Friends and weight

One reason I like longitudinal studies [long term/same people] is that researchers can mine the data and find much over the years...even when it wasn't the original idea of the study.

The Framingham study is one such a research project. This project followed people in Framingham, Mass for decades beginning in 1948 as the Framingham Heart Study. The health and social data collected is still being analyzed today.

One of the very recent findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine is based on the large social networks of many the persons who have been part of the study for decades.

Social and weight data from 1971 to 2003 was analyzed by Harvard researchers who found that you are more likely to become obese if your friends are obese. As one who heard "birds of a feather flock together" from my mother [when she did not like what my friends were doing] this is not a surprise.

The question was raised as to whether we'd lose weight or be thin if we hung around with skinnier people...the researchers said yes - but they found on the average that most people were gaining as they aged. some think this is inevitable but I do not. I still think it is a myth - we gain if we do not change our eating to stay in balance with our metabolism - and that changes as we age...

You can be lean at any point in your lifespan...but I guess not if you hang around with obese people.

Next question? If you choose to get leaner - will that affect your best friend's weight? I think yes...but you have to do your thing and not get caught up in theirs..and we are social creatures...

Weighty issues : - )

I have been following my own advice for a few weeks. Figured if I was working with people on eating for their own metabolism I ought to recheck my own eating....and whoops I was not doing enough protein for me.

So since the 4th of July - I added protein in the form of bison and have lost 5 pounds. Even better - I lost 3 inches on my hips and 3 around my waist. I feel great! And am looking much leaner...my friends have asked if I lost a lot of weight. Nope - just getting lean...

I'm also still exercising although I took off last week [too hot ]- but it seemed to not make a difference - I jumped right back into my usual routine this week with no problems.

29 years ago today....

My son was born - in Boston, Massachusetts.....now I live in Oregon and he lives in Illinois....with more than a few stops for each of us in those 29 years....

But today we are in Portland and I had brunch with that now 29-year-old... it's been 2 years in a row that I have seen him on his birthday - that after years of not seeing him in July as we were on very different schedules...

He, his significant other, and I had a tasty meal and chatted for hours....he is out here helping her pack up as she is moving to Chicago with him...

And he still thinks it's funny that I again said that I can't believe he is 29 as I have not aged 29 years since July 15, 1978 -
[I have said this for many of his birthdays - changing only the number : - )]

I am not alone in this thinking - I've met other mothers who say the same or very similar things - we all recall the births of our children as if they were recent....so we can't have really aged as many years as our children...can we?

What dorks!

Today I got a message from someone who filled out the more info form...it was from one of those scammer/spammers I had mentioned - the ones who tell you that someone with your surname died, etc...

So now we know that the scammer/spammers troll blogs to find names and go thru the same idiocy of telling you they will help you lie to authorities to get money...[of course they claim it's all legal - except you are to keep it a secret]

but to do this to bloggers who are onto them is hilarious...

I know they spam most people but they are targeting those over 50 whom they think are more apt to fall for the scam...

Ahhh - more fun as we age

Pictures from a delightful cruise Wednesday evening ...

Parabens ARE in the news!

I had said one doesn't read much about parabens in the news - but this week they ARE in the news.. but not here in the USA - they are in the European news..

some quotes

From Tenerife:

Cosmetics and the dangers therein: lipstick, moisturisers, shampoo, deodorant and even soap

Women’s health may be put at risk by the chemicals in various toiletries, and apparently we use twelve such products every day of our lives! This may mean that we are being exposed to as many as 175 different chemicals that may include ingredients linked to cancers, hormone problems and skin irritations. There are actually three commonly found ingredients that can be especially dangerous.

Parabens are preserving agents that are often used in body creams and moisturisers and have been linked to breast cancer and skin inflammations.
Sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate are used in shampoos and can irritate the skin.

Full article HERE

From the UK:

Dusting off preservatives
[July 9, 2007]

One of the most common types of ingredient in consumer products is the preservative, added by manufacturers to prevent spoilage during storage and use. Numerous compounds fulfil this function and they can be classified according to their mode of action. Antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (NHT) act by inhibiting oxidation whereas bactericides kill off bacteria and antimicrobials destroy fungi and parasites, as well as bacteria.

The parabens are a group of esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, hence their name, and the methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters are generally employed. Triclosan (TCS) is a chlorinated phenoxyphenol derivative. Together TCS and the parabens are widely used preservatives found in cosmetics, personal care products such as shampoos and shaving gels, toothpastes, canned foods, beverages and textiles.

Despite being used for many years without any apparent long-term health problems, several recent studies have cast doubt on the safety of the parabens. They have been accused of being endocrine disruptors and have been found in breast cancer tissue but opinion on their safety to humans remains divided. In addition, TCS has been found in human breast milk, urine and plasma and it has been reported to disturb thyroid function. [Full article no longer available.]

Parabens are not good for you...but there is paraben free skin care - see what it has done for me....
http://growolderbetter.blogspot.com/2007/06/8-weeks-of-skin-care.html

Are we hot yet?

I'm cross-posting this from my politikal blog [lynnsrants] as hot , hotter and hottest weather is not good for bodies...If you are in a region that will be or are experiencing heat advisories, stay out of the sun and drink a lot of water....

