By Steve Edwards

No matter how commercialism or politics try to interfere, the Olympics is still the bastion of good old-fashioned sporting entertainment. Sure, there are a lot of high-profile athletes at the Games, but most of them have slaved away in obscurity for one chance to shine in the spotlight. By the time you get this, the Olympics will be in full swing, but most of the story lines will still be developing. Here are some of our favorites.

Michael Phelps. You’d have to have been hiding out in a cave to not have heard about his quest to break Mark Spitz’s record of seven gold medals in a single Olympics, but that doesn’t mean it’s not dramatic. He’s already been involved in what’s being called the greatest race in the history of swimming, and he still has six events to go.

The fastest swimming venue ever. The Chinese pulled out all of the stops for their pool, which was designed to help swimmers move as fast as possible. In one race, six swimmers broke the existing world record, which was set in the previous race. And this is just day two.

The war on drugs. A Spanish cyclist (shocking) became doping scandal number one at the Games on day two. World Anti-Doping Agency officials are predicting 30–40 positives during the Olympics, yet almost every athlete caught feigns surprise and says their sport is clean. Is this the year it finally blows up?

Dream Team II. Embarrassed at faltering on the world’s stage, the USA has put together its best group since the original Dream Team hammered the world in ’92. But basketball has changed a lot in the last decade, and even with LeBron and Kobe, gold is hardly a forgone conclusion.

The Ex-Pat Games. More than 30 foreign-born athletes will compete for the USA in Beijing. What do you do when you haven’t won a middle-distance medal in decades? Nationalize a Kenyan. But we’re not alone. WNBA all-star Becky Hammon will play for Russia, and Clipper Chris Kaman will play for Germany, even though both were born and raised in America. The U.S. coach called Hammon a traitor. Hammon counters that she wasn’t even invited to try out for the U.S. team. If this continues, the Olympics could go the way of the America’s Cup—where the best athletes sign on with the highest bidder.

The dash. Whatever you do, don’t miss the 100-meter final. It should feature the three fastest runners in history.

Women’s gymnastics. The China vs. USA rivalry in women’s gymnastics is one for the ages. They’ve traded ever-so-close victories over the last two years. The rubber match is on the biggest stage of all.

Liu Xiang. The 110-meter high hurdler from China has a tad bit of pressure on him. He’s been the best hurdler in the world over the last few years. This year, however, someone has run faster. Xiang has been called the savior of Chinese track and field, and his coach reportedly said that if he doesn’t win in Beijing, all of his accolades mean nothing. But don’t worry about that. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
Is 40 the new 20? 41-year-old Dara Torres began swimming again just to get in shape after having a baby. Now she’s making her fifth trip to the Olympics. 39-year-old Sheila Taormina has become the first person to qualify for the Games in three different sports. And cyclist Jeanne Longo, 49, who has competed in seven Olympic Games, is already talking about the next one.

Beachbody goes to the Olympics. Okay, so maybe this isn’t a story to watch, but we’ll be blogging live from China during the second half of the games. P90X is now a legitimate training program used by high-level athletes. We’re always on the lookout for the next great thing. Maybe we’ll find it in Beijing.

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By Denis Faye

In your neck, under your larynx, you’ll find a less-than-an-ounce gland that looks like a butterfly—a very ugly butterfly. This is your thyroid, and believe it or not, this tiny lump of flesh regulates your entire metabolism. When it works, your metabolism works and life is fine. But when it doesn’t work? Well, it’s pretty amazing how one little butterfly can cause so many problems. The thyroid’s task is relatively simple. It takes the iodine you get from your diet, usually from seafood and iodized salt, and combines it with an amino acid (a protein-building block) called tyrosine to create two hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones then travel throughout your system, regulating your metabolism, or the conversion of oxygen and calories to energy.

There are numerous things that can go wrong with your thyroid. Here’s just a small sample:

Goiter, an enlargement of the gland that can easily be removed.
Thyroid Cancer, which can also usually be removed.
Hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid makes too much hormone.
Hypothyroidism, when it isn’t making enough.

Usually, medications can get hyperthyroidism under control; however, removing a portion of the gland is sometimes required. Keep in mind that if you suffer from hyperthyroidism, it’s best to ask your doctor about any vitamins or supplements you might be taking. Some vitamins and supplements contain iodine, like Beachbody’s ActiVit® Multivitamins and Total Health Women’s Formula. You’ll want to avoid iodine, given that you’re trying to slow your thyroid and iodine just stimulates it.

