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So by now you know that I think it’s worth it to buy organic food whenever possible.

But, I realize that sometimes it isn’t possible or economically feasible for some folks to do that on a regular basis.  So, the next best thing is to try and go organic with the foods most likely to be contaminated in pesticides, and get non-organic version of foods with the least amount pesticides.

Here’s 2 lists for you:

12 MOST Contaminated Foods (get organic whenever possible)

• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Imported Grapes
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Potatoes

12 LEAST Contaminated Foods

• Onions
• Avocado
• Frozen Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Frozen Sweet Peas
• Kiwi
• Bananas
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Eggplant

Thanks to the Environmental Working Group for publishing this handy list.

~Dave

Rush Limbaugh really is a big, freaking idiot.

Seriously.

He believes that people who are active and exercise regularly are the cause of the stress on our health care system.

Really Rush? You really believe it’s all the sprained ankles and knee injuries that are causing the problem, and not the cancer, obesity, heart disease, Type II diabetes, etc.?

Never mind the loud, fat, drug addicts.

You really are a big, freaking idiot.

BTW, I don’t care what your political affiliation is.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less. Politics (not to be confused with governing) in this country is divisive, hateful, and a huge waste of time that I refuse to participate in. So, if you want to comment, keep it to this audio and the subject at hand and save the right- or left-wing ideological rants for another blog.

~Dave

The average person thinks that their doctor knows everything.  That’s just what we’re taught.

They went to school for a hundred years, so they must know everything.

Well, they don’t. Two things they generally aren’t very up to speed on are exercise and nutrition.  Watch the video to see how I feel about this.

Feel free to comment, especially if you’re a doctor.

~Dave

So, what is it?

What is that one thing that is truly holding you back from having the body you really want?

What is that one obstacle? The one that, if you could just conquer it, you’d finally be able lose that extra weight and be happy.

Don’t tell me it’s that you just don’t have time. We all have the same amount of time in the day. You’ve got 24 hours, I’ve got 24 hours, Einstein had 24 hours, Mother Theresa had 24 hours. Saying you don’t have time is a total copout, so get over it.

Think about it. Be honest. What is really holding you back?

If you can answer that, I’d love for you to tell me. Don’t worry, it’s anonymous. You don’t have to tell me who you are. I just want to know what your challenge, your obstacle to the body of your dreams, is.

Tell me about it here.

Thanks.

~Dave

Image by niallkennedy via Flickr

I hear it all the time. It goes something like this:

“I’m trying to eat better, but it’s just so hard.”

Let me translate that for you into what it really means.

“I still eat like crap and whine because I can’t lose weight.”

Enough with this ‘trying’ crap, okay? ‘Trying’ to eat right means you are NOT actually doing it. (yes, Yoda was right.)

You’re an adult. Stop whining and just start doing.

Nutrition isn’t that hard.

• Cut back significantly on sugar.
• Don’t drink your calories.
• Stop eating processed crap.
• Eat lean proteins, healthy fats, lots of veggies, and plenty of fruit.
• Eat fewer calories than you burn.

~Dave

Way too many people go through their days looking for stuff to bitch and moan about.  So, today we’re doing something about that.

Really has nothing to do with fitness, just trying to spread the love.

If you don’t smile while watching this, you really have no soul.

~Dave

Image via Wikipedia

Today we have a guest post from nutrition expert Dr. Jonny Bowden.

By Jonny Bowden

With all the hoopla over drinks made with “superfoods” like acai, goji, and noni, we forget that some of the best superfoods on the planet are right under our noses. Better yet, they don’t cost an arm and a leg (like some of those overpriced juices).

The latest superfood to emerge is – get ready for this – plums.

Food scientist Dr. Luis Cisneros and plant breeder David Byrne judged more than 100 varieties of plums, peaches, and nectarines, and found that their antioxidant and phytonutrient content matched (or even exceeded) that of highly rated blueberries. According to Byrne, one inexpensive plum contains about the same amount of antioxidants as a handful of blueberries.

“People tend to eat just a few blueberries at a time – a few on their cereal or as an ingredient mixed with lots of sugar,” Cisneros said. “But people will eat a whole plum at once and get the full benefit.”

The researchers didn’t stop after measuring the considerable antioxidant content of plums – which, by the way, has been noted in other studies. (Plums consistently score near the top of the list of high-antioxidant foods.) They also tested the effect of the phytonutrients in the fruit on breast cancer cells – and found that they inhibited in vitro (test tube) breast cancer growth without adversely affecting normal cell growth.

“We suggest that consumers take seriously the recommendation to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables – or even more – every day,” Byrne said, “and to make sure that plums are part of that.”

This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, a free newsletter dedicated to making money, improving health and secrets to success. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.

Image via Wikipedia

There are plenty of reasons why you should stay away from most of the machines in the gym. If you’ve followed this blog or my other fitness stuff, you’ve heard me say this many times.

One machine in particular deserves special scorn though, and that is the seated leg extension machine.  If you are looking for general fitness, general strength, fat loss, or happen to look like the woman in this picture, there really isn’t any good reason to get on this stupid exercise machine.

Watch the video for the details and to see how I really feel about this.

~Dave

Guess what?

Food manufacturers are lying to you.  Every day.  And you believe a lot of their lies.

Lies like calling a food fat-free even though it is 100% fat.  Lies like calling chocolate milk in a can a healthy way to lose weight.  Lies like calling something “berry oat clusters”, even though they contain no berries.

But hey, these guys sure can sell a lot of product.

Image by ex.libris via Flickr

I know you’re heard it a million times before. “You have to eat breakfast.”

And I know it’s not a super sexy message.

But do you have any idea how many people I meet that DON’T eat breakfast? A lot. And do you have any idea how many of those people that don’t eat breakfast are overweight?

Yeah, most of them.

Hey, I know you don’t have much time in the morning. I’ve got a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Talk to me about rushing in the morning.

And, yes, I understand you might not feel hungry when you wake up and you just don’t want to eat.

So let’s look at this another way. You get up each morning and go to work every day because you want a roof over your head and food on the table, right? You might not WANT to go to work, but you know you have to if you want to pay the bills.

Well Spanky, IF you want to burn fat, look better, lose weight, and have more energy you WILL eat breakfast every morning. Period. End of discussion.

Some things are boring. Some things just have to be done to get the result you want. For those of you that want to burn fat all day long, breakfast is just one of those things.

~Dave

ps – For those occasional days when you really don’t have enough time, you should keep a good meal replacement shake on hand. And NO, SlimFast is NOT a good meal replacement shake. Instead of that crap, get a container of this stuff.