Tasty Links

photo: X-ray Delta One

By Crabby McSlacker

Remember I said I was gonna do these link round-ups more often?  Yeah, well, vacation blah blah blah whatever.  I'm lazy and easily distracted, let's not sugar-coat it.

Similarly, you may have noticed the Monthly-Goal-Support-or-Whatever-We're-Going-to-Call-It Post went AWOL in April. Fear not, it will be back soon--this coming Monday I'm thinking.  I want to find out how y'all are doing in your various pursuits.

So, in no particular order, and lacking any sort of coherent theme, here's some cool stuff you might want to check out 'round the web!

Loopy Linkage

chain link photo: Zen Sutherland

By Crabby McSlacker

So there is absolutely no theme this week...unless "how the hell did it get to be Friday already?" can be said to be a theme.

But y'all have been so patient with the coughing and sputtering engines as I try to crank up the Cranky again--I sure appreciate your continuing to hang out and comment! Especially with more posts and my more sporadic and belated replying. I am queen of going back and replying to comments long after no one cares anymore. I'm super efficient that way.

Anyway, how 'bout a bunch of random links to start your friday with?

Lazy Links--Casual Friday Edition

Photo: Mother Awesome

Yep, it's time again for Crabby's Completely Casual Collection of random health and fitness links!

And for those of you too fatigued or busy to concentrate on big long paragraphs of stuff? No worries! It's Friday, we'll keep it simple. You can pop in, find a magic (and tasty) cure for depression, then find some good news to pass along to your pothead friends, and check out some fun links... then scoot right back to playing Words With Friends finishing off your important work that you always do so diligently.

First up, ever wonder if taking fish oil capsules will work as well as eating real fish for getting Omega-3's? Or curious whether flaxseed oil will do the trick? The quick answers: Yes, and No. (Get the full scoop from the Diet Doctor).

Have you heard about the birth control pill packaging error that could lead to unintended pregnancies? Or new research challenging the notion that menopause increases heart disease risk? Or, hey, need a recipe for leftover lamb and mango salad?  These all courtesy of my new favorite gyno-food blog, The Blog that Ate Manhattan. And ok, it's probably the only gyno-food blog out there, but that only makes it more awesome.

Get tired of female celebrities being criticized for their curves? Charlotte has their comebacks over at Shape, plus some behind-the-scenes thoughts on her slideshow at The Great Fitness Experiment.

Wondering where you can find a list of good cardio-only workout DVD's? Ask the FBG's, they're on it.

Got a couple minutes to kill?  Check out the weirdly entertaining Draw a Stickman site, which brings your attempt at a stick-figure to life.  (I found myself, however, compelled to give my stick figure a That-Girl style flip haircut, so that she was clearly a stick-woman.  Down with sticksexism!) 

And Healthy Dish has more random health and fitness info--like how to know if you're at risk for osteoporosis.

Recent Stuff Copied from Twitter:

Study: older overweight women don't seem to have stronger leg muscles to compensate, making mobility difficult: http://t.co/h3MVFBuU

Colon cancer hits men earlier, so study suggests men should get dreaded colonoscopies sooner, women later. http://t.co/sz7Ua0l9 (whew!)

Lots of coffee may lower risk of depression in women: http://t.co/nl4s30g98 But 4+ cups a day? Yikes!

Pot smokers LESS likely to be obese: http://t.co/YrHPmi7i  Hmm, if we exploit it as a weight-loss aid, can we finally legalize it?

[Plus, Dr. J reports that timely pot-smoking may help prevent PTSD]

Study I plan to forget: chores like cleaning, laundry, may help ward off dementia: http://t.co/e93xxVeQ (Chores? Sorry, I have an allergy to those)

Shocking finding! "Most Patients Want Experienced Surgeons, Not Trainees" http://t.co/RLONgQhc

Aerobic exercise great for blasting belly fat: http://t.co/aoYwVmhR (But clearly not perfect solution, according to my belly.)

Stop dissin' granny's driving! Kids less likely to get injured in crashes when a grandparent drives than a parent. http://t.co/jNAbeFPs

Slumping at your pc right now? Ha, thought so! An exercise to fix that: http://t.co/0EiTAkKO Though you may get funny looks at work.

More creepy MRSA news: antibacterial ointments like neosporin don't kill it, and may actually hasten its spread. http://t.co/Rp3byZlY

And that's about it...  Oh wait:


My favorite recent google query that led a reader to Cranky Fitness? "can i do lsd after the master cleanse?"

So, any thoughts, gripes, or stuff you're grateful for this Friday? Feel free to spill!

Pre-Labor Day Weekend Lazy Links

OK so not everyone is a lazy-assed napper when they hit the beach.

Photo: kiyoshi.be

Technically it's only Thursday and not really Labor Day weekend yet, but let's go ahead and start slacking early, shall we? Shut off the laptop, put your feet up on your desk, and grab a cold one! So what if your boss and your hard-working colleagues are giving you dirty looks? Just tell them Crabby McSlacker,  obscure and irresponsible world renowned and respected fitness blogger, said you're supposed to relax and take it easy for your health.

