Health Education

Myths, Assumptions, Nuances and Obesity

<span style="font-size: large;">I have been writing about health and wellness in one form or another for 13 years. During that time I have gone to graduate school twice.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My plan for the blog has always been to present information to the public that goes beyond the headlines.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My goal is to educate the reader in the hopes that he or she will take new science and recommendations for better health into consideration.   These recommendations include consuming a quality diet, getting sufficient exercise, limiting sedentary activity and maintaining a weight lean enough to prevent diseases that are associated with adiposity - or over fatness.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My understanding of research has improved over the years, especially the last few, but the science into the causes of obesity (adiposity) has been plagued with flaws.  Scholars far more experienced and critical than I, have begun to point out these flaws.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I tell you this because I am sensitive to the fact that I may have perpetuated false claims in my own blog or given too much credibility and attention to tenuous claims.  This exactly opposite my goal.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am speaking about diet quality and healthy weight.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It IS still about calories and the sources of those calories, but it is much more nuanced.  By nuanced, I mean that numerous factors are independently and interdependently related to health and weight.  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are many problems with the methods used in obesity research and that makes it hard to pull together evidence that can suggest a solution.  Science has taught us a lot. We now need to use more precise measurement methods (e.g. with dietary recall, and body fatness), be consistent with our definitions (what is obesity?) and have more open minds about what the causes could be (is it really just too many calories ?).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This was wonderfully explained by Herbert et al (2013) in a commentary published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.  The summary can be found <a href="http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(13)00265-6/abstract" target="_blank">here.</a>  They give good advice for improving research.  I will apply this advice in my career.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I will continue to talk about calories (food energy availability) and policies, but these are small parts of a very complex, multi -facted system.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Let me quote from the Herbert article.  I assure you that I believe every word in this paragraph.</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: large;">...obesity arises from the dynamic interplay of the external environment, inclusive of the social milieu, built environment and food energy availability, behavioral and development processes and a variety of genes and epigenetic effects that, in turn, control a myriad of metabolic systems and subsystems that regulate energy intake, energy expenditure and nutritional partitioning.   </span></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">Now I will do my best to restate this in simpler terms:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are many factors both inside and outside of our bodies that work together to create a condition where obesity is likely.  As one factor changes one or more others reacts and these changes and interactions are continual (dynamic). The external environment can make it easy or hard to be physically active (built environment) and easy or hard to eat too many calories (especially nutrient poor ones) (i.e., food energy availability). These two factors are also impacted by social cues (preferences, norms, advertising, ' peer pressure' - i.e., the social milieu).  Behavior is what we do - exercise or not, choose certain foods or drinks, and development is the body changing over time.  Genes, or heredity, are usually activated by some interaction with the outside environment (epigenetics) and together impact how the food a person eats is processed by the body - whether or not one gets high cholesterol, or diabetes for example.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">That is a lot to process</span><span style="font-size: large;">.  The simplest truth is that one should not eat too much, and a very complex set of circumstances determines if one eats too much and whether their eating too much causes a bad outcome (illness).   I would point out one last thing from the article.. the authors say that it is social and environmental factors, NOT genes, that have had the greatest influence.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So here are 3 interesting links about calories.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809004578635783927655580.html?mod=e2fb" target="_blank">Link 1</a> This is a story about peoples desire for calorie information and how some restaurants are starting to provide lower calorie meals.  It actually summarizes a lot of the research I have used in my literature reviews and in this blog.  I love how it mentions Dardens Restaurants use of nutritionists and calorie counts when creating new entrees.  Also, it points out some REALLY high calorie entrees ~ over 2000.  Oh one problem, the writer keeps referring to the national menu law as a proposed law.  The law is a law.  It has been passed.  The rule - how to follow the law, is being proposed. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://projects.wsj.com/quiz/?uid=CALCOUNT&type=flat#mod=e2fb" target="_blank">Link 2</a>  This links to a 3 item quiz on which item has the lowest amount of calories... I scored 100.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://m.columbian.com/news/2013/jul/29/fruit-juices-and-smoothies-dangerous-for-your-heal/" target="_blank">Link 3</a>  This links to a story about smoothies and juices, both of which I personally avoid at all costs.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>

Myths, Assumptions, Nuances and Obesity

I have been writing about health and wellness in one form or another for 13 years. During that time I have gone to graduate school twice. ...

7:35 PM

Pre-School Physical Education Session Information

Pre-School Physical Education Session Information

Columbiana Preschool Activity Session Playlist The following songs were used during Wendy Cowan's presentation Tuesday morning. They we...

3:26 PM

What Is WHEP?

<h2></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAUDN3uuZ2Shgt5ZRgfS1M3WR7qgaDIlOkTBpicspb_1pYiwQmEzFlpdqd4v7cs9CQVLst9h6BBJY3eZOEQPq3kZkezFXx3F4xIRmyWmxnK2_agUP7x8AwHXX80UTRgUbxy6piA6Ybe8/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAUDN3uuZ2Shgt5ZRgfS1M3WR7qgaDIlOkTBpicspb_1pYiwQmEzFlpdqd4v7cs9CQVLst9h6BBJY3eZOEQPq3kZkezFXx3F4xIRmyWmxnK2_agUP7x8AwHXX80UTRgUbxy6piA6Ybe8/s200/DSC_0064.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOViD83Uzc0QBS8p-HMeVkPCwIMjYTO9iWUPKWY_dHxX-4uLCaIJ3X_q4n64Yye9inM7Oo3A1bIzboqoWP-xuRmLw1hjlaqGi1lkvCxrk3I69ibeBU3Y6rVYlp52Ik3UV0QPrv6vwe2Oo/s1600/DSCN0394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOViD83Uzc0QBS8p-HMeVkPCwIMjYTO9iWUPKWY_dHxX-4uLCaIJ3X_q4n64Yye9inM7Oo3A1bIzboqoWP-xuRmLw1hjlaqGi1lkvCxrk3I69ibeBU3Y6rVYlp52Ik3UV0QPrv6vwe2Oo/s200/DSCN0394.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The school year will soon be back in full swing and some of you may be new to this blog and wondering…What is the Women’s Health Education Program (WHEP)?  Nationally recognized, WHEP introduces students to women’s health and gender issues that are pertinent to their medical education. The program seeks to improve gender competency of medical students and have a positive impact on the community through research, education and outreach.  There are options for involvement at almost every stage of your medical school career here at Drexel and all specialties are welcome! Some options include:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">-<a href="http://www.drexelmed.edu/Portals/0/whep/Womens%20Health%20Scholar%20Requirements%202011%20rev%20kk.pdf">Women’sHealth Scholar’s program. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">-<a href="http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/OtherPrograms/WomensHealthEducationProgram/Students/SeminarSeriesSchedule.aspx">Women’sHealth Seminar Series / Seminar Series electives. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">-<a href="http://philadelphiaujima.servauntgroup.com/">Workwith Philadelphia Ujima (Health education, community outreach and research) </a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">-</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/OtherPrograms/WomensHealthEducationProgram/Students/PathwayDescription.aspx">Women’sHealth Pathway</a> and Electives for 4</span><sup style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> year students.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegQNHTn1ZlFc_ZSjiEFi-WrnjbKkY96UtIbjN1ziomIBcDD6oG-rwQZOBXy-4fyo7lrTiot3QJkFp7lg6esJk4YRMBvCMtjWUXAAuMtH0eoQrqnthUlu9V9bZ98u-_4kN3MpB0mEbpxs/s1600/pathwayers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegQNHTn1ZlFc_ZSjiEFi-WrnjbKkY96UtIbjN1ziomIBcDD6oG-rwQZOBXy-4fyo7lrTiot3QJkFp7lg6esJk4YRMBvCMtjWUXAAuMtH0eoQrqnthUlu9V9bZ98u-_4kN3MpB0mEbpxs/s200/pathwayers.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Get Involved! All of these are opportunities to diversify your experience as medical students and provide valuable information that can be applied in your everyday life. Remember: It is not just for Ob/Gyn students and women! There is something for everyone at WHEP! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">To learn more about the program clink on the link below:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/OtherPrograms/WomensHealthEducationProgram.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/OtherPrograms/WomensHealthEducationProgram.aspx</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For more information, please contact Simuelle Myers, our academic coordinator at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="mailto:simuelle.myers@drexelmed.edu">simuelle.myers@drexelmed.edu</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

