Obesity In America

March 15, 2012

Tony Horton’s World

By Tony Horton

“Tony Horton knows a thing or two about fitness and staying healthy – he is the creator of P90X. He is on a quest to fight obesity. Let’s hope he wins the fight.” –KTRN

Human beings are social creatures. We like to hang out with each other. We play and watch team sports, go to restaurants, church, concerts, and the movies. We find comfort in sharing those experiences with each other.

Because of this, we tend to adhere to new trends fairly quickly, simply because it makes it easier to remain within the group. There’s no shame in that. It’s simply a matter of adapting to our environment. We learn from our friends and family what is normal, and we build it into our lifestyles. We eat what everyone else eats, and we tend to become interested in what those around us do.

Sometimes, these trends aren’t that important — like wearing skinnier jeans or switching from 8-tracks to MP3s. Sometimes, they’re great — like the growing awareness of the benefits of organic foods or yoga. But sometimes, they’re bad news — like our burgeoning waistlines.

Our society, as a whole, is becoming fatter, and we’re viewing that as normal. Today, two-thirds of America is overweight, with Canada and Europe not far behind. One-third of adults are obese. And we just seem to be accepting this. We have larger seats at movie theaters, longer seat belts or extensions in cars and planes, home bathroom scales that go to 400 pounds. “Vanity sizing” is now a common practice in the clothing industry. What was a size large 30 years ago is now a medium. Think you’re losing weight because those new size 2 Gap khakis seem loose? Surprise! They’re actually size 6.

Click here for the full report.

The Perfect Healthy Diet

February 23, 2012

Men’s Health

By Tony Horton

“Tony Horton, creator of P90X, has tried all sorts of diets. Read this article to hear about his thoughts on what you should be eating.” –KTRN

My Google-friendly fans often get confused when they look to the internet for advice on how to eat like Tony. They find articles on my vegan ways. They find opinions on the benefits of organic meats. They may even stumble on the P90X2 Nutrition Plan, which features a “grain-free” modification with a strong Paleo feel to it.

“So which is it, Tony?” you demand. “What’s the right diet for those wanting to eat the Horton way?”

The answer to that, my friends, is, “All of them.” Yes, I was a vegan for years — and I felt great doing it. But the problem was that I couldn’t keep weight on, eating just veggies, fruit, beans, and nuts, so I had to rethink my strategy. I still eat tons of veggies, but I’m now a free-range chicken, wild salmon and other healthy fish-eating type of guy, too. I’ve also cut back on my grains, having discovered that the less gluten I eat, the better it is for my body and brain chemistry.

You see, even if you think you’ve found the perfect diet, it won’t always be perfectly perfect. Making adjustments based on your ever-changing needs — especially as you get older and wiser — is normal. I like to refer to this philosophy as “flexitarianism.” Some define this as a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat. I beg to differ. To me, it means you eat with an open, observant mind, shifting your diet as needed to suit your personal nutritional needs.

Click here for the full article.