Healthy Lifestyle

VegNews Interviews The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper, Winner of Their Veggie Awards 2010 Person of the Year

Though he's best known as one of America's toughest trainers for kicking people into shape on the hit reality show The Biggest Loser, it's Bob Harper's compassionate side that makes him 2010's biggest winner. The 45-year-old motivator made waves this year by formally announcing that he's a loud and proud vegan. Through the launch of his branded website, posting videos encouraging veg eating, and working with groups such as Farm Sanctuary and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Harper's making America a healthier, happier, more compassionate place. Between shooting a brand-new series of workout videos, penning a forthcoming book, and spending quality time with Karl - Harper's recently adopted pooch - Harper found time to chat with VegNews about all things vegan.

VegNews: You went vegan after reading The China Study. Was it an "ah-ha" moment or more gradual?
Bob Harper: I've been in the (training) business for a long time, and I'm always looking at diet plans. I was at a friend's house and it was right when Skinny Bitch came out. And she was like, "You need to read this book." The title totally threw me off; I said, "I'm not reading some book that's called Skinny Bitch." But I took it with me on vacation, and I was really interested and blown away by it at the same time. Then someone told me about The China Study, and when I read that I had a full-on "ah-ha" moment. Because I understand so much that you are what you eat. That's the bottom line.

VN: And you were recently Farm Sanctuary's nationwide spokesperson for the Walk for Farm Animals.
BH: Absolutely. I feel there are vegans out there who would say that I was not a vegan, because I did look at it from a health perspective, but then when Farm Sanctuary came to me it just made sense. I grew up on a cattle farm, ironically, and all of a sudden things started falling into place - just trying to live a kinder life.

VN: Are animal rights becoming more important to you?
BH: Yes, it's really starting to creep into my life. I was talking to Ellen DeGeneres of all people about this, and she told me that I needed to watch this documentary called Earthlings. It was one of those things where I didn't have the strength to watch it. I started watching the first 15 minutes and I was like, I can't do that. I know what's going on, I know how the kill floor works, I just can't see it - I can't have those visuals in my head.

VN: How did the training community react to you going vegan?
BH: Of course those die-hard fitness guys are like, "You gotta eat steak, you need to eat your chicken breast every day or your body's going to just waste away." My body did go through a period that was really interesting because I evaluate people for a living and all of a sudden it became self-evaluation. When I first went vegan I did lose a lot of weight. I got really thin, but then my body just needed to go through a transition period - it was reconstructing. I'm a big believer in trying to be as age-defying as possible and how you live your life will help or hinder that. And I really believe that living more on a plant-based diet is turning back the clock on me, or I like to say that it is.

VN: Judging from the success of shows like The Biggest Loser, people now want purpose and focus in their lives. Why do you think that is?
BH: I believe there is a storm of change out there, and I want to be on the forefront of that. People now are realizing that how we live affects our children, and our children are now dealing with Type 2 diabetes and obesity. We can no longer just close our eyes and wish that it'll go away. We all have to do something about it. That's why I love magazines like VegNews. It's out there preaching in a way that's more respectful.

VN: One of the main things that you stress is recognizing small accomplishments. How has that been effective?
BH: It's hugely successful. I truly believe that it's about finding that inner strength. Any change is difficult. You can overcome an old behavior, and what better cause for celebration? It really just feeds the self-esteem; it feeds that inner resolve. I also believe too, and I tell this to people all the time, that life is a process. Life is how a surfer thinks of the waves, there are ebbs and flows. So if you mess up, you know what? Today's a new day. And I really think that it gives people not necessarily freedom, but it gives them forgiveness. Because I've worked with people now for so long who are so quick to condemn themselves. "Oh look what I've done; I've already made these bad choices so eff it, I'm going to go back to eating whatever I want." You know what? You made a mistake; you messed up. It's over.

VN: Is there a cultural shift away from people wanting a certain size of body or weight and toward people just wanting to be healthy?
BH: I hope that to be the case. People really need to try and be the healthiest they can be, and not try to look like what they think they should look like. That's an important message to get out there. I tell people all the time, don't try to look like the girls on the covers of these magazines - they don't look like that anyway! I just did a photo shoot recently and the guy said, "Look how great these look, and they're still untouched." They should be untouched! I want to see me.

