That's Fit

A new study out this week concluded that those who are considered "very obese" wait quite a bit longer for kidney transplants when compared against the amount of time normal-weight people wait for new a new kidney.

Specifically, the wait is 12 to 18 months longer, and there are less guarantees that someone who is very obese will even receive a new kidney. The study relayed that the reasons for this are due to the risk of complications when operating on those who are obese.

Dr. Dorry Segev, a lead researcher in the study, alluded to the fact that he thought transplant doctors were not "consciously choosing slimmer candidates," -- but what do you think? Are obese transplant patients being discriminated against? Segev went on to say that Medicare pays the same for kidney transplants, leaving hospitals to pay for more complicated procedures with obese patients. Bias or not?

Are you giving your child (or your spouse or yourself) a Wii for Christmas in hopes that they'll get more physical activity in their day? Though Wii has been touted as the "active" video game that gets gamers up and off the couch, it's no replacement for real sports, says a recent study.

Wii users burn about 60 more calories per hour than those playing a sedentary video game, but that's nothing compared to what they would burn if they were out playing real-life games. Video games have their place, say experts, but kids and teens (and grown-ups) need more exercise than they can get in front of a TV screen.

What do you think -- do you work up a sweat when using a Wii?

What were Ellen and Carmen Electra doing in bed together on Tuesday's Ellen Degeneres Show? They were, well, exercising.

With Carmen in her romantic, vixen-like bed and Ellen in her Hello Kitty-themed bed, the pair worked up a sweat while practicing routines from Electra's new DVD, Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease: Vegas Strip. The duo did a few leg lifts and some lunges from their side-by-side beds and if laughter counts as a workout, they surely got a good one.

Wanna see a video clip? Here it is.

Last week I told you about carpet skating. This week, I'm going more traditional. How about a spin on an ice skating rink?

As most of us are probably still spending more time with more family members than we typically do the rest of the year, it's important to come up with ways to keep moving while spending time together. Ice skating provides the perfect option, whether you live somewhere cold enough to enjoy an actual frozen lake or or you have to find an indoor facility where they recreate a frozen lake. Or maybe you're somewhere in between like I am near the nation's Capitol, where you can find many man-made outdoor rinks in the middle of town.

No matter how the ice under foot came to be, it's great family fun for a few bucks plus renting a pair of blades if you don't own them. Many rinks offer lessons for the less confident. And if you've got family members that are too old or young to join in the activity, I'm sure they'd enjoy watching the advanced set show off while the beginners fall on their butts.

Ugh, the flu season is fast approaching and the first lucky ducks are already starting to come down with it. For the most part dealing with the flu is really just a "get as comfortable as you can and wait it out" kinda game, but in some cases it can get so severe that it's necessary to see a doctor. So how can you tell when a simple winter cold turns into a serious flu that needs medical attention? Call your doctor whenever you're unsure, but especially if you're experiencing these symptoms:

• Fever
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness/fatigue
• Cough/sore throat
• Runny or stuff nose
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

Also call if you've been sick for a few days already and then your symptoms suddenly start to get worse, or anytime you're unsure or have concerns. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the very young and the elderly.

We're always looking for fresh and innovative ways to blog about news and trends fit for helping you live a healthy life. Now, thanks to Saturn, we bring a new voice to our efforts with the launch of our That's Fit Weekly Podcast. Each Friday, we'll go from blogger to broadcaster as we discuss topics relevant to pursuing your health and fitness goals.

Holidays got you down?That's Fit's very own Life Fit Expert, nutritionist and author, Laura Lewis helps bring it all into perspective with her Recipe for a Good Life. It's all about keeping life in the balance in the midst of the ups, downs and stress of the holidays! Need a lift? A little inspiration? Then... Listen on...

Have comments on our current shows or ideas for future podcasts? Or, do you have a burning health and fitness question you'd like answered on an upcoming installment? Comment right here and we'll do our best to provide the helpful information you're looking for!

There are several ways to receive the That's Fit Weekly podcast: Subscribe to our RSS feed, through iTunes, or just click on the MP3 file link directly below! -- your choice!

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Host
Laura Lewis

File Format

05:31:00 length, 5.05 MB size, MP3 format (128kbps)

Let's face it -- when it comes to the holidays, the last thing we want to be doing is sweating away in a gym. There's just too much to do and besides, the holidays are a time for family, not a time to spend alone in a gym. But you know what? You can keep fit while spending quality time with the family. All it takes is some warm clothing and a little bit of holiday spirit.

Still not convinced? Growing up in Canada, I know what it's like to go outdoors when it's cold out, and honestly? It's not that bad as long as you bundle up. In fact--dare I even say it?--It's kind of nice to get outdoors in the winter, when the maddening crowds aren't around and the landscape is blanketed in sparkling, peaceful snow. And anyway, you might as well make the best of the cold weather.

So, in honor of winter, here's my list of top ways to stay fit during the holidays:

All My Children soap star and Calvin Klein model Colin Egglesfield and I have been talking lots of fitness lately, so I thought I'd get his advice for stay completely gorgeous for the holidays, and making it to the new year without an ounce of regret. This is what Colin has to say:

"My tips for the holiday season revolve around the theme of "CALORIE CONTROL!" You can enjoy most of the same treats you traditionally desire if you simply use the lowest calorie ingredients available. And of course, I'm never too conscious of exact calorie amounts, that would drive anyone crazy, I just try to be sensible about what I order and try to eat small portions when possible. "

Here are a few tips that I try to heed:

1. Latte, cappuccino, and hot chocolate lovers be sure to use non-fat milk! I love cappuccinos, so when I do order one... I order it with skim milk. I try to limit my intake of coffee to only two or three a week. The rest of the time I drink herbal teas.