What Is WHEP?

The school year will soon be back in full swing and some of you may be new to this blog and wondering…What is the Women’s Health Education P...

7:13 AM

Do calorie recommendations make a difference in calories purchased?

<br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br />  <span style="font-size: large;"> I want to mention a few things from the study I cite below.  Here is the most important one.  A conclusion statement in the summary is misleading.  The statement, "Posting calorie benchmarks had no direct impact..." implies that the benchmarks were posted on the menu or menu board, but they were not. The study did not assess the effect of posting daily or per meal calorie recommendations (i.e., the benchmarks) ON A MENU.  It tested the effect of handing someone a piece of paper with this information on it as they walked into a restaurant.  That is a huge difference.  The researchers do not try to say otherwise.  It is just the one sentence that is wrong.  Unfortunately, a lot of people will not read the study to find out the difference.  In addition, it is that conclusion that most of the popular press headlines are touting.</span><br /><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   This was not a study on whether or not menu labeling works.  The study tested the effect of telling someone how many calories they might need in a day and the effect of telling them how many calories they might need in a meal.  In other words, would  people given either piece of information purchase a lower amount of calories than people not given any information.  (This was tested in a situation where calories were listed on menus and in a situation where calories were not listed on menus. That condition did not make a difference.)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">    The slips of paper they handed the customers did not seem to help.  But I caution you not to conclude that the information isn't helpful.  There is a big difference in a menu board disclosure and a piece of paper someone hands you.  Still, it fuels my argument for something more powerful and less mathy... traffic light labeling. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   There was something else I found interesting in this study.  The researchers asked the customers how many calories a doctor or nutritionist would recommend that they consume in a day.   Both men and women substantially UNDER estimated their own caloric needs, by 200 or 300 calories.. and YET, they ordered enough to far exceed their own estimated daily number.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">E.g.,  a person who thought they needed 1100 calories for a whole day ordered 900 calories for their lunch.  Again, too much math.  Too much thinking at the point of purchase when other factors, like taste, cost, time, etc are more important.  (isn't it crazy that people think they need 1300 to 1600 hundred calories when our packages refer to a 2000 calorie diet AND people tend to actually consume 2000 or more a day  - more than most people need)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   STILL, the menu item calorie information should be available to every one every where.  Consumers have the right to know what they are eating. However, the best chance for changing the number of calories purchased may come when the restaurants start revising their recipes and the calories AVAILABLE to us become fewer.  Traffic light labels and lower calorie meals.. that's the ticket :)<br /><br /></span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"> (Also, note - the people in this study were all eating at McDonalds.. there might be something about McDonalds customers that is different than other restaurant customers)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div></div><span style="font-size: large;">Article cited:</span><br /><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 5px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Downs, J. S., Wisdom, J., Wansink, B., & Loewenstein, G. (2013). Supplementing menu labeling with calorie recommendations to test for facilitation effects. <i>American Journal of Public Health</i>, e1-e6. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301218</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 5px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.5in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301218" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Summary</span></a></div></div></div>

Do calorie recommendations make a difference in calories purchased?

I want to mention a few things from the study I cite below. Here is the most important one. A conclusion statement in the summary is mi...

8:35 PM

Everything Is Bigger In Texas ... Even Abortion Restrictions

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The state of Texas recently passed a new bill that enforces some of the most restrictive policies on abortion in the entire country. You may have heard about it, but as a refresher:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTp2wsPyvstooLPIgyVtf64eRGmFnercOgDEqiUI26JMUvFflgIQtzvpoG8EgM7jFD1jPPhHVNiHUUv9zj3MPgFPiJkDs3Mlyx8ZbjhK4gvkEKfR23lsgRo8-9kuIVD7r8Brz2cC1j24/s1600/worried+sad+pregnancy+test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTp2wsPyvstooLPIgyVtf64eRGmFnercOgDEqiUI26JMUvFflgIQtzvpoG8EgM7jFD1jPPhHVNiHUUv9zj3MPgFPiJkDs3Mlyx8ZbjhK4gvkEKfR23lsgRo8-9kuIVD7r8Brz2cC1j24/s200/worried+sad+pregnancy+test.jpg" width="133" /></a>-Prevents women from having an abortion after 20 weeks of gestation.<br />-Raises the standards for abortion clinics to a the level of a surgical center.<br />-Doctors in abortion centers must have privileges to admit patients in a hospital that is at maximum 30 miles away.<br /><br /><div><div>There have been mixed feelings about the bill. Many, are outraged and feel that it is overstepping of boundaries as far as the state government. Supporters, including Texas governor Rick Perry feel that this bill is protecting "the culture of Texas". Regardless of  sides,  the bill is going to result in a lot of changes Texas that raise significant public health concerns. Only 5 abortion centers meet with current standards and all of these centers are located in metropolitan areas. Being such a large state, women in more rural areas may increasingly have problems reaching these centers, and may even need to consider going out of state.  In addition, these restrictions can cause problems for high risk pregnancies which are often diagnosed until around the 20 week mark. 88% of abortions take place during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Only about 1.5 take place after 21 weeks (Guttmacher Institute 2011).<br /><br />Luckily, I was able to speak with a DUCOM student from Texas to get their options. In short, they said they were not surprised this bill was passed, since Texas is such a conservative state. As a future physician, they feel that regardless of your stance on abortion it is important to listen to your patient and help them to decide which reproductive options are best for them. They also brought up another good point. Almost half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Maybe <i>that's</i> the public health issue we should really be focusing on.<br /><br />What are <i>your</i> thoughts?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/us/perry-signs-texas-abortion-restrictions-into-law.html?_r=0">Click here to read the New York times article</a><br /><br /><u>More info and statistics on unplanned pregancy and abortion</u>:<br /><a href="http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html">Abortion Facts from the Guttmacher Institute</a><br /><a href="http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-Unintended-Pregnancy-US.html">Unplanned Pregnancy Facts from the Guttmacher Institute</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div></div>

