Toxins in the Home; Weight Set Point Theory
Yesterday I put a WebMD link to a set point theory about weight. I got a few comments so I thought I best clarify myself. I am not the best at putting words down & making sense. I sort of ramble on!
Anyway, I did not mean to say that if you are 150 pounds or 200 pounds that your body wants you there. What I meant was that maybe you want to be 115 pounds BUT your body likes to be at the 120 or 125 mark. It does not mean that you can't go below this supposed set point BUT that you may have to work pretty hard at it.I gave the example of myself. My body has been in the 122-125 range before & with muscle, I look fine. BUT, I personally, want to be a bit leaner & yes meaner!
I work really really hard to stay around 116-117 & at times it goes up a couple pounds or so due to the hormone phase in my life. Heck, when I was younger I fought hard for it too! So, I am not saying it is OK to use the set point theory as an excuse to be overweight. I am just saying that SOMETIMES but not with everybody, your body may feel like it wants to stick at one place that is maybe a few pounds heavier than you want to be. You can stay there or work hard to be a bit lighter.In fact, the WebMD article stated this: It is difficult, but not impossible, to set your range lower. "With changes in healthy eating and exercise behavior, you can lower your set point," says Blatner. A recent book, Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off, by George Blackburn, MD, suggests that maintaining a 10% loss for six months to a year helps your body adjust to the lower weight and thus reset the set point.
Hope this clears my ramblings up! Work hard & you can achieve BUT don't use things as excuses not to try!
Your Home: A Toxic Waste Dump? OK, I had to share this because I saw it on Dr. Oz & many of you out there may have granite countertops, probably A LOT of you have teflon pans and we all use household cleaners! I am sure many of you have also turned to green alternatives as well.
BUT Dr. Oz talks radon in granite countertops. Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. He talks what non-stick pan to use AND he provides any easy to make at home cleaner!!!
Please read the post from his site below:
We hear so much about getting rid of pollutants in the environment, but nobody ever talks about the toxins we use in our homes every day. The fact is that many of the cleaners and products we rely on to keep our houses healthy, beautiful and bacteria free are too toxic to be put in landfills or even poured down the drain. So what are we doing keeping them around our loved ones?
The answer is wasting money and putting our health at risk. So, let’s all commit to getting rid of our toxic trouble spots in 2010 by taking these simple steps.
Toxic Trouble Spot: Granite countertops: Granite, a popular rock used to fabricate kitchen countertops, emits radon, a naturally occurring gas that has radioactive properties. Radon is the second most common cause of lung cancer after smoking. So experts recommend that you test your granite countertop to see how much radon it is emitting.
Detox Tip: You can find easy-to-use radon-detecting tests at your hardware store. Open the box and leave one on the counter and one in your basement (another common place to find radon) for several days. Then simply ship the test to the manufacturer and wait for the results. To learn more about safe levels of radon and when and how you should eliminate it from your home, visit the Environmental Protection Agency.
Toxic Trouble Spot: Nonstick pans: A few years ago, word got out that you should ditch any Teflon pans with coatings that were peeling or chipped, because they leech unhealthy chemicals into your food. Now experts say that even new pans can put your health at risk if you overheat them. Nonstick pans contain perfluorinated chemicals that are released into the air at a certain temperature. These chemicals can block the action of estrogen in our bodies (possibly damaging fertility), harm your lungs and have even been known to kill pet birds whose cages were kept in kitchens.
Detox Tip: Don’t preheat nonstick pans, and, if you can, switch to anodized aluminum pans, which will not release toxins and are nonstick.
Toxic Trouble Spot: Household cleaners: Ever read the back of a bottle of cleaner? Between the multisyllabic chemicals you can’t pronounce and the warnings to keep children and pets away from them, it’s no wonder many people wind up in the emergency room when they ignore those warnings. One of the most dangerous mistakes you can make? Accidentally mixing ammonia (found in window cleaner) with chlorine bleach (found in all types of cleaners). The result is chlorine gas, which as an agent of chemical warfare in World War 1.
Detox Tip: Ditch the toxic chemicals lurking under your kitchen cabinet, on the shelf in your bathroom and out in the garage. Then mix your own cleaner that will kill bacteria and leave your surfaces shining.
Mix together
1 tbsp of Borax powder (find it in the laundry aisle of your supermarket)
3 tbsps of white vinegar
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon of dish soap
1 drop of essential oil such as peppermint for fragrance (optional)
Pour it into a spray bottle you bought at the hardware store, give it a shake, and you are ready to clean. For windows, use white vinegar wiped down with newspapers, and to disinfect toys and other kids’ products fill a spray bottle with non-chlorine bleach (3% hydrogen peroxide) and wipe with a paper towel.
