Social Workout

Scientific

Watch Out For Night Lights and 50-Somethings Without Condoms

Today in science:

• An Evil Glow. That freaky nightlight in the photo is a demon that makes everyone who comes in contact with it fat. Or, to put it in scientific terms, mice who spent eight weeks with a dim light on at night gained 50% more weight than mice who slept in the dark. So what, they were tired so they ate more and moved less? Not so simple! In fact, their physical activity and their food were held constant. So the real explanation is that sleep disruption messed with their metabolism. 
• Sex vs. Puking. Did you know German drug makers were working on a female viagra? It was called flibanserin, and the company just pulled the plug on it. Why?
  

Scientific

Fight MS with Vitamin D

Yet another reason you should get in on the minimal-clothing-soak-in-the-sunshine vitamin D program before the summer ends: New research shows that vitamin D deficiency is linked to autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Genetic researchers at Oxford University examined the binding of vitamin D receptors to gene regions previously identified with a number of autoimmune diseases and found that these genes were regulated by vitamin D. Though the link is clear, the study's lead author says more research needs to be done on the exact interaction. In the meantime, drink your milk and take off your shirt.

Scientific

The Vitamin D Situation Is Worse Than We Thought

We've talked about our collective vitamin D deficiency before. But today's New York Times chronicles the trouble in greater detail, and the news is pretty bad. Here's the trouble: All of our tissues, from the brain to the heart to the immune system, rely on vitamin D, and we evolved a system for getting our vitamin D from the sun back when we were running around in the sun all day near the equator without any clothes on. Now that we wear clothes and live indoors, there's just not enough vitamin D in food, even with supplements in milk and cereal and OJ, to meet our needs. And it's not like we can simply shrug it off. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and lots of other bad stuff. So what should you do? Dr. Michael Holick, an expert on vitamin D, suggests the following:

Scientific

Your Beach Umbrella Is Kinda Wussy

Don't get me wrong, a beach umbrella is still a good idea if you're spending the day at the beach, but a new study shows that beach umbrellas fail to block a full 34% of UV radiation. The trouble is that pesky light coming in from the sides. Bad news in terms of skin cancer. Though potentially good news in terms of treating our collective vitamin D deficiency?

Scientific

Half Of Us Aren't Getting Enough Vitamin D

You're probably vitamin D deficient, according to an article published in this month's Endocrine Today (What? You're not a subscriber?) In North American and Western Europe, experts estimate about half of us aren't getting enough vitamin D. Elsewhere in the world, the numbers are more like two-thirds. What gives?

Link Love

The Gazelle, Bombs, Vitamin D

• Personalities: Apparently, there's more to fitness guru and ubiquitous late night infomercial presence Tony Little than just his unflagging desire to sell you "The Gazelle." Today's Denver Post reports that Tony has survived four near-fatal automobile accidents, two near-fatal electrocutions, and a kidnapping. With all that I can almost forgive him his security ponytail. Christina Domke, who prefers corn rows to ponytails, became Wisconsin's Top Female Mix-Martial Arts Fighter over the weekend, handily defeating her opponent by "dropping bombs" on her head.  
• Nutrition: Want to improve your athletic performance? Get more Vitamin D, says the New York Times. Over in Chicago, the Tribune reports that sesame seeds are chock-full of disease-fighting phytonutreints, and may even have anti-cancer and cardio-protecting powers. At the very least they help lower cholesterol.
• News: Yesterday was World Car Free Day. Folks in D.C. celebrated. "Calories are cheaper than gas," said one event booster. Missed the occasion? No biggie. Celebrate on your own by putting down your hand and letting that cab speed on by. Wall yoga is all the rage in Michigan these days. Bad news for the ladies — a new study shows that obesity, depression, and alcohol abuse are interrelated conditions in young women, but not in men. 
• Gear: Happy Helmet Bike Camera wants to help you strap a camera to your head. Want to get in the Wii Fit game but put off by the price of the whole fancy Wii system? Problem solved. Nintendo is officially dropping Wii prices starting Sunday.

Wake Up Call

Feel Your Own Sun

Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.

~Miles Davis

Workout

Grey, Grey go away!

This raininess is not doing great things for my vitamin D deficiency. 5 points Muay Thai again this morning. Although some classes are not as great of a kicking-my-ass workout than others, I appreciate the time spent on form and technique. Especially in working on my reaction time to blocks and counters. Came home for a private Yoga instruction by urbansherpa.

Workout

Day 22, Who's gym-obsessed?

Walked to Canal St. for work. Surprisingly very busy there despite the holiday weekend. I guess people who are gym-obsessed just can't help themselves. On my walk home stopped at the courts on Chrystie St. since bf was playing there.

Workout

Day 19, Pigeons and Beyonce

I went back to Sunrise Salutations today as planned. It was a good class and I can almost fully bind in pigeon now. Better on the left side though than the right. Gotta work on being able to hold it though. Been bumping into one of my Muay Thai pad partners in Yoga classes lately -kinda nice seeing a familiar face to start the day.