Five dumb health mistakes even smart people make

Mark G says:

08:00am | 29/02/12

Kerryn,

Actually you have almost brought up a point number six. That in order to get healthy all you have to do is lose weight. Its easier to sell weight loss than it is to sell a fitness routine and therefore this is where the marketing is often focused. Weight loss is something that normally occurs when you get healthy but just because you are losing weight doesnt mean that you are healthy. This is certainly the case with many detox diets.

Nick says:

10:41am | 29/02/12

I think it is important not to denigrate the benefits of low intensity exercise.  Sure, running has benefits in terms of energy expenditure but people are far more likely to suffer soft tissue injuries and they are far less likely to incorporate it into their daily routine so it is more like a binge than a true solution to being sedentary.  There are substantial and easily measured health benefits that accrue from activities like standing up, taking the stairs, walking to work orout for lunch and so forth.

Todays article on ““The Conversation” discussing the benefits of reducing the time we spend sitting down is very relevant:

http://theconversation.edu.au/office-workers-its-time-to-beat-the-bulge-and-quit-the-sit-5557

nankypoo says:

12:01pm | 29/02/12

I only run when I realise I have run out of beer just as the footy is about to resume after an ad break. Unless I can get the missus to get it for me.

Mark G says:

12:17pm | 29/02/12

Nick,

You make a very good point about low intensity exercise but it really depends on your definition. There is a big difference between a power walk, a quick but steady walk and a leisurely stroll in the park. People who are likely to suffer injuries with running still need to at least conduct a quick but steady walks if they want to gain fitness. Casual strolls are only slightly better than sitting on your arse.

Seph says:

02:35pm | 29/02/12

What about detoxing? That’s the stupidest fad out there. “Lolz let’s undermine our liver because I heard from some other chick that it’s good for you to not eat any food for a few days and just drink some lemon stuff. Forget what doctors say. When have doctors been right about anything.” It’s just another tokenism thing that people do to feel they’re more disciplined therefore more hot than others.

Katie says:

07:48am | 29/02/12

As a chubby girl, I’d like to point out that I also play Skyrim. And I also walk to work and make sure to go walking for half an hour on my lunchbreak.

And my chubby friends who are boys play soccer (real soccer). And Skyrim.

And my sister, who is not chubby at all, also plays Skyrim.

Therefore, playing Skyrim =/= chubby and male.

Just thought I’d point that out there.

Jane2 says:

08:11am | 29/02/12

I always find that amusing too.

This morning I spotted a women coming back from her morning walk with a Mega size coffee in her hand, my bet is it wasnt a straight black no sugar.

acotrel says:

08:16am | 29/02/12

You can get out and run, but you might have the heart attack doing it.  Some people don’t exercise because after working in the stressful job, and living in the stressfull relationship, they are too stuffed in the head.
I like aromatherapy the best !

Dale says:

08:22am | 29/02/12

Impossible. Running puts enormous stress on tissues and joints. Have a look at the super slo mos for any sports coverage and see the stress the body is placed under. Double that for someone overweight. Someone who is overweight is practically guaranteed an injury. All you are doing by forcing people who are not built for running is a life of pain and injury. They need to lose the weight first.

Bertrand says:

08:35am | 29/02/12

@Dale - Agreed.

I guess what Tory was referring to was that high energy activities like running are more valuable than low energy sports like walking. If you are gasping for breath at the end of your workout session you are going to see more positive results than if you finish a workout session and are barely sweating.

Personally, I go for the high energy but low impact sports. A one hour bike ride where you go flat out for the entire time is certainly energy intensive, but you don’t avoid the long term consequences of joint damage.

MM says:

08:46am | 29/02/12

Too bad for those people who CANNOT run…I have had to work my way up to walking 5k/h after an accident 2 years ago.  Please don’t write off people who are walking (even leisurely) as it might be all that they can do.

Lauren says:

08:50am | 29/02/12

Isn’t there research that shows interval training is better than just walking or just running?

Fred says:

08:58am | 29/02/12

I walk. I hate running. Walking is better than nothing. Quite frankly runners don’t look too happy to me, they look like they’re living under the weight of masochism.

skye says:

09:10am | 29/02/12

I agree, however I have E cup boobs and it makes running kind of painful (and a little bit funny for spectators). I think I’ll stick to walking.

Colleen A says:

09:27am | 29/02/12

Cycle, people!! For those who cannot/will not run, cycling is excellent aerobic exercise

Gymmer says:

09:57am | 29/02/12

Hi Lauren,

Yes interval training is great for increasing fitness (and burning fat). It has particular benefits for people with insulin resistance apparently too. I prefer it as it mixes things up too, just running (particuarly on a treadmill) can get boring for me after a while, but doing a quick 2-3km run followed up by hill sprint intervals keeps me interested. More sweaty and puffed out too..

Rick Allen says:

10:06am | 29/02/12

If you can’t run, join a gym and use a cross trainer. My personal trainer reckons interval training is better than one hard slog.

Think of gym fees as an investment in your health. Nothing worth watching on TV anyway so you may as well be in the gym for an hour. The 24 hour ones are good.

Adam says:

10:18am | 29/02/12

I’d go walking, but I took an arrow to the knee.

Nugget says:

10:46am | 29/02/12

I dont walk anywhere. I just fast travel….

Suz says:

11:15am | 29/02/12

Fred. Love your post

Jane2. So what if she has a large coffee? And with milk - gasp! Maybe she likes coffee. Maybe she likes to walk. Maybe she doesn’t like to run. Maybe she doesn’t judge you for judging her. I judge you for judging her. Now judge me too.

Good Apollo says:

11:30am | 29/02/12

I do declare Adam above to be the most whimsical chap of the evening.
I think only Katie and I will get that sublime reference.

Gymmer says:

11:54am | 29/02/12

Good Apollo, I have never even looked at Skyrim (or any other game for that matter) and I know what he means (because every second bloody person on the internet now is using that line. Jokes old now people!)

Jim says:

11:56am | 29/02/12

Rick Allen: And what happens if you cant run or use a cross trainer? I was told 12 months ago that I would never walk again, I can walk but it is a very slow pace, But I can not run or use a cross trainer as it will put to much pressure on my spin and it can snap at any point.

Runner says:

11:57am | 29/02/12

@Rick Allen

Of course your personal trainer recommends that, you are paying him.  If you ran he wouldn’t need to advise you.

Good Apollo says:

11:58am | 29/02/12

Better add Nugget to our posse.

Martin says:

12:02pm | 29/02/12

I agree with all the comments here advocating cycling as a calorie burning alternative to (potentially) injurious high impact activities such as running and jogging. Even fit, lightweight runners suffer impact injuries: adding extra weight into the equation is madness.

Failing that, you can’t go wrong with swimming if you have access to a local pool or safe waterway. Wonderful cardiac workout.

