60 minutes of lifting. Appropriate for all ability levels except complete beginners. We will be doing exercises from here:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/chest-exercises/ "
EDIT: The feed is stopping and starting, I'm not sure why. I'm assuming it's Scooby's connection. Maybe it's just me. And credit to Scooby Werkstatt. THIS IS NOT ME DEPICTED IN THE VIDEO. Also, I do not know why the feed now says 2 hours 50 something minutes.  


Okay everyone the workout is officially over. Thanks to Scooby for understanding and I hope your back workout turns out much better!

 Here is the video feed of the live chest workout. It is scheduled for roughly 1pm EST-2pm EST.

British Teen Hospitalized After 15 Year McNugget "Addiction"

Last night, there were shocking news reports from U.K. publications The Sun and The Daily Mail . A seventeen-year old factory worker from Birmingham, England named Stacey Irvine was reportedly hospitalized after collapsing due to breathing complications. Doctors soon discovered that Ms. Irvine had nearly exclusively eaten McDonalds Chicken McNuggets since she was two years old. Stacey claims to have "never tasted fresh fruit or vegetables".



Because of her horrible diet, Irvine has anemia and vast nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms of anemia, a lack of healthy red blood cells, include dizziness and shortness of breath; this may be why Stacey collapsed.
The principle nutrients of chicken nuggets, the main component of all of Stacey Irvine's meals, are calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol. Here is a breakdown of the nutrition of 9-piece McNuggets according the McDonalds themselves:

Blog Refocused

Hello! I have decided to start blogging again under the new name The Synergy Complex http://synergycomplex.blogspot.com/

The focus now will be on nutrition, fitness, and self-development as the little description says. I've held a long-term interest in these areas and I'll now blog about them. Occasionally I will post about various other topics of interest.

Cheers to 2012 and may we all find success in our lives.