On the other side of the fence, there’s hypothyroidism. There are two primary causes of this condition. First, it can occur when you’ve had a hunk of your thyroid removed to deal with something like cancer, a goiter, or ironically, hyperthyroidism. The second most common cause of hypothyroidism is a swelling of the gland that leaves most of its cells dead. Often, the cause for this is called autoimmune thyroiditis, when the body’s own immune system turns on the thyroid, causing inflammation. There are several symptoms of hypothyroidism, including:

Fatigue and weakness

Depression

Constipation

Dry skin

Hair loss

Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight

Often, people who are having problems losing weight will instantly point at their thyroids. It’s a fine thing to check—a simple blood test usually does the trick—but keep in mind that you’ll most likely have some of those other symptoms as well.

If you do have hypothyroidism, it’s usually easily treatable with medication, often a synthetic form of the T4 hormone. Keep in mind, though, that getting the treatment just right is a little bit of a guessing game. It might take your medical professional a few medications to find the right one, and even when he or she does, it can take a couple months for your hormone levels to get back to normal. And even then, patients often find that losing weight remains difficult. There could be many reasons for this, including other medications you’re taking, such as antidepressants or steroids. Stress can also play a factor, as can depression or other hormonal imbalances. But this is no reason to give up on fitness. Even though your metabolism is impaired, it’s still there and you’ll benefit from exercise by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Proper medical treatment plays a major role in treating thyroid issues, but there are also two important things you can do.

Exercise. The main problem with hypothyroidism is that your metabolism has slowed down. The simple fact is that muscle takes more energy than fat to maintain, so if you exercise, you raise even a slow metabolism. Also, working out can help you deal with some of the other problems associated with the condition, including depression. So whether you choose 10 Minute Trainer, Hip Hop Abs, or Turbo Jam, make exercise a priority, but remember to consult with your physician before beginning any exercise program.

Diet. Obviously, a healthy, calorie-controlled diet can still help you lose weight, or at the very least, it can help prevent additional weight gain. Additionally, numerous studies point to some foods containing goitrogens, naturally occurring substances that interfere with thyroid function. Avoiding large amounts of these foods, particularly raw, is a good idea. Your nutritionist should be able to provide you with more information about goitrogens. Here’s a partial list:

Soybean-based foods, such as tofu and soy milk

Cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard, rutabaga, and turnips. (Note that if your thyroid is healthy, these veggies are all still good for you. Nice try.)

Millet

Peaches

Peanuts

Pine nuts

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By Joe Wilkes

A while back, we tested your fast food saturated fat IQ, but do you know which of these favorites have the most saturated fat (the bad artery-clogging kind)? Rank them from lowest to highest sat fat content.

One half of a rotisserie chicken. The chicken is the lowest with 9 grams of saturated fat (most of which could be avoided if you remove the skin). It has 31 grams of total fat (almost half the recommended daily allowance [RDA]), 68 grams of protein, 0 grams of carbohydrates, and 557 calories. It’s a great high-protein, low-carb option; and if you can resist the skin, it can also be a low-fat option.

4 strips of bacon and 3 eggs, fried. This favorite breakfast combo has the second lowest saturated fat content, with 10 grams of saturated fat. It has over 33 grams of fat total (about half the RDA), with 30 grams of protein, less than 2 grams of carbs, and 436 calories.

Grilled cheese sandwich (2 slices of white bread, 2 slices of American cheese, grilled in 2 tablespoons butter). This has 18 grams of saturated fat (14 of which come from the butter) and 28 grams of total fat. This is actually the dish with the lowest fat content overall. If you toast the sandwich in your broiler, you could lose most of the fat content. The sandwich also has 30 grams of carbs, 12 grams of protein, and 432 calories—the lowest calorie count on the list, but almost as much as the bacon and eggs.

One cup of vanilla Häagen-Dazs ice cream. This dessert packs a whopping 22 grams of saturated fat, more than twice the bacon and eggs and almost as much as the porterhouse steak. It has 36 grams of fat overall, 42 grams of carbs (mostly sugar), and 10 grams of protein to show for its 540 calories (almost as much as the half-chicken).