GOod Apollo says:

12:11pm | 29/02/12

Torymir: One does not simply ‘walk’ into Good Health.

marley says:

12:15pm | 29/02/12

Well, I don’t know about all that.  If you walk fast enough to get your heart rate up to a certain level above your normal pulse rate, and do it for forty minutes or an hour, you’re going to get a lot of benefit, without necessarily doing the damage to joints that running can cause.

Anyway, doesn’t anyone swim anymore?  Pretty good aerobic exercise, and easy on the body.

Tubesteak says:

12:21pm | 29/02/12

Dale and Bertrand
The human body is built to run and cope with the stresses of it. I don’t have the link to the study on my work computer but I’m sure you can find it with the assistance of google.

Lauren
The reason HIIT is expounded is because many people simply don’t have the endurance or capacity to keep up a good pace at running for any reasonable amount of time. Therefore, HIIT is said to enable people to at least keep their heqart rate up whilst having a mini-“rest” and still exercise. It’s not better than running, though. I run 8km most 5-6 mornings per week and have been doing this for a few years. I can keep a pretty steady 13-15km/h pace doing this so it is equally beneficial as sprinting 50m and jogging for 100m.

Rick Allen
A cross-trainer is a great way to start

RyaN says:

12:51pm | 29/02/12

And a good boxing workout session will actually workout your entire body and is 200% better for you than running. Each to their own, leave people alone and mind your own business.

Fiona says:

01:49pm | 29/02/12

MM, I’m with you. I can’t do much else ATM, so have started walking again. At least those of us that are “just” walking are off the couch.

Natalie says:

02:12pm | 29/02/12

It takes a certain level of fitness to be able to run. I don’t have that and I literally never have, in 25 years of life.
I can run for a minute, tops. Someone like me has to start with strolling and work their way up.

I don’t plan to, though. I accept that will put me at risk. But that is my business.

When the zombie apocalypse comes, it’s people like me that will help people like you survive, as we won’t be able to run away.

Rick Allen says:

02:27pm | 29/02/12

Runner: I have split up from my PT. It was always a limited-time arrangement until I got all my ducks in a row. I’d love to keep him, but it’s the money thing. I’m a crap outdoor runner (and would tend to not do it…) and I like the gym and I go regularly (now that having a trainer has gotten me into a good routine), so what I do works for me.

Jim: what I said was in the “general advice” category. For advice concerning your specific needs, consult your personal health adviser.

Mike says:

02:38pm | 29/02/12

Auki Henry cuts thru a lot of the BS with an article I keep referring my friends to when they ask : http://blog.aukihenry.com/2011/08/fighting-myths-of-fat-burning-and.html

Snake says:

03:34pm | 29/02/12

Macca: Running is for the undisciplined. It is far easier to eat less, than it is to run a few kilometres. Especially in the unfit and overweight.

Training with heavy weights is far more beneficial to long term weight loss than sporadic cardio. A consistant, caloric deficit is always better for weight loss than a run every other weekend when it isn’t raining.

Brad says:

08:49pm | 29/02/12

I used to think that Skyrim joke was old… but then I took an arrow to the knee.

skye says:

09:15am | 29/02/12

True. I had a housemate who was quite large (hips like shelves), and prior to living with her I almost believed the ‘I’ve tried EVERYTHING and I still can’t lose weight’. Then i lived with her and saw what she ate (and drank and smoked and how long she sat around for), and suddenly I realised she was seriously lying to herself.

Keith Hammersmith says:

10:44am | 29/02/12

I have heard that a lot from over-weight people - “I have tried dieting and exercise but i cant lose weight so its not me…..’  there is a formula that can not be argued with.  Calories in < Calories out = weight loss. No ifs ands or buts about it

Eleanor says:

10:46am | 29/02/12

Yeah, same with my cousin. I love her to bits, but she’s always going on about how healthy she eats and how hard she goes at the gym. She’s been at it for years and she’s still a size 16-18.

Either she’s lying to me, or lying to herself. If she eats and works out like she says she does, she should be competing in triathlons by now.

Borderer says:

11:46am | 29/02/12

I give my ex dubious looks occasionally when she ranted about putting on weight.
Me “Do you want to come to the gym?”
Her “Don’t feel like it tonight, you go.”
Me “Do you want to walk the dogs with me?”
Her “My show is coming on, maybe tommorrow.”
Me “What did you have for lunch today?”
Her “One of the girls went to Macca’s so I had that insead of the lunch I brought.”
Her “I’d really love some chocolate, can you get me a block from the service station?”
Me “I just got you one the other day….”

So apparently her weight gain, 65kg to 90kg in a year had nothing to do with her not exercising and eating crap. At one point I thought I would show her and stacked on 10kg, I only suceeded in annoying myself. So I just stopped sleeping with her and we eventually broke up in a very expensive seperation. Was I superfical or was I living with a person who just did not share any activities with me and would drive me to an early grave with poor health?

Sniper says:

12:00pm | 29/02/12

@ Borderer

It’s not her fault she has a *insert medical condition* that makes her not responsible for being fat.  All the fatties ALWAYS have an excuse.

Emma says:

12:23pm | 29/02/12

Sniper

Heavy bone structure. Or thyroid. My favourites.

Borderer says:

12:59pm | 29/02/12

I had to stop myself from translating the excuses a couple of times

Her “I go to the gym.”
translate “I went to the gym once, minced around on a few machines and never returned, I don’t think I actually broke into a sweat.”
Her “I eat healthy.”
translate “I had subway for lunch but I also ate a mars bar and drank three cans of coke at my desk.”
Her “I like walking the dogs.”
translate “I like you walking the dogs while I watch TV and eat a 300g block of chocolate.”
Her “I need to go clothes shopping.”
translate “I would rather spend hundreds of dollars on new clothes than take responsibility for my health.”

E says:

01:13pm | 29/02/12

Emma - I am slightly overweight and have put on 10 kgs in the past 2 years.  I went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy when I was 26 (approx 2 years ago) and because this was for Hodgkins Lymphoma, the radiation was directed at my neck and chest region.

This has made me develop a thyroid dysfunction causing weight gain which can be treated by a painful and, for someone who has been a literal pincushion for 10 months of their life, intimidating operation and treatment.

My apologies that when people refer to my health, I often mention this problem.  I will tell myself next time that it is just an excuse and get my ass to the gym more than the 4 times a week that I do already…..

sue says:

01:25pm | 29/02/12

Studies suggest that almost one in two people are overweight, isn’t it nice that the internet however is a lovely place where only us awesome skinny people can hang out and judge other people freely.

Oh those fatties, always with the excuses, at least us skinny people always do exactly what we say we are going to and never delude ourselves about our habits and lifestyle!

We are so much better than fat people, lets all laugh at them and point.

Emma says:

01:27pm | 29/02/12

Oh E

Dont get upset. You know exactly how it was meant. So many people use the thyroid excuse. I bet you have heard it as well. Noone intends to give really ill people here a hard time.

E says:

01:42pm | 29/02/12

Ahhh ok Emma - if it wasn’t intended that way then that is absolutely fine…...

