Leo Chiang DOT COM

It feels like summer is finally here! I’m running around in nothing but shorts and sandals and I’m anxious to head down to Wreck Beach (local clothing optional beach), don’t worry I’ll spare you the photos In preparation of spending more time outdoors, I’ve gone ahead and bought myself a grill for my patio. I’ve held off on purchasing one because of space, my little one bedroom condo just lacks the patio space to make buying a full-size grill unpractical. The strata by-law also probibits anything other than gas fueled (propane/butane) grills, so those charcoal grills and habachis were out of the question.

It’s funny that General Motors would come to the rescue with their Hummer Grill. I kid you not! The thing is built tough and sturdy and the beauty of its compact size is that it actually flips around like a Transformer into a suitcase/luggage contraption that is small enough to easily store or transport. A friend and I had some nice rib steaks the day after buying the Hummer and enjoyed it with some nice, cold beers as I enjoyed the view of the park across the street. It’s gonna be a great summer!

This edition of Friday Health Check covers the topic of caloric intake. Another reason why the grill is a thing of beauty as high protein foods (like meat) help to keep you feeling fuller, longer and speeds the metabolism. Kill it and grill it!

Feeling Full with Fewer Calories

People eat 300 calories per day more than they did in the 1970s. Also, more than 60 percent of people fail to meet the minimum physical activity recommendations of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, five days per week. The combination of too many calories and not enough exercise has created an obesity epidemic in America, with more than 65 of the population overweight or obese. Scientists are searching fora way to make people feel full while taking in fewer calories. Danish scientist Dr. Arne Atsup, in a review of literature, reported that people can lose 5 to 10 pounds in six months by reducing dietary fat from 37 percent to 27 percent of daily calorie intake. Men and women have trouble staying on low-fat diets because the food doesn’t taste good. Substituting protein for carbohydrates and fats helps get rid of hunger and speeds metabolism, which promotes weight loss and helps keep it off. High-sugar soft drinks promote obesity because they don’t suppress hunger, which encourages people to consume more calories. (International Journal Obesity, 30: S4-S9, 2006)

Posted on May 25th, 2007 by Leo
Filed under: Friday Health Check