I have only lived in Oregon for 3 years but do understand that temperatures in the 100's in Portland are not usual. Last year the heat wave [global warm?] came later in July - this year it starts later today [July 9th]...

As one who does not tolerate high temperatures very well - I must be careful...and as I do not have air conditioning - my computer and I will be taking time off this week as it soars into the 100 plus range here...thankfully, I can roll right into the Columbia River to cool off....or kayak to a beach and swim where my feet touch bottom : - )

My dog and cat are already staying in the house - and that is totally not like either of them...I watch them for impending weather - they are good forecasters!

Is the globe warmer? I say yes...Having lived in the Boston area for about 15 years [60's and 70's], I recalled only a very few days during that time frame where it got to near or over 100. While in D.C. [80s and 90's] many summers were unbearable as the outside temps were in the high 90's [plus] during the day and "cooled off" to the high 80's at night...Then I moved back to New England, further north than Boston and saw record heat almost every summer...more days near 100 than in my entire time in Boston... And now heat waves in July in Oregon!

Hmm...the wing nuts, during the cold spells last winter laughed about global warming as it was cold - we had very unusual cold here in Portland...the nay-sayers fail to understand that global warming produces both hot and cold climate changes...

Now look at the recent devastation in Texas , the fires out West and the heat waves in Europe. If you are older than 50 - you know this is an odd pattern of weather..

For me, I'd like to to see reduced global warming.. someday I'd like to have grandchildren who can see glaciers on Mt. Hood or in Glacier National Park...to be able to enjoy a summer outside an air conditioned building..to not be subjected to heat advisories and smog alerts...to breather cleaner air, to swim in cleaner waters, have birds and fish to look at, and see the country as I saw back in the 50's and 60's....


My "backyard" hammock......

The scams get funnier by the day

There seems to be a cycle to the banking scams. Of late the ones I get all indicate that they "received" my information and are just confirming it before they actually "send" the millions.

Today's version indicates they are about to send "my" money to a particular person and indicate that person's name and banking information and ask me if that is actually "my" representative.
[I have removed the name and bank info they used.]

The funniest part is that the sender uses this as his "title:"

Paymaster General of the Federation,
Federal Ministry of Finance

Sorry but no legitimate banking people would be offering to break all manner of law to send me any money...or to send you any money either. And what exactly is a senate committee for foreign over due fund transfer?

Beware of these scams - laugh at them and delete them...or post them here for all of us to read : - )

Attn: Honourable Beneficiary,

Re: Your Over Due Contract/Inheritance Funds Approval.

This is to notify you that your over due contract/inheritance funds has been gazette to be released, via key telex transfer (KTT) -direct wire transfer to you or through any of our correspondent bank nominated by the senate committee for foreign over due fund transfer.

Meanwhile, a man came to my office few days ago with a letter, claiming to be your true representative. Here are his information for you to confirm to this office if this man is truly from you or not so that the Federal Government will not be held responsible for paying into the wrong account.

Name: [removed]
Bank Name: [removed]
Bank Address: Henderson,NV, USA 89014
Account Number: [removed]
Routing Number: [removed]

Please, do reconfirm to this office, as a matter of urgency if this man is from you. You are requested to fill and send this information for verifications purposes so that your fund valued U.S$12.5 Million Dollars will be remitted into your nominated bank account as follow:

(1) Your Full Name And Address:
(2) Your Age And Marital Status:
(3) Your Occupation:
(4) Your Telephone/Fax Number:
(5) Your Nationality:
(6) Your Bank Account Detail:

As soon as we receive the above requested information, we will commence with all necessary procedures in other to remit your money/funds into your account.

However, we shall proceed to issue all payments details to the said Mr. [removed], if we do not hear from you within the next seven working days from today. We are sorry for any inconvenience the delay in transferring of this fund must have caused you.

Best regards,

Dr. Jubril Bello
Paymaster General of the Federation,
Federal Ministry of Finance.

July 4th

Have a safe and sane 4th of July!

Veggie Booty snacks

As there are readers of all ages...this is for anyone who might have bought Veggie Booty snacks for their kids or grandkids...

If you have any of these Veggie Booty snacks around - throw them out!

Snack implicated in 17-state Salmonella outbreak

Jun 29, 2007 (CIDRAP News) – An epidemiologic investigation of 52 cases of Salmonella infection in 17 states, most of them in children, has prompted a nationwide recall of a snack called Veggie Booty, federal health agencies reported yesterday.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to throw away any Veggie Booty on hand. The snack is made of puffed rice and corn with a vegetable coating and is sold in flexible plastic foil bags in 4-ounce, 1-ounce, and half-ounce sizes, federal officials said...The FDA listed the states and numbers of cases in the outbreak as follows: California, 7; Colorado, 5; Connecticut, 1; Georgia, 1; Indiana, 1; Massachusetts, 3; Minnesota, 2; New Hampshire, 2; New Jersey, 2; New York, 13; Oregon, 1, Pennsylvania, 3; Tennessee, 1, Texas, 1; Vermont, 3; Washington, 4; and Wisconsin, 2.

Full article HERE