Ummm, no actually, maybe you should think before you speak and stop making comments that are potentially offensive, rude and just plain bitchy…. 

In your words - ‘I bet you have heard this before’ - I’m fat but you’re horrible - at least I can attempt to do something about my problem….

Keith Hammersmith says:

02:16pm | 29/02/12

take offense much “E”?
this thread wasn’t about people that are actually ill, but about the myriad of excuses people give for why they are still fat, and don’t take responsibility for it.
Sorry if you thought the thread was about you, it wasnt, move on…

Borderer says:

02:41pm | 29/02/12

E
People don’t make fun of sick people if you thought Emma was making fun of you, you are wrong and only you thought she was.
Emma’s point was that people make excuses over things and often they use the thyroid problem as that excuse, that is all. This then detracts from real people having real problems with their health as others don’t believe them and that understandibly makes them angry.
I’ve seen countless cases where people have claimed to have had their drinks spiked, of those dozens of people I’ve seen one genuine case, the rest were excuses because they had an overdose and didn’t want to admit to taking drugs.
So if anything you are a victim of too many cries of Wolf.

Sniper says:

03:15pm | 29/02/12

@emma

“Ummm, no actually, maybe you should think before you speak and stop making comments that are potentially offensive, rude and just plain bitchy….

In your words - ‘I bet you have heard this before’ - I’m fat but you’re horrible - at least I can attempt to do something about my problem….”

Weren’t you aware that only ‘E’ can be offensive and bitchy, it’s her world afterall.

E says:

03:34pm | 29/02/12

So Keith, the next time you go up to someone and somehow get on to the topic of why they are overweight, you want them to say - yep, ‘I am fat because I eat too much,’ end of conversation?  And expect them to feel good about it?

I have no idea about your personal situation and would never presume to and would then never feel the need to post comments purely to attempt to show people that you can see through the little lies you presume they tell to make everyday life bearable….

Maybe you should attempt the same.

Borderer says:

04:28pm | 29/02/12

E,
I don’t ask fat people why they’re fat, in the majority of situations I figure its down to their choices. If I was really interested I’d ask them to join me for a meal and see what they ate, actions tend to speak louder than words. So if they are tucking into a burger with the lot, an order of cheese fries with a large coke I would assume that their complaints of a glandular problem are complete crap.
As said before, the thread is about the bullshit lies people use while justifying weight gain, not an attack on people with real medical issues. We are aware you have a chip on your shoulder because you’re condition is often used to lie about weight gain by the excuse makers. If you see my comments you will see a lot of other excuses that I encountered with my ex, it’s not all about you.

HeatherG says:

06:58am | 01/03/12

Emma:

Sometimes the “I’ve tried everything” excuse is true. Sometimes it really is a thyroid problem.

I tried everything. Diet and exercise, a full schedule at work/kids/university left me exhausted and I still put on 9 unexplained kilos in 6 months. I really don’t eat crap and I am on the go all the time.

Turns out I have Hashimoto’s (google it), and the strain I was putting on my body was heading me to heart failure.

Been on medication for 6 weeks thus far, and will not know until my next blood test if it’s the right amount. At least the weight gain has stopped, but I’m still fat, and the best that I can hope for atm is that the correct level of Thyroxine will get me back to a “level playing field” for weight loss, so to speak—as in, exercising may actually not make me end up literally passing out and it might actually work (yay!)

Having well-meaning “friends” tell me I am just making excuses because I had one piece of fudge at my friends’ wedding (the first bite of sugar that had crossed my lips in 8 months) doesn’t help a lot. Strangers having a go at me for the skim milk latte (no sugar) I had before class yesterday didn’t help much either.

“Thyroid” is no “excuse”—without medication Hashimoto’s can kill you (it affects different people differently but in some cases—mine—it can get you pretty quickly). I used to think so too. If someone really thinks their thyroid is the reason they can’t lose weight, then if you really cared about them you wouldn’t roll your eyes at the “excuse”, you’d encourage them to see a doctor.

Emma says:

06:26am | 29/02/12

I like that one. I just cannot imagine that there might be people that dont know that smoking and drinking are not good for you. But blaming someone else always works. Like blaming your primary school teacher because you now have a bad job.

All the info is there for you. I am actually constantly looking things up online. All the nutritional info you can get on every product you can think of.

Bev says:

06:58am | 29/02/12

Emma says:07:26am | 29/02/12

All the info is there for you. I am actually constantly looking things up online. All the nutritional info you can get on every product you can think of.

There is also an aweful lot of nutritional rubbish and misinformation. Some put out by the food nut brigade and some by corporations to obscure the truth muddy the waters and reassure you that their products a good for you or at least harmless.  Trouble is they hide behind “fronts” that seem to have no connection to business but are in truth mouthpieces being paid by corporations often through a chain of grants to hide the real source of the cash and influence.

Emma says:

07:27am | 29/02/12

Bev

Yeah, you possibly have to check your resource. But that shouldnt be too hard. If I go onto the page of the ab circle pro and its telling me how great it is then that is probably not an objective source of information. But when I look up dietry fibre in bananas on a nutri info page then that is usually not too bad.

Mark G says:

08:04am | 29/02/12

You could extend that one to corporations too. Like the idiots who try and sue McDonalds for making them fat. Apparently McDonalds is liable because they make their food too tasty and readily available. It’s almost criminal that a fast food restaurant would want to do that

Bev says:

08:30am | 29/02/12

@Emma The term “junk science” was first coined in connection with food.  I agree that there is good information to be found but it can be extremely difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff and is getting more difficult all the time.

Bev says:

08:40am | 29/02/12

@Mark G Food can taste good either because of the use of fresh produce combined in successful combinations and well cooked or it is junk and cheap ingredents smoothered in artificial or dubious flavour enhancers to cover its blandness or bad taste (Usually along with a lot of feel good advertising and water muddying).

Lauren says:

08:55am | 29/02/12

The problem is that while most products have ingredients/etc written on the packaging, they deliberately use specific words to confuse people. For example, they won’t just say there is ‘sugar’ in the product..they will pick an obscure other word for sugar instead. I just did a google search and came up with about 20 other words for sugar, many of which I (now realise) I have read on packaging and not known what it meant.

acotrel says:

09:15am | 29/02/12

Drinking is not all bad if it staves off a breakdown ?

Jane2 says:

09:24am | 29/02/12

@ Lauren, because although sugar is sugar in one respect it isnt in another, glucose, succrose, fructose, lactose etc are all different. Its not called trying to hide info, its called honesty in labelling. All sugars are metabolised slightly differently and for anyone with an ellergy knowing the type of sugar is essential.

Btw, all the sugars end in “ose”

JD says:

10:14am | 29/02/12

Acotrel, we get it. You drink to get drunk and you’re trying to let us all know subtly and humorously, so that if no negative comments come back you will feel safely justified to continue drinking.

The lack of negative comments merely mean we just don’t care about you. Ask your family for an opinion if you want the truth.