Everything Is Bigger In Texas ... Even Abortion Restrictions

The state of Texas recently passed a new bill that enforces some of the most restrictive policies on abortion in the entire country. You may...

8:57 AM

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7:42 AM

Fat in food vs Fat on your body

<span style="font-size: large;">    I was frustrated by the research study on M&Ms. I was frustrated because it is 2013 and I thought we had learned that low fat is not the answer to our collective weight problem.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Studies that continue to focus on promoting low fat choices add to the confusion.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As someone who has expertise in public health nutrition, health education and health promotion, I must try to clear this up. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Fat in food does not equal fat on your body.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Too many calories from any source does. When a person regularly consumes more calories than their body needs, the extra is stored as body fat.  (Note: Over indulging every weekend is regularly consuming too much.)  There are ways to increase your intake to build lean body mass but that is not the focus here.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">YES it is true that there are more calories in a gram of fat than there are in a gram of carbohydrate, protein or alcohol.   (9,4,4,7)  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">YES it is true that some foods are more nutritious than other foods.  It is recommended that we fill our plates with nutrient dense, not energy dense, foods </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    Foods that are especially important are complex carbohydrates (vegetables and many fruits), whole grains and so called 'healthy' oils or fats (like those in olive oils and salmon).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Complex carbohydrates contain phytochemicals, flavinoids, and antioxidants.  These substances have been associated with reduced risk of many chronic diseases.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And YES it is true that refined or simple carbs, like sugar, white flour (rice, pasta, bread) baked goods, sugary or starchy fruits with little fiber, and <u>all sugar sweetened beverages</u> have more calories than they do nutrients.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">AND Yes, it is true that <i>some</i> sources of fat just like some sources of carbs are believed to be harmful. </span><span style="font-size: large;">(e.g., red and processed meats are associated with colon cancer).</span><br />   <span style="font-size: large;">The reason some foods are calorically (energy) dense is because they are full of sugar or fried in grease.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   Too many calories from either  = fat storage. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">********************</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">    And because its politically palatable to promote, physical activity as a solution to the country's obesity 'problem,'  I have to address that too.  Initiatives to build more parks and alert people to "take the stairs" are only going to work (for weight control) if two things happen.  TWO things.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">1) people actually start using the stairs and parks, and</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">2) they stop eating too much</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It does not matter how many stairs a person climbs (Mayor Bloomberg), if he or she eats more calories than needed - weight loss will not occur if 'we' keep eating too much.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">There are people (fewer than the drug/genetic companies would have us think) who fall outside these generalities.  In other words, some people do not gain weight no matter how much they eat and others do not lose weight not matter how much they restrict.  These are very unusual people and I suspect you are not one of them. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a dietitian who can give individual diet advice.   I share information based on research and public health recommendations.</span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>

Fat in food vs Fat on your body

I was frustrated by the research study on M&Ms. I was frustrated because it is 2013 and I thought we had learned that low fat is not...

7:53 PM

The Painting Project

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>As part of the upcoming project of painting the houses of beneficiaries of Hauz Khas Village, Dr. Josephine and Lenny Mathew met the Ambassador of Colombia, His Excellency Juan Alfredo Pinto, at the Embassy of Colombia in New Delhi.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>The project will be executed in September from 7th to 15th.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Volunteers and friends of FHE may please keep their schedules free during the two weekends - 7, 8, 14 & 15 Sep.- so as to join the team from the Embassy of Colombia in painting.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>It's going to be FUN!!!</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g1bXcyGdgkl3wY-y0bu3NAbQBMseX-A6jM6K1kC_olSc3Knzp7Zl-atYjX73dQRCpZumztDn24a7s4Gn0tyovmxMsGBtn7fNATKgD6KNocYLru6wuGHCcdgAkTkCMuapkOI3XCLn3pr7/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g1bXcyGdgkl3wY-y0bu3NAbQBMseX-A6jM6K1kC_olSc3Knzp7Zl-atYjX73dQRCpZumztDn24a7s4Gn0tyovmxMsGBtn7fNATKgD6KNocYLru6wuGHCcdgAkTkCMuapkOI3XCLn3pr7/s640/DSC_0030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Dr. Josephine, </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">His Excellency Juan Alfredo Pinto</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> and Lenny Mathew</span></span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

The Painting Project

As part of the upcoming project of painting the houses of beneficiaries of Hauz Khas Village, Dr. Josephine and Lenny Mathew met the Ambassa...

