Today is Memorial Day here in the US, a day meant to be spent in reflection and remembrance for those who gave their lives so that we may live free.  I was born in Israel, at the close of the Yom Kippur war, with my father in the hospital bed next to mine recovering from his injuries.  I know 100% that without soldiers willing to give up their lives, I wouldn’t be here today.  So it doesn’t matter what you think of war or the politics that lead us to it.  You may disagree with our leaders and even our causes, but the men and women in uniform deserve our respect.  To you soldiers who are still out there, to all of you have come back and to those who never will, thank you.

and now on to a few articles that you might find useful to keep yourself healthy and fit:

From the Baltimore Sun, here’s a neat little article about 10 things you can do to help you live to 100.  A lot of these are probably familiar to some of you who have read my articles for a while now but they’re still worth repeating.  Plus I’m doing my part to keep American newspapers in business
@Baltimore Sun

From Mark’s Daily Apple, here are a few recipes for Low Carb Comfort Foods.  I’m not a big proponent of the low carb diet but hey, these are healthy meals so why not try them?  The mashed butternut squash sounds really yummy!
@Mark’s Daily Apple

from Turbulence Training, here’s an interview with Mark Pilon that I thought was interesting.  Lots of different topics here but it’s all useful.  Plus I like his view on life extension.  While we don’t know that being fit will “extend” your life we definitely know that being obese and unhealthy will shorten it.  Your choice…
@Turbulence Training

And finally, from a blog I have never heard of, here’s an excellent overview of the human metabolism.  There’s a tremendous amount of good information here which I recommend everyone read in depth.
@The Original Drugs Blog (I think!)

It’s warm today, around 90 degrees in the South Bay Area.  Now sure, those of you who live in Phoenix are probably chuckling right now thinking “that’s warm?!?” but for me, this is a heat wave!  My poor puppy is panting at my feet and I feel like going back to sleep.  Luckily for you, I’m more dedicated than that!

So here are a few articles to read while trying to escape the heat:

From the Denver Examiner, here’s an article with a new suggestion for exercise, paddling.  This article does assume that you have access to both a boat and a body of water on a regular basis, but it seems like a neat idea.  At the very least it’s thought provoking.  What other activities can we do that are fun and good exercise?
@The Denver Examiner

Here’s an old post from FitSugar that I ran across.  It’s a short interview with one of the biggest loser competitors.  I have to say that I usually don’t pay much attention to this show but for some reason, I liked this article.  I think it’s the way Marty talks about his experience.  He seems to have made a real life change instead of a temporary one.
@FitSugar

This article is a bit of an opinio piece but I liked it.  It’s from the Huffington post and it skewers this trend of nutritionism where people focus more on specific nutrients and less on eating healthy food.  It also rants a bit about the trend for large industrial companies to market their food as “organic” and “healthy”.  Want healthy food?  Make it yourself from ingredients you bought at the farmers market, that’s my opinion at least.
@Huffington Post

And from US News and World Report, an article about my second favorite physical activity, walking.  How can you not like an article that entitled “Walk Long, Slow and Often”?
@US News

I have made many changes to my life but there is one thing that has not and will not change.  I am a Trekkie and proud of it!    So it is with great joy that I say the new Star Trek movie rocks!  Sure, it wasn’t quite as dramatic as II nor as funny as IV, but hey, it was cool.  Good villain, great characters and a thoughtful reboot of a franchise that had gotten a bit old and stale.  If you get a chance to watch it on the big screen you should take it.  Also, for you non trekkies, this movie is very accessible for a Trek newbie.  So grab your pointy ears and go watch it!

And with that, here are a few articles you may find helpful if you want to live long and prosper:

Here’s an interesting article from BBC news about the helpfulness of fat in building memories.  It’s a fascinating study with a lot of potential for the future.  It’s also a good reminder for the low fat crowd that fat is something we need.  Avoid the bad fats but do make sure to include some healthy fats in your diet.
@BBC News

From Opposing Views (love this site!) comes an article exploring the correlation between a vegan diet and birth defects.  The conclusion?  Birth defects are actually correlated to poor nutrition, not vegan diets.  Get your vitamin B12 and you’re good to go.
@Opposing Views

How can you eat healthy if you’re cheap, have no time to cook and have no cooking skills? Read this article from MizFit if you want some ideas.  It worked for me
@MizFit

And finally, here’s a piece from the Wall Street Journal about why some foods seem to make your hungrier.  Think about this article next time you’re about to go on a binge.
@Wall Street Journal

Spent last night at a show called Teatro Zinzanni here in San Francisco.  It’s sort of like a mini Cirque Du Soleil only with more comedy routines and a five course meal.  Great food, great entertainment and awesome performances.  I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants a great night out.  Also, that vertical tango has to be seen to be believed and will inspire you to greater heights!