VN: Do you feel pressure to be healthy?
BH: People are always asking me, "What's your thing when you want something bad?" And I say, if I want something, I'm going to have it, but I have to be wise about it. Dark chocolate and peanut butter are two of the best things ever in the entire world - so if I want that, I'm going to have it. I'm just not going to have a truckload of it and I'm not going to have it every single day. Give me guacamole, chips and salsa, and a margarita, and I'm as happy as I can possibly be, but I'm not going to do it every day. I love to talk to people about that because they think that I'm this super hero, and I'm just a man. When you pull that curtain back for people, it makes them feel better. We're all human, and we're all just trying to do the best we can.

Check out the latest issue of VegNews at VegNews.com.

This blog post is written by a winner of an NBC Fan It challenge and reflects the personal views of the author and does not represent the views of NBC Universal, Inc., its parents or subsidiaries. NBC.com does not approve of or condone the opinions or information set forth in this blog, and does not support or substantiate any medical claims made by the author in this posting.

Anyone reading the Healthy Lifestyle section is likely to at least be familiar with the concept of medical marijuana, but many people would be surprised to find out just how many people can benefit from it, and how much of a difference it can make.

Did you know that marijuana has been used as medicine as early as 2,737 B.C., and that its users ranged from the noblest royalty to simple peasants? Did you know that a chief administrative judge of the DEA said that, "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis, marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical care." Did you know that artificial "replications" of medical marijuana, such as Marinol, are woefully inadequate?

Medical marijuana is made up of more than 400 chemicals, each of which plays an important role in the effect it has on the human mind and body. Marinol, on the other hand, has only one active ingredient, treats fewer symptoms, and is far less effective at treating those few that it does affect. The worst cases are those where Marinol is prescribed for people, such as myself, who suffer from extreme nausea and have trouble keeping food down. The idea that a pill, which must be swallowed and completely digested to work, as a solution to the problem of nausea is ludicrous on its face.

Medical marijuana saved my life while the normal treatments were failing and Marinol almost certainly would have failed as well. Shortly before my 19th birthday, I was admitted to the hospital after weeks of trouble eating and keeping food down. Shortly after being admitted to the hospital, I was transferred to the ICU. The doctors wanted to completely remove my colon, but I refused, not wanting to give up an entire organ in favor of an artificial replacement at such a young age. As it turned out, this was a wise decision - my colon has improved, and it can always be removed later if necessary. Replacing it is a far more difficult matter.

For several months after my hospitalization, I could barely eat and had trouble moving because I couldn't keep my strength up. Finally, I found relief in medical marijuana. I was able to eat again, and I no longer found myself doubled over in pain from stomach cramps. Whereas before I had been losing nearly a pound a day while eating as much as I could, with the aid of medical marijuana I began digesting and processing food more easily, and finally stopped losing weight.

Recently I underwent surgery for a ruptured disc in my spine, and found medical marijuana to be more effective than the prescribed narcotics when it came to treating the pain and swelling that resulted. Without the analgesic properties of medical marijuana, I may not have been able to do my physical therapy. This is just the beginning of what medical marijuana can do. There's evidence that it can help with asthma, migraines, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, anorexia, cancer, leukemia, hepatitis, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, HIV and AIDs.

If you or someone you know is suffering, do the research. A medical treatment is a terrible thing to waste.

- PanamaRedGonzo

These days, as we are getting more and more informed about nutrition and conscious about our health, many of us are thinking of alternatives for the Halloween treat. But no one wants to be "that" house.... I think you know which one -- the one that gives out toothbrushes or mini raisin boxes. We don't want to be the house that the neighborhood kids dread!

Many of the treats that kids bring home on Halloween can play evil tricks on parents, whether it's the sugar high, the fighting over candy, or the begging for one more piece! As a result, some parents have come up with different ideas and options for a healthier Halloween that are still fun for kids.

Here are some treat alternatives instead of handing out candy:

• - Mini Play-Doh containers (Costco, Walmart, Target)
• - Mini packs of temporary skin tattoos (kids love these)
• - Stickers (rolls and sheets can be found in scrapbooking stores)
• - Pennies or nickels (you can get a roll of them from your bank)
• - Plastic spider rings or other mini Halloween toys (Target, party stores, craft stores)

If you must hand out candy, buy your least favorite so you're less tempted to snack on it.

