Latest Posts
Herbal Weight Loss Supplements: Getting Ripped or Ripped Off?
The popularity of herbal supplements is soaring. With the public’s growing distrust of the medical establishment, people are shying away from prescription and over the counter weight loss drugs, instead opting for the “natural, help yourself” approach. However, tip-toeing through a virtual herbal minefield can be confusing, if not downright intimidating without an earned doctorate in botany.
Permanent Fat Loss Principles: The “Secret” is No Secret
You trudge away on the treadmill and scrape by on seeds and sprouts, but the bathroom scale won’t budge. Self-proclaimed health “gurus” and hokey fitness gimmick infomercial hosts promise you can cull the kilos (or pare away the pounds) by exercising only three minutes a day. Arm yourself with these fat-trimming lifestyle tips and keep it off for life!
Ab Circle Pro Review-Short Version: Fat Marketing Claims Thin on Truth
My original Ab Circle Pro review went viral across the fitness industry. I received countless emails from health professionals praising me for taking the time to stand up against such abject nonsense which, to the trained eye, appears to be nothing more than a useless gimmick meant to turn a buck off unsuspecting consumers. Unfortunately, the article was extremely long so by popular demand I have crafted a point by point short version [...]
Exercise Guidelines for Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, and Hyperparathyroidism
Rationale for Exercise with Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease The thyroid and parathyroid glands are anatomically situated in the front aspect of the neck, but have different functions. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland near the voice box, which helps regulate the body’s metabolism. The parathyroid is attached to the back of the thyroid gland and produces parathyroid hormone that helps regulate calcium, phosphorus, [...]
Zaggora Hot Pants: Review of Bioceramic Anti-Cellulite Slimming Shorts
Zaggora Hotpants™ are the latest in a long line of slimming garments which purportedly “reduce the appearance of cellulite” and trim inches off your hips and thighs, with the effect further enhanced by wearing them during exercise. This sounds impressive, but is there any merit to these claims?
Are You a Health Snowflake? Accounting for Individual Health and Fitness Differences
You are an individual and have different exercise and dietary needs to the next person…but you’re not such a unique snowflake that the basics don’t apply. So there’s the conclusion up front and now for the meat in the middle. Like you, I enjoy reading articles and blogs about diet, exercise, behavioural psychology, and all things related. Some are ugly…
Tips For Safe Exercise After a Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
In my previous posts, I lightly touched on heart attacks and how the exercise “playing field” changes after you’ve had one. But I’d like to assure you that once you’ve had a heart attack, your life is NOT over. Pretty far from it. As an exercise physiologist, I’ve worked with a lot of patients who’ve had heart attacks and, with proper treatment and follow-up exercise therapy, they’ve gone on to live very active and productive lives.
The Placebo Effect Isn’t All in Your Head
I often joke that dietary supplements worked so much better before I actually understood much about evaluating scientific evidence and started reading the actual research rather than someone’s interpretation/spin on it. You could say I now miss out on the placebo effect much of the time, but it wasn’t always this way. Back when I was a student (the first time around), I spent what I could on the latest supplements. They did their job, at least enough to satisfy a skinny kid…
Exercise Won’t Make You Thin? Research and Reality
There is a lot of confusion out there about the role of exercise in managing weight and body fat. Ask researchers working in the area of obesity and weight control and they’ll tell you that most of the research shows that exercise alone does little to a person’s weight, and only modestly changes how much of that weight is fat and how much is everything else. Being a scientist, I’ve looked at the studies and I’d have to at least partly agree….
Are You a Yo-Yo Exerciser? Cut the String to Improve Your Health!
You’ve probably heard of yo-yo dieting (losing and regaining weight on crash diets) but what about YO-YO EXERCISING? If you’re the type to binge on exercise for a couple weeks only to fall off the wagon then get back on again, off again, on again, off again and so forth, then you’re probably a yo-yo exerciser. The problem is that these little setbacks can really suck the wind out of your sails and make you less likely to reach your health and fitness goals. Here are some tips to help you avoid the yo-yo exercise rollercoaster:
Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT)- Incidental Movement For Permanent Weight Loss
I know this is ironic coming from an exercise physiologist, but I think we need to effect a shift in our collective views on background activity and structured exercise. How pathetic are we to have arrived at a point in history where we have to pay money to go into an external box called a gym to do simulated activity that was previously innate, even required, for our day to day survival?
Sugar Alone Does Not Cause Obesity: In Defense of Dr. Joanna McMillan
Preface: I call your attention to the comments at the end of this blog post. Lots of healthy debate and discussion and worth a read! (An open letter to self-styled nutrition “expert” David Gillespie (Sweet Poison) and the alarmist brigade) It came to my attention today that a colleague of mine, nutrition scientist Dr. Joanna McMillan, was being attacked in various online forums [...]
Bill Sukala, PhD: G'Day Lloyd, That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day! Than...
Rapta: Dr Bula, You're inspirational and quite a sexy beast to boot! Goo...
Bill Sukala, PhD: Thanks for your comment, Bob. I think you hit the nail right on the h...
Bob: I've suscpeted this for awhile. I've had to dig through what...
Bill Sukala, PhD: Hi Nick, thanks for your comment. I couldn't agree more. I think it ...