Following my reply, I’ll expect you to reply with feathers ruffled and knickers knotted, muttering something about barely touching the stuff. Whatever.

Lauren says:

10:20am | 29/02/12

@ Jane - thanks for that info. Will remember that in future!

I never said they were hiding info though - I said they were confusing the consumer. Your average person wouldn’t be aware of every single type of sugar, and they know that. I just think they should simplify it by just putting it into categories and listing all the ingredients that way. For example, under “Sugar” they list all the sugar ingredients. Rather than the way they do it now, which while it is good to enable the consumer to see what the most prominant ingredient is, can be confusing if you don’t know what half the ingredients are refering to.

Emma says:

10:45am | 29/02/12

Lauren

Just checking my pack of almonds on my desk. The nutrional info is actually sorted by groups. It says for example “fats” and then the list of different fats underneath. Dont know if they do that on all sorts of food though. Maybe not.

I am sure though that you generally know “energy drink is bad, water is good”. So I dont really think the info is needed for weight management but rather for allergies etc as mentioned.

Along with nutritional info you can though get a few good tips online I think. Or simply think of a healthy ingredient and then look up receipes that contain that ingredient. I lately did that with lentils, as I heard they are really good for you, but I had never cooked lentils in my life before.

James In Footscray says:

06:55am | 29/02/12

I agree ronny jonny. I know people who swear by alternative therapies even though they haven’t ever had any effect. So they decide they need even more alternative therapies.  $100+ dollars a visit to a naturopath - ker-ching!

Adam says:

09:28am | 29/02/12

Accupuncture has worked for me, yoga too and also pilates. My two knee reconstructions are barely noticeble now and have been snowboarding etc. So these alternate therapies have worked for me. Many therapies work on mental attitudes, how you live normal life. If they give you hope and positivity how can they be a bad thing?

Emma says:

09:54am | 29/02/12

Because surely a pain pill prescribed by a doctor can help something like a slipped disc right?

Perhaps, instead of believing everything a doctor says, you may like to try out some of these ‘alternative’ therapies before dismissing them. I know exactly how much seeing a chiro and seeing a naturopath have changed my body for the better….much more than a doctor ever could.

Erin says:

09:58am | 29/02/12

As someone who had issues with her back, in that a disc has ruptured through into the spinal canal and was sending her paralysed, my osteopath was a godsend and the only reason I was able to hold off on surgery for so long.  He had it diagnosed long before the CT scan picked it up.  And the clinical pilates that I do under supervision of a physio to strengthen my core muscles is also a godsend, keeping me fit and able to cope with the daily requirements of my work and home life.  Not all complimentary medicines are phooey!!!

martinX says:

10:19am | 29/02/12

Adam, I wouldn’t call yoga and pilates alternative therapies. Pilates is a physical fitness system, and Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline (thankyou Wikipedia…). Pilates will help get you into shape and keep you there, as will Yoga which extends the concept further into greater awareness of the body and, as you said, attitude adjustment. All very good stuff.

Acupuncture, however, is voodoo

Elphaba says:

10:20am | 29/02/12

Er… yoga is not supposed to be a cure all.  It is a form of exercise.  It promotes relaxation and deep breathing, which in turn lowers stress and heart rate/blood pressure.

I doubt any yoga practitioner would recommend you do yoga to ‘cure’ anything.  I use it to stretch and strengthen muscles after exercise, and for relaxation after a busy day.

Most of the other stuff you suggested is claptrap, yes.  You might want to read up a bit more on yoga though…

Megs says:

01:00pm | 29/02/12

Maybe you should do a few yoga classes before you dismiss it as crap. Careful though, you might learn something.

bec says:

01:41pm | 29/02/12

The benefit of Yoga is not a lie (unlike cake!) but it isn’t going to save your life regardless of your ailment, it won’t cure HIV for example. The important thing is not to dismiss alternative options but demand the people asking you to pay for them offer a higher standard of proof than that of anecdotal evidence and that they clearly and explicitly say what benefits you are likely to experience. If the best you can hope for from a costly herbal remedy or course of standard antibiotics is mild symptom relief then don’t sell it as a cure, it’s not.

I don’t think selling people hope is a bad thing; the danger is when you sell them hope in the form of untrue information or claims of benefit. Sometimes a positive attitude helps people overcome health problems as do placebos (sugar pills) but don’t tell me that people peddling fake cancer treatment/ cures or even fake treatment for mental health issues are not likely to cause damage to the lives of the people who believe the spin they are sold.

Yes people need to become better at spotting bullsh!t but there also need to be some safeguards in place to protect those people whose desperation and fear make them vulnerable.

Brad says:

09:09pm | 29/02/12

I’ll add chiro to the list of not agreeing with ronny johnny. When I can go in practically crippled and come out 15 minutes later with 90% mobility back and NO PAIN where is the quackery pray tell? Geez, they’re not promising to cure cancer and initiate a virgin birth!

Dr Jack says:

08:37am | 29/02/12

Hi Neslihan: Since you have “never consumed anything organic”, I’m wondering what you DO eat, drink or inhale. When you get to be offered breast milk you will have a delicate issue to confront. What’s “good” for us depends on definitions like when and why and your choices. I’m one who finds pharmacy and health shop shelves crammed with very expensive poisons and placebos to be revolting and dishonest. But I keep hearing of how much benefit can come from herbs and needles and yoga and knowing God. So I try to be tolerant. BUT, to deviate a little and take “medicine” down to its very elements and roots, I point my loaded gun at those charlatans and deceivers who would destroy the whistle-blowers who risk their lives and reputations and well-being for exposing the evils of overt, risky witchcraft.

DT says:

10:37am | 29/02/12

When overseas I always found Europeans amusing re the suntanning. They baked themselves to a crisp sometimes only using a oil with no SPF at all and still laying out in the sun when they have a sunburn from the day before.

Tator says:

10:41am | 29/02/12

Dr Jack,
you would probably find that Neslihan was referring to only that produce that is sold as “Organic” as in only organic products were used during the growing and production of such product, not that Neslihan does not eat plant or animal matter.

old fart says:

09:49am | 29/02/12

asparagus makes your pee smell funny

The Ronin says:

10:50am | 29/02/12

No, old fart, it makes YOUR pee smell funny. You haven’t smelled mine.

Sniper says:

12:03pm | 29/02/12

@old fart

Stop smelling your pee.

Andrew says:

02:28pm | 29/02/12

Actually, it makes everybody’s pee smell funny.  But only certain people have the gene that allows them to smell it   Strange but true..

Andrew says:

02:28pm | 29/02/12

Actually, it makes everybody’s pee smell funny.  But only certain people have the gene that allows them to smell it   Strange but true..

Emma says:

07:48am | 29/02/12

Our lifestyle in general is not healthy. But how do you want to ban all cars, all power cables, all industrial emission? (BTW in a lot of European cities, cars are banned from inner cities to a degree - usually depending on the level of emission)

M says:

08:56am | 29/02/12

Emma, you’ve completely missed the point, which is that banning smoking outdoors in cities with millions of cars spewing CO isn’t going to have any effect on public health.