But what you offer visiting trick-or-treaters is only part of the battle. The real challenge for many families comes once the kids return home with the plastic pumpkin basket (or pillow case) filled to the rim with candy and sweet treats. Here are several ideas that may work in your family:

• - Buy the candy from your kids for 5 or 10 cents per piece.
• - Let them have one piece of candy each night as long as they eat their vegetables.
• - Trade the candy for a small toy or game.
• - Use other incentives for trades, like going to the movies with your kids, or having a bowling night.

If your kids won't trade their candy with you, you can certainly have the Tooth Fairy or Great Pumpkin help out! This works especially well with small children. Have them leave the candy basket or bucket outside their bedroom door and the next day the Tooth Fairy or Great Pumpkin will leave a present in its place.

Some dentist and orthodontist offices offer programs for buying Halloween candy. One dentist office near Sacramento, CA offers patients $1 in exchange for each pound of candy. The office then sends the candy to U.S. troops overseas via Operation Gratitude. You can find out more information about the program and search for participating dentists at Operation Gratitude's Halloween Candy Buy Back website.

You can check with your local dentist and orthodontist to see if they are offering anything similar; you can also organize your own buyback program to benefit your children's school or recreational sports league. Swapping candy for exercise - now that's a real treat!

For more recipes and nutrition tips, please visit Cheryl's Blog.

- Cheryl Forberg, RD

I recently moved to a new place, a house with a yard, which is a big deal for a city girl. Yes, the house is a bit dilapidated, and the yard, is mostly, well, dead, BUT it does contain several fruit trees. Since my dad grew up on a farm, I'm doing my best to bring the trees back from the brink, especially the fig trees, since they were his favorite. And since I'd never actually eaten a fig before (I know), I decided to do a little research to see what the common fig could do for me.

Figs have a history that just may predate that of man, and they've been dietary and medicinal staples for thousands of years. Their usage was first recorded in Sumer around 2500 B.C., and the oldest living plant is a sacred fig tree - said to be a direct descendent of the Bodhi Tree under which Siddhartha achieved enlightenment. The founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus were suckled by the she-wolf under a fig tree, which later became sacred to Romans, and in the original Olympic games, Greek athletes were crowned with fig wreaths, sacred to Dionysus. Some say that the Garden of Eden's forbidden fruit was not an apple, but a fig. For centuries, the fig has endured as a symbol of abundance, fertility and sweetness.

Here's what I didn't know: figs contain no fat, sodium or cholesterol, and they provide more fiber than any other common fruit or vegetable. One quarter-cup serving of dried figs contains 5 grams of fiber, which is 20% of the RDA. Not only that, figs are a good source of iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, and have a high quantity of antioxidants. Figs are also useful as a coffee substitute, laxative, digestion aid, and are thought to be helpful in the quest to quit smoking. They contain proteolytic enzymes, natural humectants and Psoralen, used for years to treat skin pigmentation diseases. And in addition to covering a multitude of private parts, fig leaves have anti-diabetic properties, lower triglyceride levels, and inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer cells.

So what are you waiting for? Go eat some figs!

Ah - yes, here are some tips for procuring and eating figs. You can go dried (dried figs stay fresh for several months), but why not go fresh? California figs are available from June to September. You can store them in the refrigerator, but it's better to eat them right away, since they're delicate and will only last a few days. Before eating or cooking figs, wash in cool water, gently remove stem and wipe dry. Here are few suggestions:

• Put figs on top of your oatmeal.
• Poach figs in red wine, drizzle with honey, serve with Greek yogurt.
• Stuff figs with goat cheese, wrap in prosciutto and grill.
• Fennel, endive, pine nuts, figs and Parmesan make a great salad.

- Abby

Hi, Healthy Lifestyle readers! My name is Evan and I blog at Food Makes Fun Fuel, documenting my running and - better yet - eating. I love to cook, and as I started to develop my talents I realized there were plenty of ways to build a healthier lifestyle, one ingredient at a time. Since then I've been eating better, running farther, and dishing up plenty of healthy and fun recipes for my readers to try. Most importantly, I'd stress that living healthy doesn't have to be hard. It also doesn't have to be boring. I see these as the seven simple steps it takes to reach a healthy and fun lifestyle.