Bonus: Cleaning out harsh chemicals is not only better for your health, it’s good for the environment, because you drastically cut back on your plastic use by eliminating all those bottles of mildew cleaner, window washer, bathtub scrub, and more.
How do you feel about the set point theory? Does your body want to hang at a certain weight that is actually OK health wise & within the range of healthy for you BUT you want to go just a tad bit lower? Don't use this as a way to get TOO thin or be overweight though as my sis said in her comment yesterday: I actually think the set point theory makes sense, as long as one doesn't abuse one's body via self-destructive behaviors (both over eating and under eating for long periods, like Dr. J said above). I think many people don't pay attention to their bodies, like you've said so many times, and they artificially alter their set points, usually in the 'overweight' direction. Also, some people have to be more diligent (like us) than others due to our metabolism. It's all about paying attention and doing the work that's needed to accomplish our goals.
How about toxins in your home? Was anyone surprised about the granite countertops? I did not know that!
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Categories: Health Issues, Wellness, Tips, Weight Loss
Tags: Health Issues Wellness Tips Weight Loss
I had no idea about granite counters. Thanks for the tip on the test. I think I will check it out...
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I, too, had no idea about the granite counters. Thanks for the insight!
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I do believe that our bodies have a set point. Our bodies don't change as fast as our mindset. Losing weight isn't as simple as calories in and calories out. Take for example exercise - we are always being told to change it up because your muscles get use to the workout. They even have a theory called the Postal Workers theory. Some of them walk for miles but stop in their weight loss efforts. The body gets use to it. Just like weight. I have been thinking about this a lot lately, as a matter of fact. Counting calories or points - do we really eat the same amount of calories or points every single day. Perhaps, our metabolism levels out at what it is use to. By the BMI charts, I need to lose 100 lbs. My BP averages 110/65 and my cholesterol is below 200. I am now exercise a little more and working on improving. It will take me longer but I just want to learn about my body and fuel it at a healthier level. Long story short...Yes there are set points and I for one need to learn more about how my body functions and how much my attitude has to do with the chemicals released in my body and slowly change my habits.
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Jules, thx for your very insightful comment! I change up my food & exercise! I have had to battle the weight all my life. Even though I lost the weight early on, it has always been a struggle to keep it off & stay fit. Hard work!
I do mix it up both food, exercise & calorie wise!
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Hi,
Want to share mine personal experience about weight Set Point that,
Since our body wasn't comfortable at our new weight, it basically made life hard enough for you to slip up and help persuade you to regain that weight so it could feel comfortable again. So understand that in order to lose weight permanently over the long term, you also need to pay attention to your body's set point. I'll get to that shortly.
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Thanks for sharing the cleaner ingredients! They make tons of green cleaners now at the store but they are so darn expensive.. I bet it's so much cheaper to make your own!
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April, yes, the green stuff is expensive & that is why I was thrilled about this make at home recipe!
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Wow, I had no idea about the granite counter tops either. Just moved into our new house and we have granite counter tops...Essh that's the last thing I need! Going to have to get this tested immediately. Thank you thank you for the heads up Jody.
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Amanda, hope all turns out OK with those coutertops! YIKES!
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I didn't know that about granite countertops, I guess it's a good thing we don't have them...LOL
I totally get what you're saying about the set weight. My goal is to get down to 135. I've never been that low as an adult so I have no idea how I will look or feel at that weight...and for all I know I might stop once I reach 140...or I might lose more and get down to 125. A big part of this is listening to our body and responding accordingly. Great post. Love the tips to make your own products.
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Josie, no granite over here either!
So true on listening to the bod which I preach endlessly! It is all in what you want for yourself!
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I'm not totally surprised about the granite. It dug up from the earth, so it has all that natural stuff still in there LOL
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Lori, so true! You smart lady!
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Well I knew about radon and granite, but it's my job to know
Our county has a web map of the radon levels in the area, perhaps all do.
PS Formica here
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Dr. J, that is cool about that radon map! Will have to check that out!
No granite here either!
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I think of myself informed as well as connected Jody, and I, too, had no idea about the granite -- which I have a lot of in my inside and outside kitchens. Testing this weekend -- THANK YOU!
I love to challenge, and beat, my (perceived) set point. Currently earning my way down to 155 + or - a couple. I don't stay below it too long, but I like to remind myself that I, not food, am the master.
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Roy, wow, I am wishing you luck! The lady on the show with granite counters was OK but ya never know!
Love that: I am the master! LIke you, I am beating mine right now even thru these hormones!
Loved your recent blog post!
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