Natalie says:

02:16pm | 29/02/12

Car exhaust has a much less acute and annoying smell than cigarettes. I wonder if smokers would mind if I farted a number of times next to them? It’s essentially the same, except the smell doesn’t also make my lungs hurt (which second hand smoke does do to me)

Dave M says:

02:26pm | 29/02/12

@M

Yeah we discussed this issue to death the other day and Emma missed tthe point then too. She hates smokers with a passion so she’s blinded to logic on this one.

Mark G says:

08:24am | 29/02/12

I find the easiest way to confront people about detox is simple. Ask for specifics. For example when they go on a rant about how they are detoxing their body just ask ‘what toxins?’. When they try to dismiss it with a answer like “you know all the bad stuff”. Say “no I want names, name the chemicals you are removing from your body”. This is about as far as you will get with most detoxers. Its particularly effective against those idiots who us the detox foot pads. Because it is actually really easy to prove that all they are getting is sweat and dirt from their feet. Another good question to pose is “What concentration of a particular toxin will make you sick”. If they fall into the trap of saying “any percentage can lead to ill health” You simply need to point out that “oxygen can be toxic to the human organism if it is taken in too higher concentration and pressure, that’s clearly a toxin. I think I will have to get all of that out of my body”. Basically the simple fact is that health is just not that simple. People want explanations that can be discussed over a cup of coffee in a lounge room. Everyone wants to be a health expert. The problem is the human body is just not that simple. Detoxing is a symptom of this overly simplistic view of how the human body functions.

M says:

09:00am | 29/02/12

I call bullshit, as evidenced by this scientific graph.

http://loneswimmer.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/exercise_zones.png

Troy says:

09:09am | 29/02/12

Reminds me of a joke:

Q: I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it… don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.
Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Eleanor says:

09:14am | 29/02/12

That’s basically what I said too, M. By that logic, triathletes should be dropping dead left, right and centre.

L. says:

11:58am | 29/02/12

“said he didn’t want to get his heart rate above 160bpm because…”

Irrespective of his reasoning, he is right.. 160BPM is a great exercise level as long as it is sustained for a reasonable time frame.

Think about it, it’s more than double a healthy resteing heart rate.

Natalie says:

02:20pm | 29/02/12

Gym instructors I’ve had in the past have all said my BPM should not be above 170-180 max. Maybe it’s because I’m big enough that it might give me a heart attack.
Either way, 160bpm is, according to the treadmills and ellipticals I’ve used, is a good rate for sustained exercise.

Eleanor says:

03:19pm | 29/02/12

Sure, it’s a good exercise level. For me, because I’m very small - about 155cm tall - I naturally have a higher resting heart rate, so I can be jogging at a reasonable and sustainable pace and still crack 180-200 bpm.  But damaging the heart tissue? Bollocks to that!

skye says:

09:53am | 29/02/12

Myth 8: Health Insurance is needed. You are better off opening a savings account and putting your premium in there for that purpose, health insurance is a scam.

Myth 9: Chiropractors are doctors.

Bertrand says:

10:48am | 29/02/12

@skye - well said.

After funneling thousands of dollars are year into private health I finally got the opportunity to use it after injuring my wrist doing strength training.

I got just over 50% of my physio costs back and would have been far far better off if I had never had private health insurance and just put the money into a bank. Now I do just that and have quite the nest-egg sitting there if I ever need it again.

Private health insurance is indeed a scam, and it is an industry that is only sustainable because it is heavily subsidised by the government and because people who don’t use it suffer tax penalties. What a fantastic product they must be offering if they can only attract customers through government ‘sticks and carrots’ intervention.

Jane2 says:

11:35am | 29/02/12

Myth 8a: Putting your money in a bank account vs buying insurance is more sensible.

Its only more sensible if you do not need to claim anything for multiple years. My comprehensive insurance is $92 per month so $1104pa. One ambulance trip like the one I had two years ago would have wiped that out (yes I know you can buy ambo membership which is cheaper than insurance) not to mention the surgery that would have wiped out about 5 years of savings…bush walking when I rolled my ankle REALLY badly, something an unfit person wouldnt do.

Unfortunately I do not have the mystical ability to predict when I will be injured, hence why I have insurance.

skye says:

12:22pm | 29/02/12

@Jane2, the very fact that you can’t predict when you will be injured is my point. You could be paying your $1104 for ten years and never use it. That’s $11040 for nothing. We also have a public health system in this country, I am fairly sure you could have found someone to operate on your ankle without paying through the nose. Or maybe you believe that public hospitals are inferior (even though a lot of private patients end up there anyway).

You also can’t predict exactly HOW you will be injured, so following your logic, everyone should be insured for everything, just in case. That is a hell of a lot of money! I wish I was an insurance company, man would I be rich!

Fiona says:

01:45pm | 29/02/12

Tell that to the people living with dodgy hips/knees for months on a public waiting list, years for dodgy tonsils Skye. Or a scenario more likely for a young woman, gallstones after a baby. Unless you start turning a nice shade of yellow, you can wait for months. This is what the private health insurance industry is for.

Slothy says:

02:03pm | 29/02/12

I’ve worked out that my partner and I have claimed more in benefits than we’ve paid in premiums in each of the three years we’ve had private health.

Of course, this has required my partner to get hit by a car and me to get my wisdom teeth out and then be diagnosed with an immune disease, so in hindsight I probably would’ve been okay with just wearing the premiums.

b says:

02:03pm | 29/02/12

Why do people expect to get something back from their health insurance on a regular basis? It is insurance people. You insure for when you need it - it is insuring against a risk. You don’t expect to get benefits from your car or house insurance. But would you forgo it? My mother has had private health insurance for as long as it has been available. She very rarely made claims. We live in a smaller regional area so our public hospital could not cope with the heart surgery she required at the beginning of 2010 - no cardiac surgery department. she was told to she could wait for surgery in Brisbane but it would probably be 2 years. The cardiologist said you need it now - you’ll be dead in 2 years. She went the private route, had surgery immediately and it was worse than they thought. She was on life support for 2 months, then came the time in ICU, 6 weeks in CCU, then physiohterapy just to learn to breath again. All up the bill would have been over $600,000.00 - that is why she has private health insurance.

skye says:

02:19pm | 29/02/12

Ok, I can absolutely see your points, and all I can conclude is that we are actually insuring against a bad public health system.

RTH25 says:

03:55pm | 29/02/12

Skye you are a twit, that is precisely WHY there is insurance for everything. You can even get pet insurance.

It’s all about risk vs reward.

It suits high risk individuals more to take insurance, that’s why insurance companies in general do not make huge profits through their insurance arms. Whilst several large insurers post large profit figures on a regular basis, most of them are propped up by non-insurance arms of their respective companies ie banking, capital investment, seal clubbing etc

twit says:

05:29pm | 29/02/12

@RTH25, my point was actually that self-insurance is the better way to go IMO, but thanks for the lesson on what insurance is and why it is needed, very informative.