And with that, here are a few articles that I thought you might find useful:

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer we have 6 activities you can do in 10 minutes or less to improve your health.  Lots of great ideas here, most of them intended to lower your stress level.
@Seattle PI

From Get Rich Slowly, here are a variety of ways to save money while also saving the environment.  Not quite directly related to fitness but since going green is usually healthier, I thought I would include it.  Besides, GRS is a great blog!
@Get Rich Slowly

From the Body Building Blog, here are 10 exercise tips for rapid weight loss.  These are meant for the serious gym goer as opposed to the casual person, but still good information here.
@The Body Building Blog

And from Mark’s Daily Apple, a good list of low carb comfort foods.  These are the things you can sit down with and enjoy without feeling guilty or worrying about your waist line.  Plus a bonus article from Mark on ways to avoid the swine flu. Mark’s take on this is the same as mine. The swine flu story is way overblown. Stop worrying so much about this specific threat and just live a healthy life which will bolster your immune system.
@Mark’s Daily Apple

I came down with some sort of cold this weekend.  No, it’s not the Mexican Swine Flu   However, it did make me feel a little miserable with a stuffy nose, sore throat and constant sneezing.  I still managed to do a bit of gardening but for the most part, I took it easy and stayed home.  So here’s the slightly delayed weekend roundup filled with interesting articles and links.  Should have posted this yesterday but I was busy coughing…

From Time Magazine we have this article showing why all sugars are not the same.  Lots of great information here about what sugars are and how they affect our bodies.
@Time

From one of my favorite blogs, Grow Veg, we have this article which aims to answer the question, is gardening the good exercise? The answer, which I wholeheartedly agree with, is yes.  However, like all good exercise, proper care and form should be used.
@Grow Veg

There are a few things you can’t grow in a garden in this article from Mark’s Daily Apple about organ meats.  Most of the “meat” we eat is muscle and fat tissues.  However, there are lots of organs that can provide a nutritious meal.  Anything from liver to stomach and it’s all discussed in this article.  Yummy! 
@Mark’s Daily Apple

From the UK’s Telegraph comes a warning that diet pills are no substitute for healthy living.  A good warning and one that long time 60 in 3 readers should already be aware of.  The best way to be healthy is to live healthy.  Diet pills, surgery and other medical solutions should be reserved for those with serious medical issues, not those with serious issues about getting off the couch.
@The Telegraph

And, in a related topic, here’s an opinion piece from Opposing Views that tells us to stop blaming others for the calories we consume.  Interesting article.
@Opposing Views

What a great weekend.  Started out the day yesterday in San Francisco walking along the wharf.  Visited the Ferry building and the amazing food shops there.  Then kept walking to Pier 39 to play tourist, check out the seals and eat some fudge.  Moved on to Sausalito, walked along the waterfront there and then finished off the day with a fund raiser for GLOW.  All in all, an amazing Saturday.  Today it’s 80 degrees here in Sunnyvale, the sun is shining and everything is good.  Life is just great!

And hopefully, some of these articles will help make your life great too.

From the Denver Examiner, a little reminder to watch the salt.  Like fat, salt is something your body craves because it evolved in an environment where salty food was limited.  So salt tastes good to us.  However, now that salt is plentiful, we should probably be a bit more careful in how much of it we consume.  Just one more reason to eat more vegetables and fruit.
@Denver Examiner

From the LA Times comes this great article about planning a meal without consulting with the experts.  The article lists some great resources to use when trying to learn more about nutrition.
@LA Times

From Mark’s Daily Apple, here’s an article about breaking through weight loss plateaus.  By the way, if you’re interested in more information about intermittent fasting, try this series of articles from 60 in 3.
@Mark’s Daily Apple

And finally, from Zen Habits, a great overview of the entire fit to fat overview.
@Zen Habits

Life is amazing!

And with that, here are some articles that I thought were interesting to read over the past few weeks.

I talked about ways to save money by being healthy last week.  Well, here’s a calculator from the SF Chronicle that will help you figure out how many dollars you can save by walking instead of driving.  And while you’re figuring that out, don’t forget all those calories you’re burning!
@SF Gate

Less about health and more about personal growth, here’s an article from Back In Skinny Jeans that talks about the upside of pain.  Believe me, I know this one real well.  Life is painful sometimes, but pain is an opportunity for growth and that’s important.  You can run away from it or you can face it with your eyes wide open.
@Back In Skinny Jeans

From The Opposing Views Forum, here’s an article about Caffeine Withdrawal.  Oh boy, this is another one I am personally familiar with.  Not drinking caffeine in the last few weeks has been rough.  I had headaches, I would fall asleep in meetings and I felt mildly depressed at all times.  On the upside, I’m feeling GREAT now!
@Opposing Views

And let’s finish this up with a piece from Mark’s Daily Apple about reasons to join a gym.  I’m on the fence for this one.  Yes, I do belong to a gym and yes, I do use it frequently.  However, in these times when everyone is trying to save money, you can easily get a good workout at home with a minimal amount of money spent.  I guess the bottom line is to go for the option that works for you.  Either way, this is a good read.
@Mark’s Daily Apple