Pledge to Change

The first step is the easiest, but it's also the most important; nobody changes overnight, especially not without making a conscious effort. The way towards a healthy lifestyle is by making it known that's your goal. Tell your friends; tell your family. Convince yourself that a healthy lifestyle is the path you're taking because only then will you be ready to take the next steps with confidence.

Know Your Groceries Reflect You

You're only going to eat what you bring into the house, and you're not going to eat well if you're buying the wrong foods. Instead, make sure to buy the right, whole foods to stock your kitchen. Shopping from the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh foods are kept is a good way to limit the amount of processed things you might be buying.

Keep Whole Foods at Hand

Naturally, you're only going to eat what's available to you. Instead of packing a candy bar, or relying on vending machines for snacks, carry with you fresh fruit or a whole grain granola bar when possible. Keep your kitchen full of fresh fruits and vegetables to snack on. If there are fruits on the counter and potato chips in the pantry, you're much more likely to eat the fruit just because it's there.

Make Meals from Ingredients

So often these days, a meal comes from a box or a restaurant. The best way to take health into your own hands is to start with fresh ingredients and cook for yourself. Don't have time? It doesn't have to take time. By keeping things like whole wheat sandwich bread, cooked meats, and raw vegetables handy, you can throw together a simple healthy meal with just a microwave! And - of course - if you ever feel like venturing beyond simplicity, the Internet is a great resource for healthy recipes.

Prioritize Workouts

Between education, work, family time, and personal time, it's easy for working out to get lost in the shuffle. But the fact is that it's just as important as a day job. The only difference is that - instead of paycheck - you're rewarded with health and years added to your life. Try scheduling in workouts before or after work a few times a week and giving them the time and energy they deserve. A good workout today has long-lasting benefits.

Build a Community

Whether it be in person or online, a supportive community can be the most encouraging force in your life. Gather friends and family to share the passion for a new, healthy lifestyle and help each other out when you reach bumps in the road. And if you feel alone at home, know that there's a great healthy living community online available via blogs, Twitter, and fitness websites with people just like you. Two of my favorites are sparkpeople.com for weight loss and dailymile.com for fitness.

Have a Goal

It's always easier to work when you're working for something, whether it be for a specific weight, body fat percentage, fitness level, or any other goal you can come up with. Last spring I aimed to complete a sub-1:40 half marathon and reached my goal on May 2nd after my second attempt. Over the summer, I've worked to increase my upper body strength with a push-up program. And for 2011, I'm setting my sights on my very first full marathon. Always having something to look forward to has kept me dedicated while enjoying healthy living.

I hope I've inspired you to grab some extra vegetables next time you're at the store. What's your favorite vegetable? I love snacking on baby carrots! And if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me at Evan@Foodmakesfunfuel.com.

- Evan

If you are like me, working a job that requires sitting at an office workstation for eight hours, it's hard to squeeze in a proper workout. But, that shouldn't be an excuse to avoid working out at all. There are plenty of things to do that can help provide a little extra burning of the calories.

The first thing is to schedule a nice walk around the building at lunchtime. That means bringing a pair of walking shoes to work and maybe even encouraging a friend to join you. It's a great way to experience the fresh air outside and break up the monotony of your day. Some companies even have gyms in the building that offer lunchtime classes.

I've also found my job to be an excellent way to find a workout buddy. I am an active tennis player and I sent out an all-staff email looking for a tennis partner to play with after work. I described my level and which courts I play at and as a result, found the perfect tennis partner who also turned out to be a lifelong friend!

So, don't be afraid to use work to your benefit, as something other than just a paycheck. Get out there and take advantage of your surroundings, even if they happen to be four walls five days a week!

- Maggie

September 26, 2010 is circled prominently on my calendar. That's the day this reformed couch potato will become a triathlete. Well, once I swim .93 miles around a wharf, bike 24.8 miles, run 6.2 miles and cross the finish line at the Santa Cruz Triathlon. A triathlete? Me? Really?