Bec says:

01:57pm | 29/02/12

Some of the worst offenders are the so called lifestyle shows, too many “facts” are reported to us with no context and in many cases the ability for the consumer to do their own research is very limited.

Bad science and people’s growing reliance on news and social media for health advice lead to the prevalence of these beliefs.

Emma says:

08:51am | 29/02/12

What about sex?

iansand says:

09:13am | 29/02/12

But I am tolerably fit for my age, and my resting pulse rate is around 65.  If I wasn’t fit, it might be in the 85 - 90 range.  So I will live somewhere between 1/3 or 1/2 a lifetime longer than you.

I love statistics - you can prove anything.

I actually believe that the major influence on lifespan is genetics, and that everything else is tinkering around the edges. 

I have no scientific basis for either of these beliefs - perhaps you should add them to the list.

skye says:

09:56am | 29/02/12

@ Emma, yep, sex is the BEST exercise, i lost so much weight when I met my ex. Oh I miss him (only for the weight loss factor).

spartacus says:

10:05am | 29/02/12

Emma@ Sex is not exercise it is Pleasure!

skye says:

10:27am | 29/02/12

@spartacus, pleasurable exercise! What could be better? It’s the only one I can think of…...

I Love Lolcats says:

10:36am | 29/02/12

Emma: OK. I’m free at 11.

Eskimo says:

10:52am | 29/02/12

But exercise lowers your resting heart rate. It is possible to use less beats per day with exercise. Therefore, you will live longer by exercising.

M says:

11:36am | 29/02/12

Lol @ you guys still subscribing to the belief that the heart has a finite amount of beats built into it.

skye says:

12:34pm | 29/02/12

@M, not sure anyone ‘subscribed’ to that belief, ‘ignored’ that belief is probably more correct.

Jane2 says:

09:33am | 29/02/12

I have a friend who was a vegan who smokes. The even more amusing thing is he was told to eat more fat, preferably animal fat, because he didnt have enough cholesterol in his body and it was literally breaking down. Naturally he chose to avoid the better source, the animal fat, and is eating huge amounts of other fats to try to counter.

Even the big bady that is cholestoral is unfortunately also a goody if you want to be healthy

Shane* says:

09:39am | 29/02/12

Overheard in cafe: “Seriously, I can send you a few links. Once you read them you won’t eat processed food ever again. It’s crazy how sick it makes you and how many carcinogens it contains.”

The speaker: Woman with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of red in the other.

old fart says:

09:43am | 29/02/12

I see her logic, cigarettes are after all vegetable based

Lenny says:

09:52am | 29/02/12

Go to a Thai prision for 6 months as an inmate - you will loose plenty of weight!  healthly - Ummm no

Stop kidding yourself and exercise

Gymmer says:

10:04am | 29/02/12

This is very true M, but exercise will help speed the weight loss process up (and your metabolism) so if you have a fair bit to loose, or want to lose at a faster (but yet still sensible) rate then exercise combined with diet is best.

Cronus says:

10:27am | 29/02/12

@M

On the other hand, in November 2011 I started controlling my portions and exercising every other day (30 minutes on the treadmill, or going for a run outside) plus lifting some weights and have dropped from 137 kilos in November to 112 kilos as of this morning. Net loss of 25 kilos.

Makes losing 7kg in an entire year look pretty paltry by comparison.

M says:

10:37am | 29/02/12

@ Cronus, I only needed to lose 7kg. I’m now down to 82.

Eleanor says:

10:49am | 29/02/12

Weight loss is 90 per cent diet, 10 per cent exercise usually.

But, that said - slender people look better while dressed, but fit people look better naked

M says:

10:54am | 29/02/12

@ Lenny, Gymer, did you miss the part where I said excercise is important to leading a healthy lifestyle?

Gymmer says:

11:20am | 29/02/12

No, I didn’t miss that? I agreed with what you wrote (that most weight loss is down to diet) but that exercise in conjunction can help speed the weight loss process up if people want to do this. What is wrong with that? We can’t have a discussion about it? Geez dude.

L. says:

12:03pm | 29/02/12

“Since switching to a healthy diet, limiting myself to small protions,  3 meals a day and snacking on fruit instead of rubbish, I’ve dropped 7 kg in the past year.”

Which means nothing if you were a 5’3” female and 110Kg to start with.

Give us some context…

Brett the PT says:

01:58pm | 29/02/12

@M Do you know what percentage of the weight you have lost is fat? And what was muscle? If you diet without exercise you will not be able to sustain the lean muscle mass you currently have. Sure you will lose weight, but it will be both fat and muscle. Lean muscle requires energy to sustain, the more lean muscle you have, the higher your base metabolic rate ie the more energy you burn at rest. Heard of yo yo dieting? You come off your diet and gain more weight back. Why? Because you restricted caloric intake without exercise and loss muscle mass. So your meatbolic rate was slower, despite the weight lost.
Dont get me wrong, a controlled diet is important to leading a healthy lifestyle. But the No. 1 way to lose weight and maintian a healthy weight is resistance training. If you exercised, you could increase your caloric intake and still lose body fat. You cant decrease your caloric intake and increase your lean muscle mass

Natalie says:

02:26pm | 29/02/12

When you have lost weight through calorie reduction and such, it will be easier to exercise. So for the very large, I recommend that course of action. Because you can get fit much more easily when there’s less weight to lug around - plus you feel less timid about exercising in public because there’s less jiggly bits.
I have done it myself in the past. I gained it back later because I’m an emotional eater, however…

M says:

04:59pm | 29/02/12

@L, 5 foot 10, 82 kg.

@ Brett, I have a naturally muscular frame. I haven’t lost any muscle at all. Bicep measurements and chest measurements have remained the same, the only thing that’s shrunk is the love handles.

And yes, I intend to start excercising.

seth brundle says:

10:46am | 29/02/12

Its funny how vegetarians/vegans all look lke they are dying of cancer, isnt it?

Kika says:

11:28am | 29/02/12

I don’t. I’m 61kgs fit and very healthy. I am not fat. If being overweight is the yardstick for not having cancer, then yeah I must look like I have cancer!`

Mirror says:

12:11pm | 29/02/12

@seth

It’s funny how meat eaters look like their dying of obesity, isn’t it?

Lauren says:

12:23pm | 29/02/12

I think it’s more the quality of life though…I’m slim but not very fit and I feel sluggish & tired a lot.

But when I’m exercising reguarly & eating healthy, I may not LOOK a whole lot different, but I sure as hell feel it!

Natalie says:

02:33pm | 29/02/12

It depends, I think, on what brings you joy in life.

For me, one of the things that gets me up in the morning is food that most people would decline due to being full of fat and sugar.

For others, exercise or cigarettes or alcohol or, God forbid, eating nothing but vegetables, is what makes them happy. It isn’t for me though.

In my humble opinion, if you give up something that brings you joy, then your quality of life is going to be lessened. Sure, some things are going to cause health problems if you don’t give them up, but you kind of just have to weigh up your options.