3:13 AM

M&Ms: Labels, Calorie Estimates, and Calories Eaten

<span style="font-size: large;">   This month, researchers Ebneter et al published the results of a study that explored 4 outcomes related to labeling and calorie disclosure.  I am only going to tell you about 2 of the outcomes. One is the amount of calories consumed and the other is the amount of calories the people 'guessed' were in a serving size.  Outcomes 3 and 4 are not a research interest of mine.  For your information, they were 'taste perception' and 'perception of healthiness.'</span><div><span style="font-size: large;">   The study was an experiment that took place outside of a natural setting.  The people involved in the study were all undergraduate female college students attending a Hawaiian university.  I tell you this so you can consider how much you are like the people who were in the study.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   For the experiment, the researchers placed the women in one of 4 rooms.  Each room had a bowl of uniquely colored M&Ms.  The women were told that they were taking part in a taste test.  A card was set next to each bowl of M&Ms. One card said Low Fat M&Ms and nothing more.  One card said Low Fat M&Ms and one serving (~55 pieces) has 240 calories.  A third card said Regular M&Ms and nothing more and the last card said Regular M&Ms and gave the same calorie information.  (There was no actual difference in the M&Ms).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   The researchers weighed the bowl before and after each of the 175 women went into a room (one woman at a time per room). They gave the women 15 minutes to do the taste test and then removed the items. When the items were gone, the researchers asked the women to estimate the number of calories in a serving of the M&Ms they had tasted. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   Here is what they learned. (NOTE: the differences might have been by chance alone, i.e., there was not a statistically significant difference between the numbers).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   People with a low fat label ate <i>more</i> calories than those in the regular label group. People without a calorie label in the low fat condition guessed the calories per serving lower than 240.  People without a calorie label in the regular label condition guessed the calories too high (more than 240).</span><div><span style="font-size: large;">   I will let you think about that.  My concern is the focus on high and low fat when the problem (in general) is consuming too many calories.  I am especially concerned that people mistakenly think low fat is low calorie AND that people do not know how many calories is low or high.  I believe that this study doesn't support the use of low fat labels as much as it supports the use of a traffic light label.  With a traffic light label we can put a big red circle around the fat grams <i>and</i> the calories.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">    Here is a nutrition facts panel for a bag of M&Ms - I don't think they make 'low fat' ones.  M&Ms are high in fat - but have 3 times as much sugar as fat!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">   There are several labels out there, but according to Mars, the maker of M&Ms, a package this size has 240 calories, 10 grams of fat and 30 grams of sugar.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-wDtbCwGbZoKnnq5M6xS2Op9OMRFweUgVLTHlCyuIl29Aoi5v1FuWmocZyF3l_XBilXW7sGR6S22zIh4nczPoppkYCa-vvA3dykPzZPqAwIiUzSD7b6yXYT-Vl8wqkhYdq0hrsTnssX/s1600/M&Ms.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM-wDtbCwGbZoKnnq5M6xS2Op9OMRFweUgVLTHlCyuIl29Aoi5v1FuWmocZyF3l_XBilXW7sGR6S22zIh4nczPoppkYCa-vvA3dykPzZPqAwIiUzSD7b6yXYT-Vl8wqkhYdq0hrsTnssX/s1600/M&Ms.JPG" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the study citation.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -48px;">Ebneter, D. S., Latner, J. D., & Nigg, C. R. (2013). Is less always more? The effects of low-fat labeling and caloric information on food intake, calorie estimates, taste preference, and health attributions. </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -48px;">Appetite, 68</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: -48px;">(0), 92-97. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.04.023</span></div></div></div>

M&Ms: Labels, Calorie Estimates, and Calories Eaten

This month, researchers Ebneter et al published the results of a study that explored 4 outcomes related to labeling and calorie disclosur...

7:32 PM

Reveal Gamesmanship and Build Sportsmanship

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Do sports build character or reveal it?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Maybe you are tempted to repeat the witty Coach Woodenism: "Sports do not build character. They reveal it." Certainly pressure situations in games will undoubtedly reveal something about what a player is “made of.” Yet within a singular sport there often are multiple situations in which a player can respond with forthright, admirable, and upstanding behavior, or NOT.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Actions like words can be taken out of context. For instance it is not a stretch of the imagination that in today’s culture one may gain RESPECT by being slam dunk “in-your-face” disrespectful towards a competitor. Now when reputations collide with character some opportunity for improvement reveals itself. To restore character is difficult because its reward of feeling good about doing the right thing is not always reflected on the scoreboard or supported by your peers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The rewards for building character however are about more than a feeling. It is about gaining a deeper perspective in life, a sharper mind and body. It may lead you to understand how rules can actually help you and your co-participants excel. Kids these days are specializing in sport much earlier in their lives. And it seems the action of the children is taken out of context when parents exhibit and model poor sportsmanship as spectators. Give them the time and space to build their own character. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a related <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Sportsmanship-Vs-Gamesmanship&id=7860316">article </a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I mention the need for more explicit character development in physical education. The main point is a character building program involves a process that must be explicitly planned and not taken for granted. It is not mere coincidence that rules for sportsmanship at high school athletic events in New Jersey were founded on a law enacted to counter harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) behavior in public schools. No wonder then that education critics such as Alfie Kohn have declared competition among students inherently bad since they unavoidably lead to open aggression, hostility and prejudice as an outcome of the set-up of contests.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jBbc4fjyWGoQZDyUkLvPQAGz_NVOzuiLv1Bq6_N7p7vnQzkuS80uhkrqmVxq0Rf8zrrGuXaT8TzNx2J369sxqSfimJx495WneRIRIVM4PPVsUqQRM1xDASacvsRlSwffISv02_lOcyjI/s1600/Kidsbridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jBbc4fjyWGoQZDyUkLvPQAGz_NVOzuiLv1Bq6_N7p7vnQzkuS80uhkrqmVxq0Rf8zrrGuXaT8TzNx2J369sxqSfimJx495WneRIRIVM4PPVsUqQRM1xDASacvsRlSwffISv02_lOcyjI/s320/Kidsbridge.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum at The College of New Jersey</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">With regard to anti-bullying and anti-prejudice efforts I was fortunate enough to work one summer at <a href="http://kidsbridgemuseum.org/">Kidsbridge ToleranceMuseum</a> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">which is only youth-oriented tolerance museum in the United States. Kidsbridge purchased the Chicago Children 's Museum 's "Face to Face: Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination" in 2006 and moved it to the campus of TCNJ in Ewing, NJ. The ideas of having children encounter hateful and prejudicial language they may not otherwise know in order to instruct and enable them to prevent discriminatory behavior initially met with some criticism. But a lot has changed since the exhibits opening …namely a requirement of school districts in NJ to track incidents of HIB.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Founder and Executive Director of Kidsbridge, Lynne Azarchi, is a leading advocate for anti-bullying, self-esteem building, personal empowerment, character education and diversity appreciation. The Museum's elementary and middle school programs are evidence-based. The higher docent-to-student ratio ensures that experiential learning at Kidsbridge is much more effective than large and perhaps impersonal assembly programs typically administered at schools.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">At Kidsbridge small groups of students rotate from station to station. Stations may include Kid heroes, power chargers, school bus, disabilities, religion and a puppet skit/show. TCNJ teaching majors in health and exercise science may volunteer to guide a physical activity station. Given the criticism from Alfie Kohn regarding competition mentioned above students were encouraged to do more collaborative and cooperative activities (e.g. line dancing).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Over the summer I was afforded the opportunity to put together some <a href="http://antane.blogspot.com/p/mini-lessons.html">mini-lessons</a> in which I incorporated some ideas from <a href="http://www.pa.org/">Project Adventure</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">An important part of the lessons was the debriefings in which students could think critically about their performance and how it may have connected to the other Kidsbridge stations.</span><br />  <div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As I reflect upon the mini-lessons at Kidbridge I remember more than a good feeling about providing a few opportunities for children to work together. Sure they even had some fun with the deck ring relay which involved a little playful competition. Clearly there are competitive games still used in many PE classes that allow open hostility toward others mainly as a result of their set-up (i.e. Dodgeball). It is important in PE to address the mental set-up of activities in PE as well. Get students to talk about sporty vs. gamey behavior and how it may affect more than their feelings. Empower them to think critically by having them encounter examples of gamesmanship and to stand up against it with acts of sportsmanship. Game on!<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Reveal Gamesmanship and Build Sportsmanship

