It’s time for a little levity on a Sunday morning

Posted on 07/24/2011 by J. Morris Hicks

Just so you know that I do have a sense of humor…

After blogging for 168 consecutive days, I have decided that it’s time for a little levity; I received this “medical advice” from a neighbor friend here in Stonington and got quite a chuckle. We laugh, but this is the kind of advice that most citizens of the Western world appear to be following. Enjoy!

Hilarious Advice from Dr. Feelgood

Q: Doctor, I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true?

A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it… Don’t waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.  Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A:  No, not at all.  Wine made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can’t think of single one, sorry.  My philosophy is: No pain…good!

Q:  Aren’t fried foods bad for you?
A:  YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.  In fact, they permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?

Q :   Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger.  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?
A:  Are you crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?
A:  If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me.

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?
A:  Hey!  ‘Round’ is shape!
Well… I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And  remember:   Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO, what a ride!!”

AND….. For  those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health.  It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans..

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION: 
Eat and drink what you like — Apparently speaking English is what kills you! 

J. Morris (Jim) Hicks

If you like what you see here, you may wish to join our periodic mailing list. Also, for help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4-Leaf page. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.

If you’d like to order our book on Amazon,  visit our BookStore now.

—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com

PS: Occasionally an unauthorized ad may appear beneath a blog post. It is controlled by WordPress (a totally free hosting service). I do not approve or personally benefit whatsoever from any ad that might ever appear on this site. I apologize and urge you to please disregard. 

Posted in Humor | 2 Comments

“Certified Organic” is not the most important thing about our food.

Posted on 07/23/2011 by J. Morris Hicks

The most important thing is the food itself! And most of us in the Western world are eating the wrong food. Under the title of “myth-busting” in a recent blog piece (July 18, 2011) by Christie Wilcox in Scientific American (See link below), she did a nice job of presenting a ton of apparently well-documented information that would suggest that buying organic isn’t that much better for you or for the environment, yet it costs a whole lot more money. But there was a single paragraph that meant more to me than all of the rest of the lengthy piece combined:

Nutritionally speaking, organic food is more like a brand name or luxury item. It’s great if you can afford the higher price and want to have it, but it’s not a panacea. You would improve your nutritional intake far more by eating a larger volume of fruits and vegetables than by eating organic ones instead of conventionally produced ones.

That’s pretty much the conclusion that I made in 2003 when I started eating a whole foods, plant-based diet. But the larger point in the article that was never mentioned or even hinted was the simple fact that 95% of the people in the Western world (maybe including the author) truly believe that we humans “need” to eat animal protein to be healthy. And that simple misconception is what is driving the absolute madness of our never-ending search for the next great source of animal protein. That’s the myth that I would like to see her bust.

For if we can bust that myth, we can start feeding 20 people on the same amount of land that it takes to feed just one person the typical Western diet. When we bust that myth, we can feed the world’s entire population of seven billion people on far less than two billion acres and can then return the other six billion acres (that we’re using for our “animal protein” food) to nature — forests, meadows and more natural habitats for the other “Earthlings” with whom we share this planet. 

Michael Pollan, author of "In Defense of Food" and "Omnivore's Dilemma"

I liked another line in her piece when she said, “The sad truth is, factory farming is factory farming, whether its organic or conventional. Many large organic farms use pesticides liberally. They’re organic by certification, but you’d never know it if you saw their farming practices.” Then she quoted Michael Pollan, best-selling book author and organic supporter, who said in an interview with Organic Gardening,

“They’re organic by the letter, not organic in spirit… if most organic consumers went to those places, they would feel they were getting ripped off.”

After reading the entire piece this morning, I am now less likely to seek out the “Certified Organic” in the supermarket and just continue to focus on what looks freshest and appears to be the best value. But I will continue to seek out and buy local, fresh organic food for as long as I live. I refer to a piece that I wrote earlier this year after visiting Frank Oakes’ family farm and restaurant in Naples, FL. Also provided is my post earlier this week on another example of our harmful and unnecessary search for animal protein. (See the complete Christie Wilcox piece just below my signature)

J. Morris Hicks, the "big picture guy," promoting health, hope and harmony on planet Earth

Organic, local and sustainable — simply the right thing to do

Fish-Farming — A sad “solution” to an unnecessary problem

If you like what you see here, you may wish to join our periodic mailing list. Also, for help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4-Leaf page. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.

If you’d like to order our book on Amazon,  visit our BookStore now.

—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com

PS: Occasionally an unauthorized ad may appear beneath a blog post. It is controlled by WordPress (a totally free hosting service). I do not approve or personally benefit whatsoever from any ad that might ever appear on this site. I apologize and urge you to please disregard. 

Mythbusting 101: Organic Farming > Conventional Agriculture | Science Sushi, Scientific American Blog Network.