Effexor, the best-selling anti-depression drug in the world (sales) may now have a new competitor. In what could happen more and more, an Indian pharmaceutical company has applied to the FDA to sell a drug in pill form instead of capsule.

The dinger: the new drug, which will be sold as a generic, will have the same active ingridient at Wyeth's $3.7 billion-a-year Effexor drug. Think that's a threat? Sure -- big-time.

The difference here that makes this potential new anti-depressant such a big deal is because it comes in an extended-release tablet as opposed to a capsule (which is under Wyeth patent protection until 2010). Nothing like finding a loophole for new drug sales, huh?

A shopping mall in England has initiated a "boot camp" for the in-store Santa Clauses, hoping that a more svelte St. Nick will help kids think twice about grabbing extra gingerbread cookies themselves this holiday season. Is this a bit much? Maybe. But, if helping Santa slim down is on your Christmas agenda, here are some healthy treats your kids can leave for the soon-to-be-not-so-fat-man and his reindeer.

2 celery sticks with peanut butter = 100 calories, 4g protein, 3.5g carbs

Carrot sticks = 38 calories per stick, 1g protein, 9g carbs

Non-fat milk = 80 calories per cup, 9g protein, 12g carbs

Almonds = 80 calories per hand full of 12, 3g protein, 3g carbs (plus 7 grams of healthy fat)

Apple = 90 calories, 3g protein, 22g carbs

Considering that Santa is pretty much left a snack in just about every house he visits, the calories will still add up. With there being about 1 billion children under the age of 10 on the entire earth, it looks like Santa will consume somewhere around 400 billion calories with the snacks suggested above. Still, that sure beats the 870 calories from 3 cookies and 160 calories from a glass of whole milk he's used to getting, which would then equal a total of about 1 trillion calories in one night!!

A study that seemed to expose the differences in insured and uninsured health care concluded this week that uninsured cancer patients are nearly twice as likely to die within five years as those with private coverage.

Surprised? In the U.S. health care system, you shouldn't be. Uninsured patients may not have certain tests and treatments suggested to them as a result of not having the safety net of insurance backing them up. Nice.

This is significant because by the time any needed tests roll around for uninsured patients, their cancer has spread and the likelihood of long-term survival is quite diminished.

Getting into shape is no easy task. If it was, it's fairly safe to say that the obesity problem in this country and others wouldn't be what it is today. Just as much as it is a physical battle, many times the largest obstacles tend to be more rooted in psychology.

With the new year approaching, as well as any and all attendant resolutions made regarding health and fitness, try your best to remember what many people refer to the 4 Be-s:

1. Be realistic about your fitness goals. You're not going to get a body like Jason Statham in a month if you currently have a body like Jason Alexander. Try being a little more grounded in reality. This is not to say that such a transformation isn't possible, it's just not going to occur in as little as one month.

2. Be specific about your goals. Exactly how much weight do you want to lose and by when? How much do you want to increase your 1 rep max on the bench press by? When would you like to be able to fit into that new dress? The more specific your goals are, the more likely you will be to achieve them.

3. Be consistent. This is probably the single-most important of all four. Fitness is a life-long process; trust me, it's much easier to lose the results than it is to get them, so make sure that you keep at it!!

4. Be forgiving. If you happen to miss a workout or cave a few times and get dessert, it's not the end of the world. Give yourself a little leeway once and a while. You should want to eat healthy and exercise, rather than resigning yourself to these practices because of guilt.

After writing a post yesterday that touched upon what it's like to hit the 1-year fitness wall, I read an article in Muscle & Fitness magazine that I thought would make for a good follow-up.

The article, titled Mind Over Muscle, offers tips on how to stay motivated once your progress at the gym seems to be slowing down. Here are five great tips to keep you on top of your game:

1. Start a Training Log. Keep a daily fitness record of your workouts; how many sets you finished, how many reps, how much weight, what settings on a particular machine were, etc. A training log will also serve as a motivator in and of itself, as it will enable you to look back and see that progress, albeit slow progress, is still being made (or not, in which case you need to make adjustments to your workout and diet).

2. Have a Pre-Workout Ritual. Maybe it's listening to a few songs that you like, or perhaps stretching a bit in your living room. Whatever it is, do it. This preamble will help you become focused for when you finally start your workout. In fact, many people will actually visualize their workout as part of their pre-workout ritual, which some claim helps them align themselves mentally and prepare for the forthcoming exercise session.

It's not often that we hear of a former smoker that turns tide and becomes a outspoken critic of smoking, but that is just what Maureen Hamilton did before her death last week.

Right up until the end, Hamilton, who passed away from emphysema complications, wanted the world to see what the smoking of cigarettes can do to a human body. Did she want to be remembered with a glamorous photo from her past?

No -- Hamilton wanted photos of her ravaged body to be on display after she died to give those who smoke a perfect picture of what all that smoking can result in. It's not a pretty picture -- but it is the truth. What are you doing to quit?

Are you more worried about your portfolio and pocketbook than your health? After a year full of consumer credit crunches, mortgage foreclosures and a raft if home loans with higher payments from goofy loan terms, many Americans are set to be more concerned with their finances compared to their own health, according to a new study.

Countrywide Bank, which is in the throes of the subprime mortgage mess itself, said that 67 percent of surveyed adults nationally admitted to wanting to improve how financially fit they are in 2008, with just 57 percent saying that becoming physically fit is the main goal next year.

Who says you can't do both? Nothing does, and as long as you don't make hasty, uninformed decisions about your money or your health, you can do just fine.