Do sports build character or reveal it? Maybe you are tempted to repeat the witty Coach Woodenism: "Sports do not build character. They...

7:48 AM

A BIG THANKS TO OUR DONORS :)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">We would like to thank</span></span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">1. MR. DEEPAK PANDEY (from New Delhi)</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">2. MS. JANE DAS K (from Birmingham)</span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">MR. ROHIT DHAWAN (from BHEL, Hardwar)</span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">MR. SUSHANT KUMAR SINHA (from Chittaurgarh)</span></b></span><br /><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">MS. POOJA SINGH (from Delhi)</span></b></span><br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">6. <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">MR. HIMANSHU CHAUDHARY (from New Delhi)</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">7. An outstanding volunteer of FHE (from New Delhi)</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">8. MS. JOYCE KORAH (from Texas)</span></span></span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">for making generous donations towards FHE. Thank you for helping sustain the smile on the faces of these girls.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">We will remember you in our prayers. God bless.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi601aYj-XD3kT47H2MOBOowQiFkFPUQgenIuzWdwu0aFDNZqHGrRJTYJ0JsKEHIzn9EL8LyDdB7PdkncPMg-sm00ZLhyphenhyphenBrZvkbkvIyDORbd5K0S7S8j9IuqpnaRPHdmTVZ7IhQoqB8Jqkc/s1600/251030_710546092293137_696926268_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi601aYj-XD3kT47H2MOBOowQiFkFPUQgenIuzWdwu0aFDNZqHGrRJTYJ0JsKEHIzn9EL8LyDdB7PdkncPMg-sm00ZLhyphenhyphenBrZvkbkvIyDORbd5K0S7S8j9IuqpnaRPHdmTVZ7IhQoqB8Jqkc/s640/251030_710546092293137_696926268_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>

A BIG THANKS TO OUR DONORS :)

We would like to thank 1. MR. DEEPAK PANDEY (from New Delhi) 2. MS. JANE DAS K (from Birmingham) 3. MR. ROHIT DHAWAN (from BHEL, Hardwar) 4...

10:45 AM

A new teacher for Muskaan - Sofia Hoff from Sweden

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkghpE9wyBW8N4W0r63qGWVCs_YAqfHv5uA06nBwW7yoFOJ6ALyBGQQbU-raqBBraDizbGG9SqacFx73F18ohnKZ1fIU5-IF9ucJ_4iqJYxZGP4h8-ost7HOhG2kLXtaU7lSJfYiCVcGX/s1600/267202_710540905626989_1658936239_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkghpE9wyBW8N4W0r63qGWVCs_YAqfHv5uA06nBwW7yoFOJ6ALyBGQQbU-raqBBraDizbGG9SqacFx73F18ohnKZ1fIU5-IF9ucJ_4iqJYxZGP4h8-ost7HOhG2kLXtaU7lSJfYiCVcGX/s640/267202_710540905626989_1658936239_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sofia Hoff with the girls</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1fQSdhIKBlXynOtK0wPLDRUOJAWt3f5CD1cgsUdJr8r72YKPG5VqE5xD4quhgtAOfNddhGI7cGCWrkm8WXvOf5Oq9sNorEnL08igIR_AZWSS7pZEQXw5sNgsmbhOavgWz4LyRbuvxjdY/s1600/943580_710540912293655_99220786_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1fQSdhIKBlXynOtK0wPLDRUOJAWt3f5CD1cgsUdJr8r72YKPG5VqE5xD4quhgtAOfNddhGI7cGCWrkm8WXvOf5Oq9sNorEnL08igIR_AZWSS7pZEQXw5sNgsmbhOavgWz4LyRbuvxjdY/s640/943580_710540912293655_99220786_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>

A new teacher for Muskaan - Sofia Hoff from Sweden

Sofia Hoff with the girls

10:35 AM

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are grateful for the continual help of Feeling India for FHE.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6eKZxwyL3aEy0UdRh7v68ZGYhR88jv3gh47zaxP2OdQYpZ1hC_o5kO-PJSP0zNJ2RHMz3GVy0gO1gAJNP5iY0JCi0ZSeWXN3qfaAw8bb8j5EBqxug9Vyi4Moi1v7YEC363XmPhQiQ4Ij/s1600/972223_710540638960349_1096289763_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6eKZxwyL3aEy0UdRh7v68ZGYhR88jv3gh47zaxP2OdQYpZ1hC_o5kO-PJSP0zNJ2RHMz3GVy0gO1gAJNP5iY0JCi0ZSeWXN3qfaAw8bb8j5EBqxug9Vyi4Moi1v7YEC363XmPhQiQ4Ij/s400/972223_710540638960349_1096289763_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>Emily Turner and Sophie Akselrod from Feeling India at Muskaan</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>

We are grateful for the continual help of Feeling India for FHE. Emily Turner and Sophie Akselrod from Feeling India at Muskaan