Four years ago, my lifestyle was far from active or healthy. The only competition I was ready for was the couch potato Olympics. Never very athletic, I didn't play high school or college sports, and as the years went by I became more and more sedentary. My life revolved around sitting: in the car, at work, in front of the TV, at the computer, the movies, and happy hour with friends. The pounds were adding up and I was beginning to feel OLD.

Then one day, I ran across something I had bookmarked years earlier. It was a plan called "Couch Potato to 5K." I had my doubts about ever being able to run 3.1 miles (5K), but decided to give it a try. I laced up my shoes and headed to the track. The first workout said to alternate 60 seconds of running with 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. It didn't sound too hard, but those 60 seconds of running felt like an eternity. Still, I completed that first workout, and the next one, and the next. Before I knew it, I had run my first mile, and by the end of 10 weeks I could run three miles! It wasn't fast or easy, but I could do it. While I didn't love the runs, I loved the way I felt after a workout: energized, strong and confident. Once I finished the plan, I kept on running, a little more each week.

Other things started happening too. No master plan, I just started making little changes. Like being sure to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch so I had energy for workouts (I'm an evening runner). I wasn't dieting, but I started to learn about nutrition and became more aware of what I was eating. Meals became fuel for workouts, not a mindless leisure activity. A candy bar looks much less tempting when you know it will take three miles to burn it off. Little by little I found myself enjoying healthier options. I still treat myself and indulge now and then, but I'm much more aware of my food choices. A year later, at 40 years old and 70 pounds lighter, I ran my first half marathon (13.1 miles). Since then I've run dozens of races from 5Ks to half marathons, and have embraced a much healthier active lifestyle.

That was four years ago. While I love running, I found myself looking for a new challenge. I can run; I've been cycling for about a year; and I grew up at the beach and around the pool. Why not attempt a triathlon?

I'm quickly learning that swimming for fitness is very different from splashing around in the pool. The first time in the pool I could barely swim 25 yards without stopping. But, just like back when I started running, with each swim I go a little further. Every time I master a new distance I get excited. Then, I remember the huge Santa Cruz wharf and the cold Pacific Ocean that await me on Sept 26th and I get butterflies in my stomach. Can I really swim that far in the ocean? And then ride and run for almost three hours?

I remind myself of how far I've come since that first day at the track, how far all those small steps have brought me. At 43, I'm strong, healthy and in the best shape of my life. I'm both nervous and excited about the next 12 weeks of training and can't wait to start this new adventure...Santa Cruz Triathlon here I come!

- Kristy

Passion: If you're a cyclist it's like breathing. It's just something you have to do - daily (or as much as possible). It's not about the bike. Hey, didn't someone say that already? It's more about the lifestyle. It's how one approaches their daily walk through life - how one eats, sleeps, rests, works, and plays. Everything affects quality of life and the process of preparation to function at one's highest level.

Healthy balance: Physical and mental health are integrally connected. Each benefits the other in non-quantifiable ways, present and future. This is probably the most important reason to ride or to stay committed to any exercise program. It's a bonus, a gift, a blessing to find an activity that you're naturally drawn towards. Honor and nurture it!

Attitude: Very connected to one's health. When one's health is good usually the attitude is good too.

Outlook/perspective/clarity improve dramatically: In some strange and mysterious way, the cosmos line up and one understands his place, his station, his purpose in life when the clutter of an unhealthy lifestyle is moved aside. Praying for guidance is also of paramount importance.

Positive stress release: Way better than drinking alcohol and binging on comfort foods. The endorphin buzz is the purest and healthiest form of addiction. Take it from a recovering alcoholic.

Integrity: Self-esteem, self-worth, one's "home-grown" identity transcend society's definition of success based on one's financial status and outward appearance.

Discipline: Paradoxically, the benefits described above outweigh the pain, suffering, and discomfort that very often accompanies the act of riding. It's true that sometimes it's just not appealing or easy find the motivation to climb on the bike. Unfavorable weather conditions, time of day (after work), illness, other commitments can make it rather discouraging. That's when one has to remember and evaluate what's really important - the benefits always trump the temporary emotional and physical unpleasantness of the moment.