For me, I am never going to give up junk food. Just isn’t going to happen. Every couple of years, I’m going to diet and get my weight under control, and after that it is inevitably going to creep back on. I might get health problems. I might be lucky and not. Que sera. I’ve made my peace with my choice.

JH says:

03:30pm | 29/02/12

I stopped eating meat 15 years ago and I’m considered to be in very good shape - athletic and healthy.  The comment I usually get after people have known me for a few years and find out I’m vegetarian is ‘I never would have guessed! You don’t look like a vegetarian’. Well this is because most vegetarians don’t look like the stereotype - we are generally healthy, normal-looking people who happen to have made a different choice about diet.

For me the decision not to eat meat was nothing to do with health - it was based on ethics. But my health has improved, which is just a bonus. Regular GP checkups have indicated that my health is excellent and my body is not deficient in any nutrients.

I’ve never understood why some people feel the need to attack my choice to not eat meat - is it driven by guilt/insecurity? I never bring it up as a topic and I’m accommodating, considerate and respectful of the fact that others are different from me.

I am healthy and I am very happy with the decision I made 15 years ago.

maybe says:

12:14pm | 29/02/12

I lol’d : “I eat them everyday and I am over 300 years old.”

skye says:

10:40am | 29/02/12

Finally something we can all agree on!

subotic says:

02:36pm | 29/02/12

Kika - speaking from her personal experience.

*crowd goes oooooohhhhh*

M says:

10:38am | 29/02/12

Australians Swear. Get over it.

Wayne Kerr says:

12:06pm | 29/02/12

Oh FFS it does not.

Stephen Fry on swearing and the tossers who whinge about it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_osQvkeNRM

dw says:

12:44pm | 29/02/12

I agree Jay.

Foul language lacks clarity - something I would imagine every journalist is seeking in their writing.

For example when Wayne Kerr writes FFS - the words actually have no meaning. “For fuck’s sake” or “For the sake of fuck” is meaningless.

Wayne may need foul language to try to communicate his anger, but as a wordsmith, Tory should lift her game.

Wayne Kerr says:

01:33pm | 29/02/12

“Foul language lacks clarity” - that’s what makes you a f#$ktard.

See it is perfectly clear that I think you are a f#$kwit and a retard.

dw says:

02:28pm | 29/02/12

Wayne’s reply supports Jay’s point that foul language detracts from overall respect and should be avoided by journalists.

Wayne Kerr says:

02:56pm | 29/02/12

No Wayne’s reply supports the point that you don’t get jokes and that your assumed air of prim intellectual superiority is entirely undeserved.

Oh I almost forgot… and that you’re a dickhead.

dw says:

03:48pm | 29/02/12

‘assumed air of prim intellectual superiority is entirely undeserved’ is much better use of the english language. It creates a clear mental image and communicates what you think in an original way.

Wayne Kerr says:

06:45am | 01/03/12

“‘assumed air of prim intellectual superiority is entirely undeserved’ is much better use of the english language. It creates a clear mental image and communicates what you think in an original way.”

And so does FFS, it highlights exasperation at the thought than anyone could be such a dense arsehole.

iansand says:

11:18am | 29/02/12

Swim.

Emma says:

11:56am | 29/02/12

As some people here have mentioned, exercise is good and healthy, but you can do it without. Considering you probably have a very exercise-free daily routine (as in desk job, not much running around or walking to work?) you might want to check on your daily intake of food/calories. Someone who is sitting all day, does not need a lot of energy. So rethink your portion sizes maybe. Its actually simple: When you notice you loose weight, then you know how much you should be eating.

Note: Dont go by portion sizes you see in restaurants or advertised or something. Its usually far too much they serve you.

Another tip: Write down what you eat. You might overlook the one or the other cookie.

Jane says:

01:10pm | 29/02/12

I second the swimming. I’m poor too, but if you can bite the bullet and buy a season pass at a pool it works out to be quite cheap per visit. I used to swim laps but I have arthritis (at 35) and I get hip pain. I tried hydrotherapy but find walking, or just moving against the resistance of the water is just as good. Warm water soothes the pain and it is easier to stretch when you’re warm and relaxed. If you can’t swim, you can always try kicking with a kickboard, a lot of people do this. Don’t consider running until you’ve built up some cardiovascular fitness and lost some weight, and then take it slowly and try intervals instead of running till you collapse! Set small, short term goals for yourself.

Even though you eat healthily, and there are some great references out there (like the CSIRO book), have you considered chatting to your GP or seeing a dietician? Again it’s a bit of cash to outlay but think of spending the money as investing in yourself.

Matthew says:

06:45am | 01/03/12

That’s the spirit - Struggle on Soldier! There’s life to be enjoyed yet. OK 1st off diet (which can be expensive to live healthy).
Breakfast - small prrodge/meusli with fruit and a teaspoon of honey.
Snack - seasonal fruit (especially if you can get it for free from someone’s tree)
Lunch - salad, take as many ingredients you like, I have lettuce, cucumber, celery, tomato, capsicum, olives, cabana (no more than 50g)  , cheese (no more than 25g) , a little onion, avocado with olive oil vinegar and a little salt and pepper
Snack - seasonal fruit (especially if you can get it for free from someone’s tree)
Dinner - ~150g of meat ( I choose the cheapest I can buy) with one or two serves of veg, at least one green vegetable (brussel sprout, broccoli, beans are my favourites)
Drinks - water or tea (black no sugar). If you absolutely must have oranje juice or similar then water it down (at least 5 parts water to one juice/softdrink).
Dietary additives - the diet above is pretty healthy there may be some additives you require (your doctor will help you with this) . I am not a big fan of fat burner this or mscle power that but I did used to take a multi-vitamin, a glucosamine and a fish oil (but totally non essential methinks)
Lifestyle - be busy as you can all the time, leave no time for sitting in front of the tele eating
Exercise - I like to exercise immediately after waking and immediately after work. In the morning I like to run/swim and in the evening I liked to go to gym or train for sports. Sat was an extra intensity day and Sun was a ore or less rest day (unless swimming). For you I can make a couple of suggestions for exercise. Try doing lunges, push-ups, squats, dips, sit-ups and plenty of floor crawling exercises (bear crawl on hands and feet, lizard walk, inch worm - these can be found on net in videos). The thing is your body is an excellent large free weight for training. Don’t go too hard, take any shortcuts (without compromising technique - get videos from net). When you work out do a little walk or whatever sort of jog you can get up to first to warm up your body and then do a few stretches before starting the main exercise)
Timetable - repeat every weekday, up the intensity of training on Sat Morning and then skip sat evening, and have a rest day on Sunday.

Hope this gives you some ideas to help yourself.

Drafnel says:

11:33am | 29/02/12

Agreed. Fat burning is all about heart-rate. There are lots of ways to get the heart-rate up without getting shin splints. Cross-country skiing (or an XC machine) and swimming come to mind.