10:32 AM

A joint venture of Embassy of Columbia in New Delhi and FHE

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The <u>Honourable Consul of Columbia</u> visited the <u>Muskaan Center</u>. They wish to teach the villagers new techniques to paint their houses. The project will be in the month of September.</b></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLy6tw3kBonTvs4M5D1xnJqaBCNCQffDrvLLcBEHAODVQXXgGlgb0d2RoCs4K0eysPoPY_Mq_QVSJ-nWlvEELHurc95gCOE4eZNPhpgZRcNapBQGyYgTBv4y3N8W5O3gLrR1rqkO7Ddef/s1600/1011006_705704609443952_130907597_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLy6tw3kBonTvs4M5D1xnJqaBCNCQffDrvLLcBEHAODVQXXgGlgb0d2RoCs4K0eysPoPY_Mq_QVSJ-nWlvEELHurc95gCOE4eZNPhpgZRcNapBQGyYgTBv4y3N8W5O3gLrR1rqkO7Ddef/s640/1011006_705704609443952_130907597_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>The meeting of Mr. Piero with the landlords</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b></b></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b></b></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ohUmVhz94q5USZvyf9WTW6UGAOUIreVcxzA27LeaU7Y0DcZ-n5zZTSF-yDgSw9IQRiFHIWQSIIs8hFOJvgzfDEhWduOATRnakUV8p_iBm7GdBMtZ3alOcLTgPopj0HmqAEIsQZ9p7Rmh/s1600/972018_705704582777288_526489966_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ohUmVhz94q5USZvyf9WTW6UGAOUIreVcxzA27LeaU7Y0DcZ-n5zZTSF-yDgSw9IQRiFHIWQSIIs8hFOJvgzfDEhWduOATRnakUV8p_iBm7GdBMtZ3alOcLTgPopj0HmqAEIsQZ9p7Rmh/s640/972018_705704582777288_526489966_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>Mr. Piero showing how the houses will look after the painting</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>

A joint venture of Embassy of Columbia in New Delhi and FHE

The Honourable Consul of Columbia visited the Muskaan Center . They wish to teach the villagers new techniques to paint their houses. The p...

10:20 AM

Medical Camp sponsored by Ritika Sachdev

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vaccinations of Typhoid were given to the Muskaan children and their families. Thank you Ritika for your good heart :)</span></b></span><br /><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh41pt4MKAu9kK7zxcCIWUgSnkNDMYjRbuNZojDdUzXn9LzPh6fHPqmWmQBkTwK8yy5ZS7tqBTQmG6qP0FYMskJHvOMZbhnFs1aQ8szmgEO8rqmeHqMqvKXrBJxy3zm_HguAzeCWTdnPu/s1600/485427_705700402777706_1483866303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAh41pt4MKAu9kK7zxcCIWUgSnkNDMYjRbuNZojDdUzXn9LzPh6fHPqmWmQBkTwK8yy5ZS7tqBTQmG6qP0FYMskJHvOMZbhnFs1aQ8szmgEO8rqmeHqMqvKXrBJxy3zm_HguAzeCWTdnPu/s640/485427_705700402777706_1483866303_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;">Mothers of the children with Dr </span>Michelle Mallika Kujur</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp5COn1RTSqJ_rydvJFlH2McS8u3G6N6o43xDmHwrrQCknr8X5uyiTm5eCS9HT7S1jz1gVxieBFmGQh3OY6sTGr8DOYf6d0nkrboMk8lqm6HRQSQWQd_VLeOxvVxAEBo1EBl10z9RMkDl/s1600/947214_705700439444369_1637021911_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp5COn1RTSqJ_rydvJFlH2McS8u3G6N6o43xDmHwrrQCknr8X5uyiTm5eCS9HT7S1jz1gVxieBFmGQh3OY6sTGr8DOYf6d0nkrboMk8lqm6HRQSQWQd_VLeOxvVxAEBo1EBl10z9RMkDl/s640/947214_705700439444369_1637021911_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Medicines</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wlD5ru7VUbfMkLgu0Eg25QwuwmrZR0LI8T4n7r5_drokAikjq-BcXZKcJIg9e4pR5jYrkKXVvM8qp4cSOYie-gdnwXaixHpDhNtXqCfOU89xo9lxm9apVOAHxTzDy7jaMVyJPLYRVuzy/s1600/992774_705700472777699_838416181_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wlD5ru7VUbfMkLgu0Eg25QwuwmrZR0LI8T4n7r5_drokAikjq-BcXZKcJIg9e4pR5jYrkKXVvM8qp4cSOYie-gdnwXaixHpDhNtXqCfOU89xo9lxm9apVOAHxTzDy7jaMVyJPLYRVuzy/s640/992774_705700472777699_838416181_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hvinQe_bgviVLAaabwV02FPGZ13x4fh1hpB8wvSCNFunqYGZUw7Xo13OUHxX_Am44g7MDUWMO6c7bN6Uf5Jnnx5RWNLUnLGtrKej0H34iwf4QFyZHYL_LHttvFjQtU4VchS79tJi41FU/s1600/1005895_705700512777695_1071226361_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hvinQe_bgviVLAaabwV02FPGZ13x4fh1hpB8wvSCNFunqYGZUw7Xo13OUHxX_Am44g7MDUWMO6c7bN6Uf5Jnnx5RWNLUnLGtrKej0H34iwf4QFyZHYL_LHttvFjQtU4VchS79tJi41FU/s640/1005895_705700512777695_1071226361_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYITYD9TnazanzyGpxEsxMMph76vpgKZjliz12NPyWY4vO8qUuywti2j4KCdnEnJhJyGnEmhywPG1Vcxmixs6tfWN0nnzhgEwCBsixfsJixa91dqlVwwbGjIqXcEso_qbzWCytAfSKR1mo/s1600/1005916_705700459444367_1239548987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYITYD9TnazanzyGpxEsxMMph76vpgKZjliz12NPyWY4vO8qUuywti2j4KCdnEnJhJyGnEmhywPG1Vcxmixs6tfWN0nnzhgEwCBsixfsJixa91dqlVwwbGjIqXcEso_qbzWCytAfSKR1mo/s640/1005916_705700459444367_1239548987_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"><b>Muskaan girl getting vaccinated</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>

Medical Camp sponsored by Ritika Sachdev

Vaccinations of Typhoid were given to the Muskaan children and their families. Thank you Ritika for your good heart :) Mothers of the childr...