One 12-ounce porterhouse steak (fat trimmed). This has 24 grams of saturated fat, about a day and a half of what the government would recommend. The steak contains your entire day’s allowance of total fat, 68 grams. At 964 calories, it runs away with the calorie-count prize, too. It does boast 80 grams of protein and zero carbohydrates, which would make it an Atkins hall-of-famer.

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By Monica Ciociola

Who do you blame when your best-laid diet plans go awry? There are obvious culprits, like the 36-billion-dollar-a-year food industry that pushes us to eat more, eat on the go, and try all sorts of pseudofoods probably unrecognizable to our grandparents. Then, there are the more elusive saboteurs. Here are 5 ways to spot the signs of diet sabotage and avoid them!

You think that working out every day entitles you to eat as much as you want. Sorry, but it doesn’t work like that. In your haste to pop in the Turbo Jam® DVDs, you may have missed the Turbo Jam fitness and nutrition guide. Now would be a good time to crack open the book to the “Diet” section. You’ll be happy to learn that eating it up “Turbo Style” doesn’t mean giving up the foods you love. Refer to Beachbody’s popular Michi’s Ladder as a helpful nutrition guideline.

You dropped 10 pounds in your first week and can’t wait for your next Fatburger. While it’s great to reward yourself for a job well done, if your ultimate goal is to lose weight, a place like Fatburger probably isn’t the best choice. Instead, how about heading to the spa for a day of beauty or indulging in a not-so-naughty, low-calorie treat, like a cup of nonfat yogurt or a serving of your preferred nuts?

You hit your goal weight, and now you’re feeling a little cocky. If you start to rest on your laurels and go back to your pre-Beachbody eating habits of pizza, fries, and soda, the pounds are bound to come right back. To really lose the weight for good, you’ll need to change your eating habits and embrace a healthier lifestyle. The Message Boards are a great place to find the support you need to lead a fitter, healthier lifestyle.

You’re ready for dessert, while the rest of the table is still working on their appetizers. All those nights of eating in front of the TV make it hard to remember that food should be eaten slowly and with pleasure. Inhaling your food doesn’t give your stomach enough time to send the message to your brain that it’s about to explode. So, if you’re a fast eater, try to slow it down by eating with other people and taking a break for air, water, or conversation after each bite.

Dinner preparation consists of dialing your local Chinese restaurant. Having lived in NYC for 8 years with a kitchen the size of my mouse pad and every type of cuisine just a speed dial away, I picked up some pretty bad habits. The trouble with restaurants is that their entrees could feed a family of five (but yet they start to seem normal), and they sneak in extra oils, sauces, and dressings. Learn to prepare your own food in a way that’s convenient for you, like washing all your lettuce, veggies, herbs, fish, and poultry on Sunday for the week ahead. You can also make vats of soup, pasta, and brown rice that you’ll be able to microwave throughout the week.

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By Steve Edwards

Is Atkins back? The oft-maligned high-protein diet won in a battle between some of the more popular weight loss diets. In an extensive 2-year study, participants who followed a high-protein diet lost more weight than those who followed a low-fat or a Mediterranean diet. But before you throw out your whole grains and stock your fridge with steak and butter, read on. Let’s take a close look at this study to clarify what it means, and to try to help you determine what should be the right diet for you.

The main message of the study could be that dieting works because all of the participants lost weight. Surprisingly, however, those on a high-protein diet lost more weight and improved their cholesterol levels more than those on a low-fat diet. The third option, a Mediterranean diet plan, fell in the middle. Women, however, showed the best results on this plan.

What makes this study so special is that it was done in a very controlled environment—an isolated nuclear plant in Israel—and that most participants (85 percent) stuck with it to the end. All of the 322 participants ate lunch at a cafeteria with a controlled menu and had very few options for fast/junk-type food outside of work. Most of them were male. The average weight loss for the high-protein diet was 10.3 pounds. The Mediterranean dieters averaged 10 pounds lost, and those on the low-fat regimen averaged 6.5 pounds lost.

For those of you on Beachbody® programs, whether P90X®, Slim in 6®, or Yoga Booty Ballet®, these numbers might not seem too impressive. The study was conducted without any exercise requirement, and the chosen group did not necessarily include participants needing to lose a lot of weight. We know we can get far better results with a Beachbody-type of fitness plan, but the results of this study can still help us refine our own diets. Let’s look at some of the main questions the study brought to the forefront.

