If you were looking for another reason to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup here it is.  Mercury!

Researchers Find Traces of Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup

researchers say they have detected traces of the silvery metal in samples of high-fructose corn syrup, a widely used sweetener that has replaced sugar in many processed foods.

The HFCS story is just getting worse and worse.  Stay away.

Super geek and futurist Ray Kurzweil is known for his brilliant insight into the future of technology and computers.  

Upon reading an article about him on life extension I learned that he uses this ROM machine for quick, intense 4 minute workouts.  Much like the fast paced cardio workouts I prescribe to boost fat loss. It appears that Kurzweil is really on to something.  Come on, there’s no arguing that the guy is brilliant.  

I really believe that this is the future of fitness.  Long gone are the days where you spend hours a week at the gym receiving little to no results.  It’s all about quality intense workouts in a short period of time.  Although, I really don’t think you need a $14,000 machine to do this.

By the way The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology is a great book.  I highly reccomend it.  

It’s one of my favorite exercises for training and developing solid core musculature.  I also like the cable wood chop because it teaches you a nice synergistic relationship between the “core” and the hips.  An extremely important relationship if you’re at all concerned with your back and shoulder health.

You’ll notice in the video I use a more rhythmic pace as opposed to a nice slow controlled pace.  I’ve found that when training the rotational aspect of the core I get a much better response from them if I’m requiring them to be “reactive” to the movement.

Tips:

1.  Keep yourself athletic with soft knees and elbows.

2.  Keep yourself from slouching, you want to maintain neutral spine and braced abdominals.

3.  Allow your hips to follow through with the movement.  

San Diego elephants lose weight on ‘dumbo’ diet

Over the past 9 years 7 Elephants of the San Diego Zoo have lost a combined weight of 11,314 lbs.  Most of the captive elephants we see are much more passive then their wild counterparts and so they tend be a bit more overweight.

The elephants lost this weight through an increase in activity and a decrease in the amount of calories consumed (diet & exercise).  The weight loss was calculable and consistent.

So what does this have to do with you?  I’ll admit, we as people do not have a lot in common with elephants.  But we do share a similar metabolism when it comes to energy in and energy out.  

So why do you have so much trouble losing weight and the elephants seem to be rock stars at it?  

Two things.

1.  You think too much.

2.  You have a choice.

Mind set is the number one reason why so many people have trouble when it comes to losing weight.  Some believe that they are somehow magically destined to be obese their entire lives.  Unless of course they find that magic diet or pill to counteract the magic curse.

Remember, it’s not so much the diet or routine you’re on.  It’s more about your ability to stay consistent and follow things through to the end.  These elephants don’t have a choice in the matter.  You do.