10:12 AM

New faces in FHE from Jesus & Mary College, Delhi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="fbPhotoCaptionText" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jeny Sam</b> and <b>Sakshi</b> of JMC are spending their vacations in </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">Muskaan teaching children</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUrWk5m3QgTkyCTHS8DAPIn2S4T8G7MogwAv92KEealEIEa1GEcTBsu8jCXvxtzblt6q-fmZY6Vdc1wzOb4aKz-pdcrMli-cQzT-m16NvhxqNTKoEy4WzFZssX374nAeEpTe9xg_47E70/s1600/942160_705698616111218_2066087260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNUrWk5m3QgTkyCTHS8DAPIn2S4T8G7MogwAv92KEealEIEa1GEcTBsu8jCXvxtzblt6q-fmZY6Vdc1wzOb4aKz-pdcrMli-cQzT-m16NvhxqNTKoEy4WzFZssX374nAeEpTe9xg_47E70/s400/942160_705698616111218_2066087260_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAKSHI AND JENY AT MUSKAAN</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUbG9Of6Ns9hZcLrdwnvq1FipAkzDf9_S2OOXaAfeCjiUGmhaZ9YLF97rA2PBNvo6gbR7OiJUiMjoKraka_KsoNlU3a9C9tD2TusyyHjv4hAn2Poj00wVZ-d5rWY2gBYsppFpw6dwCmNm/s1600/1002449_705698612777885_1586624519_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUbG9Of6Ns9hZcLrdwnvq1FipAkzDf9_S2OOXaAfeCjiUGmhaZ9YLF97rA2PBNvo6gbR7OiJUiMjoKraka_KsoNlU3a9C9tD2TusyyHjv4hAn2Poj00wVZ-d5rWY2gBYsppFpw6dwCmNm/s400/1002449_705698612777885_1586624519_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SAKSHI </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAKIei1kSbBbyMmBF3t8scQerpLMRAyOk7DITtugdilcxqtbymLfq9cCVRgXij6kPMNo43b2MMNZdiRZN467vwDUJS_tEdnWlThUHQPhJUR0pVXHktZwIenMfFXzRbMyKi4S0J2z3aUjI/s1600/1012302_705698569444556_256835649_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAKIei1kSbBbyMmBF3t8scQerpLMRAyOk7DITtugdilcxqtbymLfq9cCVRgXij6kPMNo43b2MMNZdiRZN467vwDUJS_tEdnWlThUHQPhJUR0pVXHktZwIenMfFXzRbMyKi4S0J2z3aUjI/s400/1012302_705698569444556_256835649_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JENY WITH THE GIRLS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>

New faces in FHE from Jesus & Mary College, Delhi

Jeny Sam and Sakshi of JMC are spending their vacations in Muskaan teaching children SAKSHI AND JENY AT MUSKAAN SAKSHI JENY WITH THE GIRLS

10:05 AM

NEW TEACHERS

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuClBPdvj-vGRKT6Sx6gT7xm6l_AK3jXDR8MA-IXYYz72RWvn896Bziu_vY8cCwl-U3P6mlTXNZGZfdXSl2ojRiH5tlEoYXkKT0NV8IaHAbeDiYBFWsFez8dGfXwjOVQLNx9jwDAQGSk1U/s1600/1010931_696435527037527_292883230_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuClBPdvj-vGRKT6Sx6gT7xm6l_AK3jXDR8MA-IXYYz72RWvn896Bziu_vY8cCwl-U3P6mlTXNZGZfdXSl2ojRiH5tlEoYXkKT0NV8IaHAbeDiYBFWsFez8dGfXwjOVQLNx9jwDAQGSk1U/s640/1010931_696435527037527_292883230_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Nisha and Celina</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnM4db5LW2HWKYilCYvj4XCvpSHvnk0yBS8piT4rQuMtF8GznD_BBKH6nJTVwRZcQHkTFWmbUx6ba5z1xvI6JA5zQ8sqZq_ZIyCRCsDxLf91Sx0FfA0FyVZcS_KTnr7ed6Au7EE0PFdxg/s1600/1013024_696436503704096_1837127935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnM4db5LW2HWKYilCYvj4XCvpSHvnk0yBS8piT4rQuMtF8GznD_BBKH6nJTVwRZcQHkTFWmbUx6ba5z1xvI6JA5zQ8sqZq_ZIyCRCsDxLf91Sx0FfA0FyVZcS_KTnr7ed6Au7EE0PFdxg/s640/1013024_696436503704096_1837127935_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jennifer will join us in August</span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>

NEW TEACHERS

Nisha and Celina Jennifer will join us in August

10:00 AM

See how the type of nutrition label impacts your understanding.

<span style="font-size: large;">I have spoken of front of pack nutrition labels many times and provided examples of different systems.  A system can be one that appoints stars for meeting a certain criteria, or one that uses a symbol to denote healthiness, or my favorite, one that uses a multiple traffic light.  The multiple traffic light system shows whether the product is low, medium or high in amount of each nutrient most people should limit (i.e., sugar, salt, sat fat and calories).</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The most important thing about a front of pack label is that it be standardized across all products, manufacturers and restaurants (if it goes to menu labeling).  Imagine how confusing it would be (and is now in the US) if each company decided what information, if any, to put on the front of a package.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to making health and weight related dietary choices the most important disclosures are these: calories, sodium, sugar, and probably saturated fat. We need to be able to see the amount of these nutrients at a glance across items as we shop.  The traffic light system goes one better.  If the traffic light is used, a consumer does not have to do math or know the number of grams or milligrams that are recommended for any one nutrient in a daily diet.  The consumer just has to know that green is better (GO) and red should be limited or avoided (STOP).  In essence, a consumer can aim for mostly green and yellow.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The UK has begun its voluntary traffic light labeling program in grocery stores and it seems to be doing well.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When researchers and public health professionals were making the case for front of pack labels, they put together an on line quiz to test consumers understanding of nutrition labels.  It is still available, <a href="http://consumerfoodquiz.polldaddy.com/s/consumersinternational" target="_blank">here.</a>  I took it and suggest you do as well.  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />

See how the type of nutrition label impacts your understanding.

I have spoken of front of pack nutrition labels many times and provided examples of different systems. A system can be one that appoints st...

7:42 PM

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alabama Physical Education is now on <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=Alabama%20physical%20education" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>!  </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibV_dcPYdDw9Kx-d6KQMTO41Vfk46_ZN5RDP5gkj8e9S5vbZ70ORF-Q52I_p-VKn4_Ghoyql96EZdTa-a4FV3Ut3N5FaSv90w6UkU5XrpHLnpNba9Gc8ROzGXj_yizBCJ5esSCk0gSDM/s1600/Pinterest+picture!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibV_dcPYdDw9Kx-d6KQMTO41Vfk46_ZN5RDP5gkj8e9S5vbZ70ORF-Q52I_p-VKn4_Ghoyql96EZdTa-a4FV3Ut3N5FaSv90w6UkU5XrpHLnpNba9Gc8ROzGXj_yizBCJ5esSCk0gSDM/s1600/Pinterest+picture!.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is another great way to share lesson plans, resources, teaching tips, etc.  Start following following and pinning today!  Click on the word Pinterest above and it will take you to the Pinterest board. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Please do not post personal posts, recipes, or any pins for information <u>not</u> pertaining to physical education.  Those posts will be removed.  </i></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Coming soon Alabama Health Education on Pinterest!</b></i></span></div>

Alabama Physical Education is now on Pinterest ! This is another great way to share lesson plans, resources, teaching tips, etc. Start fo...