Pleasure: It's natural that we all seek pleasure. American media is very effective at promoting the bling, the glamour, the thrill of a pleasure seeker's lifestyle. But let's be realistic here. Much of our daily experiences aren't exciting or filled with the highs of riding a rollercoaster. I think it's rather rare to feel ecstatic. This must be why people turn to drugs over and over again. They're chasing that elusive pipe dream of that first high the fastest way possible, however destructive it may be. Personally, I rather enjoy the more subtle and natural approach to a healthy high that only a vigorous workout can provide.

Sacrifice and surrender: I believe this is healthy and natural to do on a regular basis. If you're not doing something that benefits someone else or a larger cause other than your own pleasure-seeking addiction, healthy balance and perspective are impossible to achieve. Christ was the master of this and has proven once and for all that it's the only way to be. Cycling is sacrifice in a way. It's not easy much of the time, and often downright painful. But it does promote the "Pay it forward" mentality that's good for the planet and those we come in contact with daily.

*Environmental: These days it's ever more important to be conscious about the carbon footprint we all leave behind. Oil spills, depletion of resources, souring economy, ever-growing traffic jams, overpopulation: it's important to do something personally to be part of the global solution and less of a contributor to the problems of consumerism. Being a schoolteacher, my bike is parked daily in the classroom. The kids understand the car is not the only way to get from A to B, even if B is 35 miles away.

John

First let's get this out of the way, I am not the most athletic person and exercise was not really something my family did as I was growing up. I was enrolled in gymnastics as a kid and I can still do a cartwheel, albeit I am totally sore in the morning. Years later, I took my first yoga class behind a bank. Yep, it was a tiny space and we had to move the furniture around, but something about all those asanas (poses) reminded me of my gymnastic days in a different way. I took all sorts of yoga classes but the one that helped me the most was Iyengar. BKS Iyengar is said to be the "Father of Yoga" as he introduced this practice to the U.S. I was under the teachings of two highly trained, certified Iyengar teachers for eight years, which helped me understand why I did the poses - and not because I look good in them.

About four years ago I was seeing my doctor and she said... "Hmmm, you need to lower your cholesterol, you are pre-diabetic." On top of that I was a vegetarian! So I met with the dietician who recommended that I continue to eat my foods but no more fruit juice, include fish on a weekly basis, add omega 3 oils and snack on veggies and/or nuts throughout the day. Plus, the doc wanted me to do some cardio work, which is when I went back into the pool to swim laps. Within a three-month period my numbers dropped and I have not had to be put on any medication to this day.

Now, I was torn because I like yoga and swimming and I thought it was too much to do it all. I went through a period where it was all swimming and no yoga or all yoga and no swimming which didn't make any sense. Lately, I have paced myself better to swim four times a week. The times I don't swim I'm in my yoga class, and so far it seems to be working out. The yoga has helped out with my swimming and I seem to be more fluid in the water, and the swimming has strengthened my arms so I can actually hold a plank pose and not fall down! It's very synergistic in a way. I didn't think it would work but it does.

The bottom line is this: Taking care of yourself is important because once you do that, you are able to be free in your giving and be compassionate to others.

Caroline Inouye

Posted by Carole

I have two secret weapons when it comes to staying active: Pucci and Coco. Pucci is my two-year-old Pug and Coco, my one-year-old Boston Terrier. These two girls are the best fitness buddies I could have. They need to go out every morning, so that has become our run/walk time. We do a 2.5-mile loop around the neighborhood that jumpstarts my day and theirs. On the weekends, Pucci and Coco are the perfect hiking companions. We tackle Fryman Canyon in Los Angeles early before it gets too hot, because Pugs and Bostons tend to overheat easily... and so do I! The hour-long hike is great exercise for all of us, plus they get to visit (read: sniff butts) with a lot of other dogs.

The three of us also like to take the entire family to the beach, although there are few dog-friendly beaches near us. The shot below is from a recent trip to Santa Barbara's Arroyo Burro Beach, which has an off-leash area where we can all run around freely.

I credit Pucci and Coco with keeping my fitness plans on track, given my hectic schedule. It's easy to come up with an excuse for ME not to exercise, but there's no excuse for not taking care of them!