Is Dean Ornish an idiot? The popular “good guy” of the American diet, as seen on TV, was skewered in this study by proponents of the often-vilified Robert Atkins approach. Does this mean that we’ve been bamboozled by the media? Not exactly. But the “Ornish plan” that’s been adopted by our government and recommends getting less than 30 percent of our calories from dietary fat might need to be reconsidered. In this study, those who ate more fat saw their cholesterol indicators fall by nearly double. However, it must be noted that there was no pre-study cholesterol criteria. It’s possible—and probably likely—that those choosing the low-fat approach had better cholesterol numbers to begin with. Another consideration is that the Ornish approach (that includes a lot of fruits and veggies) has a lot more margin for error should one stray from the diet, which we’ll look at in more depth below.

Should I try getting my copy of Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution back from the Salvation Army? Maybe, but this study does nothing to overturn the reason the public turned on Atkins in the first place. The high-protein approach—popularized but not invented by Dr. Atkins—still has merit as a diet plan. Where the Atkins folks went wrong—though the diet still became popular, it should be noted—was by hyping up their plan as the one that allowed you to eat bacon, butter, and fatty meats. While this is true for a portion of a high-protein diet, it’s not something that works well within the scope of an entire meal plan. Atkins tried to reverse this thought pattern by adding phases to the diet plan, but the damage had already been done; carbs had become vilified and fat was “where it was at.” The problem was that this only worked during the early phases of the diet; that’s if the participants were strict enough to keep their bodies running without blood glycogen. Once you began to cheat, you were eating a very dangerous high-fat diet. Atkins advocates, in part, funded this study, so we should be suspicious. But the reason they did is because they knew that their plan would fare well. Cutting your carbohydrate intake, especially in the early phase of a diet plan and when you aren’t doing much exercise, is very effective for weight loss and health in general.

What was that about women? Oh, yeah, in the study, women did the best on the Mediterranean diet. Since most “dieters” are women, it’s rare when a study features less of them, but that’s what happens when you use a nuclear facility as a venue. In the study, the Mediterranean diet was similar to the low-fat plan except that more emphasis was placed on eating nuts, fish, and olive oil—all of which are outstanding fat sources.

What does the small print say? Even though Atkins proponents funded the study, it wasn’t a steak and cheese festival. According to the Associated Press, the study “urged dieters to choose vegetarian sources of fat and protein.” This is a far cry from the public perception of the Atkins plan. Essentially, each dietary plan used primarily healthy foods, recommending that most calories come from plant sources. This meant that all three options were more or less healthy, the defining difference being the percentage of carbohydrates versus the percentage of fat in the participants’ diets. The more sedentary you are, the fewer carbohydrates your body needs to function properly. Therefore, the findings make perfect sense, assuming that the average exercise level was fairly low.

How much exercise did the participants get? Not much, from the looks of it. Exercise was not a component of the study, except for one comment stating that participants “got roughly the same amount of exercise.” But where carbohydrate intake is concerned, exercise is the major component. The more exercise a person does, the more carbohydrates (and overall calories) he or she needs to eat, even to lose weight. A more thorough study would have been to add an exercise element and then see how each participant responded to various phases. What would likely have been the answer? The high-protein participants would have transitioned to being low-fat participants as they added exercise and got into better shape. This is because as you add exercise, you need to add calories. And more of these additional calories should be carbohydrates because they are directly burnt off during exercise. Carbohydrates are fuel. The more driving you do, the more you need to eat.

Final observations. This study does a good job of pointing out the importance that dietary fat plays in our diets. It doesn’t exactly vindicate Atkins, but it shows the reason he wrote his books in the first place. It reminds us that most people eat more carbohydrates than they burn off. By inference, we can conclude that this is a highly dangerous way to eat and the major culprit in our obesity epidemic. Therefore, reducing carbs tends to improve that average person’s health indicators, especially those who are overweight and/or sedentary. The study used healthy sources of fat and protein. This was not the way the original Atkins plan was structured, but it is a far safer approach because those who cheat will then still have a healthy nutrient base. It left out exercise. If that were a component, it’s certain that we would have seen the numbers from the lower-fat approach improve as the participants became fitter, since we need to eat more carbs, but not necessarily more fat and protein, to fuel our exercises.

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