8:25 AM

What's your plan B?

<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">**** post note.  I have been working on my 12 mile bicycle ride. (I am riding a mountain bike on the street -  they aren't fast on the street).  See how I my speed increased almost every time!   This is a fun, challenging way to survive a vacation from running.  Look at the column on the right, and start at the bottom.  I started at 12 mph and increased to 13 mph.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gWOgL-JUUNVB-aPD5iKkFWARUzVSaRuAJCFkFW93l73EL0wIcAFcay9Mici5RJApmmzl2kWHFECTuvL7445srXhuzTTJ4tOUAtPY9AP7kOMtUa7fioXfxIelsVOkMi8bSK1fkCc3CC4g/s1600/recovery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gWOgL-JUUNVB-aPD5iKkFWARUzVSaRuAJCFkFW93l73EL0wIcAFcay9Mici5RJApmmzl2kWHFECTuvL7445srXhuzTTJ4tOUAtPY9AP7kOMtUa7fioXfxIelsVOkMi8bSK1fkCc3CC4g/s1600/recovery.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">**original blog post:</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">No, not for birth control... your exercise plan B.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What do YOU do if you can't do what you planned to do?  What do YOU do if you can't do your planned exercise for one day?  What if you can't do it for weeks or months?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">By now, you should be convinced that exercise is not something you do because you want to lose a few pounds (though it sure helps) but something you do to <u>prevent disease, boost your mood and to age successfully </u>(not normally - <i>successfully</i>).  In other words, exercise is not meant to be temporary.  It benefits you for as long as you do it (like healthy eating).</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">So if you have plans for a walk at the park and it rains, what is your plan B?  If you planned to swim, but a thunderstorm or faulty equipment closes the pool, what do you do instead?  Do you have a list of options for your plan B?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What if the activity you prefer, for me its running, is one you have to rest from?  IF you like to swim and tear a muscle in your shoulder that will take months to heal, what will you do for your exercise?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It is best to have more than one exercise - not just for plan B days, but in general.  This is because the body acclimates and what was once challenging can become ineffective.  The body needs variety  - could be little things like tempo, speed and terrain - and big things like alternating biking, swimming, running, walking, aerobics, sports, etc .</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My usual routine is 5 days of running (with changes in place and pace) and two days of swimming (w/ 2 routines) and 2 days of weight training.  YES, that IS nine days.  You are very astute.  I swim and weight train on the same day.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Cycling is my plan B as is 'extra' swimming and step aerobics.  On a recent walk date, my friend and I got rained out, so we went to the mall and WALKED.  Corny, but effective. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">When the pool closes unexpectedly, I go to another pool, or I cycle or do some indoor cardio activity at the gym.  Sometimes I lift weights at home if the gym is closed on a weight train day.  ETC</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Something else you might consider - especially if you are using exercise for weight control or perhaps, stress control, and you have to stop your high intensity exercise.  How do you handle the change in calorie burn that comes from decreased intensity?</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">You have a few options.  You can switch to low impact activities and do them longer, sometimes twice as long.  You can work on making that low impact activity, like cycling, walking or swimming happen FASTER. You can do the lower impact/low burn activity for the same time that you did your favored higher burn activity and choose to eat less - or you can do the low burn activity for the same duration and accept that you'll gain a few pounds.   (For me, I don't have more time to spend - but if I choose a 12 mile cycling routine, I can try to do it faster (even a few seconds) each time.  I would not be increasing distance, just pace.  For swimming, I could stick with my time limit, 50 minutes and try to get in more laps -so more distance)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> MOST important take home message - YOU DECIDE.  Take control and be ready with your plan B list.  You decide how you'll adapt to the change and you decide that this adaption does not include quitting.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>

What's your plan B?

**** post note. I have been working on my 12 mile bicycle ride. (I am riding a mountain bike on the street - they aren't fast on the s...

8:16 PM

Welcome!

<h2><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Welcome to physical education and health in the great State of Alabama!</b></span></h2><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog spot is dedicated for physical educators and health educators in Alabama to find and post:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaching tips</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resources</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grant information</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Share professional development opportunities</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesson plans</span></li></ul><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><u>This is not a gripe or criticism spot!</u></i></b></div></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget the Summer Physical Education and Health Conference is July 29. 30, and 31 at the Alabama 4-H Conference Center in Columbiana, Alabama. </span><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Public school teachers who need CEU credit must pre-register on STI by Friday, July 19, 2013.  </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Private school, university personnel, and retirees who need CEU credit must register with Nancy Ray (nray@alsde.edu).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no cost for the conference----</span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a cost for meals.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a cost for overnight accommodations.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To arrange for meals/overnight accommodations email Nancy Ray for the form (nray@alsde.edu).  <span style="color: red;">The deadline to register for meals and overnight accommodations is July 19.</span></span></li></ul><li><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">Click here for:</span>  <a href="mailto:nray@alsde.edu">Meal and overnight accommodation form</a> </span></li><ul></ul></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Stay tuned!  Blog posts will be updated weekly!</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Welcome!

Welcome to physical education and health in the great State of Alabama! This blog spot is dedicated for physical educators and health educat...

2:01 PM

Is a cold office the next new diet fad?

<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A recent study by Chen et al, suggests that a slight decrease in the air temperature increases calorie burn.  See the abstract from the study <a href="http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/early/2013/06/18/jc.2012-4213.short" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Brief background: Our bodies contain two types of fat - or adipose tissue - brown and white. Brown fat is the kind that keeps us warm and is found in much greater abundance in babies and children than in adults.  It is referred to as BAT sometimes.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Adults have small amounts of BAT and when it is activated - to keep us warm - BAT takes its energy from white fat.  White fat is the kind that most of us are trying to lose.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">In their small experiment, the scientists were able to measure this 'under the skin' BAT activity with a PET scan.  They found that when the temperature was lowered by just a few degrees, the volunteers' brown fat cells went into action.  The volunteers burned more calories (energy) under the lowered temperature than the 'normal' temperature.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As a person who never enters a building without a sweater and one who cannot afford to lose any of her white fat, I was not so happy with the authors comment....</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; color: #403838; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">this may represent a novel environmental strategy in obesity treatment.</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I stay amazed at the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">lengths people go to in order to lose weight without having to eat less or move more..  </span></span>

Is a cold office the next new diet fad?

A recent study by Chen et al, suggests that a slight decrease in the air temperature increases calorie burn. See the abstract from the stud...

8:29 PM