Social Workout

Death By Television

Yet Another Way TV Is Bad For You

There's more bad news for TV viewers every day. First, there was the research that said every hour of TV you watch per day increases your odds of premature death by 11%. Then there was vonhottie's report on ABC's new lineup, pronouncing it bereft of good fitness role models (save Taye Diggs who knows how to treat himself right with bubble baths). Well now, there's a new study out that says TV viewing turns you into a hypochondriac and "reduces your satisfaction with life." The study, which took place at the University of Rhode Island, surveyed students ages 18-31 and found that, based on all the medical information on TV, TV viewers develop a mistaken sense of their "likelihood of being victimized by health-risks as well as a strong belief in the severity of those risks." In other words, too much TV and next thing you know, you're that guy on the subway in the hospital mask. Best line from the study press release: "Other leisure activities such as socializing and exercise may actually be better options." That, or treadmill TV.

Real Housewives of The Gym

Your Guide to Thintervention

When I interviewed Jackie Warner last December she was knee deep in casting for her new Bravo show "Thintervention."  At first description it seemed to me like any other diet show: sweat, tears, life changing weight loss. Then I tuned in on Monday night, and realized this was not like any other weight loss show — this was a Bravo weight loss show. Which means that some of the most atrocious examples of humanity are given the kind of opportunity that the rest of us can only dream of. Here's what I learned from the pilot episode of "Thintervention."

Online & Video

Workout

Oh, Bailey!

Tonight during a particularly emo song in spin class, the instructor started talking about how it reminded him of the show "Party of Five," with all the melodrama. Then he started acting it out (see title), and I laughed reallyreally hard. That was an awesome show. In the '90s.

The Meanest Trainer

Jillian Michael's Softer Side Turns Out to Be Crazy

Remember how we told you Jillian's new show, "Losing It with Jillian," was supposed to showcase her softer side? The video evidence is in, and Jillian's "softer side" appears to be a maniacal bully who taunts and beats her victims till they cry, at which point she swoops in and creepily pats their cheeks and whispers about action plans while NBC cues touching instrumentals. I feel like I need to shuttle her victim to a battered women's shelter STAT. 

DVD Reviews

Bust a Gut with Body by Bethenny by Kristin

I’m going to swallow my snarky, self-righteous pride right here and say that I loved Body by Bethenny, the exercise DVD via Kristin McGee and Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel. I literally laughed out loud, and not in the LOL sense, but in the "there was audible noise coming from my mouth with the slight twinge of merriment at multiple points during said exercise experience" sense. "Boob-to-Knee Pose" and "Darth Vader breathing" have never felt so good. 

Online & Video

Scientific

Parental TV Habits Contagious, Golf Habits Not So Much

Parents who watch a lot of TV have kids who watch a lot of TV. A new study found that the number of hours parents spend watching TV directly correlates with their children's viewing hours. The effect is particularly powerful for boys —they're 10 more likely to watch 4+ hours of TV a day if their parents do (girls are only three times more likely to watch that much TV under similar circumstances).To be clear, 4+ hours a day of TV viewing is bad. Remember the research that says every additional hour of TV you watch a day hastens your early death? 

Scientific

Have a Food Craving? TV Static To The Rescue

When you're hungry, any number of foods will sate you. But when you have a food craving, it has to be that exact whoopie pie sold at that exact bakery on 69th street. Which can be a real pain, if say, you're trying to avoid cookies, or should you be miles away from 69th street. A new study has the solution (or, that is, the solution that doesn't involve leaving work for an hour to pursue your fat and sugar fix). Food cravings are typically intensely visual, and researchers in Australia found that when test subjects in the throes of a craving watched a flickering black and white pattern on a monitor (think TV snow), their cravings went away, or at least calmed down. Real world application: Any "dynamic visual display" should do it. Blinking lights, Times Square billboards, YouTube videos on your cell phone. Or just unplug your TV antenna and let the static roll in.  

Newslinks

Beer, Blueberries, Soda, and Sleep

• Beer helps build strong bones and may help prevent osteoporosis, says new research. 
• Blueberries fight intestinal inflammation, says a new study, and blueberries are even better when combined with probiotics, which means blueberry yogurt is practically a prescription medication now.  
• Sugary sodas won't just make you fat, they can also give you cancer, a new study shows.
• Sitting down to eat, turning off the TV, and getting enough sleep drastically reduces kids' odds of being obese. Want to bet those things work for grown ups too?

Recap

Jay Leno and Last Night's Kim Kardashian/Jillian Michaels Extravaganza

Last night Kim Kardashian was on Jay Leno promoting her new "Butt Blasting Cardio Step" video. She was wearing a little silver rhinestone number, and she told Jay the theme for the year is "new year, new rear." Then she, Jay, and Guy Fieri, that guy from the Food Network, fried some oreos together. Kim said she'd eat them if she could take some QuickTrim beforehand. Next, out walked Jillian Michaels, tripping over her stilettos. She talked about how inspirational "Biggest Loser" is and told Jay he needs to lose some weight. She said she only works out three to four hours a week, but that her diet is the secret. If you eat clean, she said, then you're okay. She then expressed horror at the fried oreos. 

Scientific

Coffee Good, Brain Enzymes and TV Make You Fat

• Last week the news was coffee reduced risk for prostate cancer. This week the news is coffee reduces risk for diabetes. Just don't forget the news from September that drinking too much coffee is linked to hearing non-existent voices.  
• The Sirt1 enzyme in the brain gets lots of scientific attention for its connection to longevity (activate Sirt1 and you live longer). But researchers have just uncovered a connection between Sirt1 and bodyweight: Inhibiting Sirt1 in certain regions of the brain suppresses appetite. Drug companies currently pulling all-nighters to turn this into pharmaceutical pay dirt. 
• New research shows that people who watch less TV burn more calories a day. Duh. But the news is it's not because less TV means you're suddenly fabulously active — participants in the study whose TVs were set to shut down after a couple of hours burned 119 more calories a day. Not playing pick-up basketball or anything, just puttering around without noticing.