I reckon having an active, whole-body hobby (sailing, horse riding, mountain-biking, surfing, whatever) is the way to go.

Runner says:

03:20pm | 29/02/12

@ Ben

Rubbish!  Been running for 30 years and have zero side effects.

iansand says:

02:26pm | 29/02/12

Supersized Maccas with a Diet Coke.  Cracks me up.

Natalie says:

03:09pm | 29/02/12

True, though can you imagine if they DIDN’T get the lite stuff? It’s still better to have light stuff than not. Sure, I get my McDonalds with a Diet Coke. It’s not entirely pointless… it’s still reducing your total calories, is it not?

Stephen says:

11:48am | 29/02/12

Doctors lie, Vaccines kill and are often times full of toxic chemicals they use for vaccine preservatives.  Makes it cheaper for keeping the vacines longer but it ends up with deaths from the terrible junk they inject the kids with.  Kids getting 6 in 1 vaccines also is a bad idea.  Its again cheaper but causes a lot more autism than it would if spread out.  Can’t do anything about it, the health industry protects itself and is worth billions and is corrupt.  The CDC of the USA helped push the WHO to declare Swine flu a pandemic, which caused governments of the world to buy $5-10 billion worth of Swine flu vacines.  Most were not used and destoryed.  within 1 year the head of the CDC quits and joins as the CEO of the vaccine department of the 2nd largest vaccine company in the USA.  Its corruption at the top and we end up getting injected with stuff we do not need more often than not.  Don’t believe everything some doctor, dentist or news site tells you research it yourself.

marley says:

12:22pm | 29/02/12

Point 1:  vaccines kill very rarely - much more rarely than the diseases they prevent. 
Point 2:  most childhood vaccines don’t contain preservatives. 
Point 3:  it’s easier for the child to get 6 vaccines in one shot than to have have six separate vaccines.  And the immunological load of those six shots is a fraction of a single shot vaccine you might have had 30 years ago. 
Point 4:  vaccines don’t cause autism. 
Point 5: the swine flu was a pandemic, just not a serious one.  My old grandmother used to say “better safe than sorry” and frankly, I think she was right.  Better to get the vaccine and find out that maybe you didn’t need it, than to get a new type of flu and then discover it’s the Spanish flu revisited.

Don’t believe everything some antivax, anti-science blogger says. Do the research yourself - with real websites.

Drafnel says:

12:28pm | 29/02/12

@Stephen, a competent and honest doctor will tell me whatever I need to know about a recommended vaccine or procedure. My gripe is the tendency to reassure the patient to the point of neglecting to mention genuine risks. It’s a form of treating the patient like an idiot. In my limited experience, nurses in particular tend to insist that every vaccine is really, really safe and can’t possibly cause any problems. I really don’t know why they do that, and I wish they wouldn’t.

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to claim a conspiracy behind swine flu. Yes, it ended up being a bit of a non-event, but I’d rather listen to the researchers’ claims that it has x% chance of being really serious than insist that it must be a swindle purely because someone, somewhere is probably making some money. Not sure how a CEO shifting company is the concrete proof of corruption that you claim.

Unfortunately, nutty consipracy theorists like you just give the establishment an excuse to dismiss genuine concerns.

Bob says:

02:16am | 01/03/12

Unfortunately at the same time, there’s also that kids get sick and kids die and the timing of that sickness will frequently be merely coincidental. You give it enough shots, and there’s bound to be enough anecdotal evidence to satisfy people who believe anecdotal evidence.

On a related thing, I used to work in tech support for an ISP. Whenever we advertised that we had made any change whatsoever to our system, each caller for the next two days would be convinced that their problem had something to do with this.

For the warning of risk thing, if you went into every single possible risk of anything you did, you’d never leave.  A bacteria might get into the tiny pinprick and cause an infection that takes my arm Likely? No. Possible? Yes.. All that can be possible is pointing out the likeliest problems, rather than the stuff that might only have a one in millions chance.

dw says:

12:26pm | 29/02/12

i’ve heard that anger and spite can also take it’s toll on one’s health…

CJ says:

12:45pm | 29/02/12

I’m not obese, but I am definitely overweight (bmi 26.1) and I consume only about 800 calories most days.  I do have an eating disorder though and have thoroughly screwed up my metabolism. So I can sympathize with bigger people who genuinely are trying to lose weight and having only limited success. Someone said calories in < calories out = weightloss. That’s true but not the whole picture, be careful about how much you cut down by be because you may do more harm to you effort than good.

Lauren says:

12:31pm | 29/02/12

I usually consume 8-10 drinks a week myself.

Unfortuantely they are all usually on the same night

Rach says:

01:56pm | 29/02/12

Here is another tip, get a smaller plate.

SA Chick says:

03:15pm | 29/02/12

Well done! Awesome effort Mark. People are natually very good at complicating things when all they need to do is keep it simple. More veggies/less Chocolate. More fruit, less cake.

Mark says:

07:45pm | 29/02/12

SA Chick, you’re dead right, the more complicated people make it for the themselves, the easier it is to say its too hard.

nankypoo says:

01:15pm | 29/02/12

“My old granddad didn’t drink alcohol, smoke, eat to excess or go out with bad women, and he lived to 125!”

Why would you want to?

Bio Logic says:

02:55pm | 29/02/12

Sure thing Hambone. Thing is that all these “burnt out husks” don’t die like a lightbulb turning off, but run to the hospital and demand chemo, radiotherapy and surgery, slowly falling apart until they die a few years later. These are not happy people.

Hambone says:

03:25pm | 29/02/12

Well Bio Logic, we would if you nambys stopped pretending life was so precious. Use up the body and then a quick trip to the kevorkian to finish it off, easy done.

This Internet guy says:

09:22pm | 29/02/12

Hambone, none of them want to die. None of them. And it’s not because of a lack of options, they just realize how much they want to live.

LJ says:

07:13pm | 29/02/12

DJ - that is not research.  That is woo.  Made up and twisted science.  Read some peer reviewed research and then talk about REAL research.

subotic says:

04:02pm | 29/02/12

Where’s the dowdy lesbians?

Too many Scoby snacks if you ask me…..

Gymmer says:

05:18pm | 29/02/12

Natalie. Some people, believe it or not, do actually have medical conditions that mean it is difficult and slow to lose weight and easy to put it on. I had a doctor diagnose me (mine is genetic it seems) and I’ve got the test results. It is not just a case of calories in and calories out. The type of calories matter a great deal for some people. I can’t eat hardly any carbs - if I do then I can kiss any chance of maintaining (let alone losing) my weight. Yet I watch my friends being able to eat normal amounts of carbs, desserts etc. without putting any weight on.  I am not overweight (anymore, was about 10-5kg too heavy a while ago) but I have to put in 7 high intensity work outs a week, eat low calories and very little carbs in order to just be in a normal weight range.  So while I have no sympathy for those who kid themselves about what they eat, do very little exercise and can’t understand why they are big I know what it’s like to work so hard for such slow or little reward.