Posted in Big Picture | 1 Comment

Eating 4-Leaf for “vibrant health” — with weight-loss as a bonus

Posted on 07/22/2011 by J. Morris Hicks

Earlier this week, Google was using a magnificent 4-Leaf-looking logo AND, on the same day, we received a fabulous progress-report from one of our clients in the Boston area. It was a great day for our team here at Healthy Eating — Healthy World and 4LeafProgram.com. And, in case you missed that plant-based Google logo…

My son and co-writer, Jason, began working with Dr. Hurley this past December. From Day One, Jason insisted that the primary goal of our 4-Leaf Program was to enable our clients to achieve “Vibrant Health.”

Brian and his wife just before beginning the 4-Leaf Program

Now, about seven months later, Dr. Hurley has done just that. He reported his progress yesterday beginning with a few words about his hospital’s annual summer party.

Fortunately my partner’s wife made sure that there were plenty of 4-Leaf options for me to have throughout our day. She created a salad bar that had options for everyone and a huge fruit platter. Of course, there was plenty of the Western diet to suit the needs of our team. My favorite of the day was the grilled watermelon she made. It was absolutely delicious. I had to laugh because a few of my team members were astonished how much I ate before heading to the pond for swimming, then watched as I continued to consume food when I returned. I told them it was ok. This is how I eat all the time.

During the party, a few people talked to me about what I was doing to lose weight. When asked, I enjoy explaining my 4-Leaf lifestyle choice. I always begin by stating that my goal is to achieve “Vibrant Health,” and that the weight loss is an added benefit. For many years, my body was heavier than it was meant to be, and this change is enabling my body to achieve its ideal weight.

We’ve had lengthy discussions on dietary choices and why those choices are important. I also point out that I no longer worry about calorie intake, just making the right dietary choices. It took a while for my friends, co-workers and family to “get it,” but now most of them have accepted what I am doing, and very rarely do I get asked anymore if I there is something wrong.

Dr. Hurley shown here a few months ago

On March 21, 2011, I commented here about reaching my lowest weight since I was 15 years old at 177 pounds (31 lb weight loss). Little did I know at the time that my effortless weight-loss would continue.

That’s because I made the decision back in December 2010 to commit to the 4 leaf program for life — not just as a way to lose weight. As of today, I feel incredible and while the scale number is not the goal of this lifestyle change, I am proud to say that I am now 163 pounds (a totally unexpected 45 lb weight loss).

My next marker will be when I return for follow up blood work in September. Here’s to achieving, and more importantly maintaining, VIBRANT HEALTH!!

J. Morris Hicks and J. Stanfield Hicks, authors and 4-Leaf coaches -- both doing our best to "make a difference."

Nov. 7, 2011 update. Just received this note from Dr. Hurley today, announcing that his wife Dawn had recently made the decision to join him on the 4-Leaf Program. He writes:

Hi Jim,  After talking with Jason (your son), I was reminded I made the decision to start eating the 4-Leaf lifestyle at Thanksgiving 2010. As you have documented on your blog, I started at 208 pounds at that time. I started with the goal of weight loss but learned the change was truly about achieving Vibrant Health. I have more than succeeded in the goal of vibrant health and today my weight is maintaining at 161 lbs.

Last month, Dawn and I were attending a wedding. Later, when looking at pictures, she told me that she was ready to completely adopt the 4 Leaf lifestyle. My daughter and she have supported me since day one and made my transition easy. While their eating habits improved, they were more lax in eating at the 4 Leaf level. Upon our return from the wedding, Dawn asked me to help her reach the 4 Leaf level and I was ready to help her gain vibrant health. (I have stated before that someone needs to be committed to making a lifestyle change!)

Today, she has been eating 4 Leaf for three weeks. She feels great and as a bonus, has lost 8 lbs. she is well on her way and I am excited to watch her get healthy!! Jason joked by asking, “What is with the Hurley’s choosing the hardest time of the year to start–the HOLIDAYS?” My reply, if you can do it then, the rest is a walk in the park. The best time to start is when you are committed to improving your health and there is no time like the present!!!

If you like what you see here, you may wish to join our periodic mailing list. Also, for help in your own quest to take charge of your health, you might find some useful information at our 4-Leaf page. From the seaside village of Stonington, Connecticut – Be well and have a great day.

If you’d like to order our book on Amazon,  visit our BookStore now.

—J. Morris Hicks…blogging daily at HealthyEatingHealthyWorld.com

PS: Occasionally an unauthorized ad may appear beneath a blog post. It is controlled by WordPress (a totally free hosting service). I do not approve or personally benefit whatsoever from any ad that might ever appear on this site. I apologize and urge you to please disregard. 

Posted in Testimonials, Weight-Loss | 1 Comment