Anyway, here's a little of what's been happening in the health and fitness webworld over the past couple of weeks. Because in keeping with the "lazy" theme, these link roundups now seem to happen biweekly.  Um, unless "biweekly" actually means twice a week, in which case, sorry--that's a total lie.

In Blogland:

Should all previous track and field world records for female athletes be tossed out and the slate wiped clean?   Fit and Feminist has the details on this controversy, one I was completely unaware of.  Plus, you gotta love a blog that has a whole category called "fascist beauty standards."

Feeling sleep deprived? You're not alone! Here are some ideas on how to catch some more zzz's.

No need to be scared of purple green beans or purple potatoes! Find out at Escape from Obesity why they're so awesome and what to do with them. (Bonus: pretty pictures of food!)

The always hilarious Leslie Goldman, who was recently on the Today Show talking about how women can't take a compliment, has coined some awesome new sports and fitness terms.  Example:  " Zomba (n.) ZAHM-buh. A person who looks hopelessly lost and unable to follow the lead in a Zumba class. Usually characterized by a scared, wide-eyed, frozen stare, open mouth and stiff limbs."

Want to save money when buying organic, or find out why Paula Deen is the “worst, most dangerous person to America”?  Healthy Candy has that and more in their always-tasty link roundup.

And Here's Stuff Crabby Tweeted About Recently (as edited and interpreted for the Twitter-Impaired):

High protein diet + dairy is better than high carb for gaining muscle, losing fat. Says, um, study funded by dairy group. http://t.co/Al37Cro

Yet another study says chocolate has health benefits, yay! This one says lower risk of heart disease: http://t.co/Yja1FY7

Climbing Everest? Or, (much harder) enduring a calorie-restricted diet? Leucine may help burn fat, conserve muscle: http://t.co/P6FFcAs

Brain imaging techniques better identify those at risk for Alzheimer's. http://t.co/pBFXSR1 But do you want to know?

In the war between scientists and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, scientists find a new weapon: http://t.co/5w8ssUb Your move, bacteria?

Study: Consuming 25% of calories in fructose or HFCS raised heart disease risk factors; glucose didn't. http://t.co/J2gAMmq

Brits issue new guidelines for diagnosing high BP: http://t.co/S8hi82Z Cool! You gotta wear a bp cuff all day, but much more accurate.

Bad news if you argue lots, good news if you don't: conflict levels in couples don't change much over 20 yrs. http://t.co/OWatMw8

Bi-guys validated! Scientists belatedly discover male bisexuality DOES exist. http://t.co/kpLBIbr Older study implied bi meant gay men lying to themselves.

Get off the couch! Yet another study says exercise good for your brain; both aerobic & strengthening: http://t.co/VOkEAHr

Triclosan, an antibacterial in soaps, under scrutiny for safety. Creepy: it's also in Colgate Total toothpaste. http://t.co/K6x32WM

Study: Moderate drinking cuts alzheimers risk; heavy drinking may worsen memory. Wine looks to be most protective: http://t.co/BVMT7tG

And at Cranky Fitness:

What were recent non-obvious search terms folks used to find Cranky Fitness? My faves: "gorilla without fur" and "moo you bastard I was going to say that."

Planning on hiking this weekend? You may want to re-read this vintage post on how to pee outdoors.

Got plans for Labor Day?  Miscellaneous thoughts or complaints? 

This Week in Lazy Linkage

Photo: Zenera

Seems only fitting that this week's "lazy links" post would be a couple days late, right?

First up, if you haven't entered the Cranky Fitness giveaway for a set of 10, count 'em, 10, workout DVD's, it's not too late!  Just go the workout dvd giveaway post and leave a comment.


What else have we got this week? Well, keep reading if you'd like to prevent cancer, keep from getting killed on vacation, sharpen up your brain, or, find out why that crazy unpredictable Dr. J is saying "you should overeat and be underactive at night."

Wait, what was that last bit?   Isn't Dr. J that sensible physician over at Calorie Lab who reminds us to get our exercise, eat healthy foods, and watch our portions?  Why yes, he is! So of course that quote was taken out of context. However, it's part of a great post on intermittent fasting, and if you're curious about skipping meals you should read his post.

Are you a woman looking for a shoe that will change the amount of arch support it offers depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle?  Well the Asics folks are happy to provide one. (Thanks Vitamin G and Blisstree for alerting me to such dumbassery revolutionary technology).  But for $140? I'm thinking shoes that know where women are in their menstrual cycle better be able to run out to the store all by themselves and bring back tampons, ibuprofen and big bottles of wine!

This week in Twitter:

Jealous of tall folks? Consider this odd finding: Taller People Have Higher Cancer Risk http://mnt.to/3YqZ

This amazing veggie may make your brain sharper http://glmr.me/qOt7LA (But, oh crap, it's celery! I hate celery!)

Creepy interactive trauma care map shows vacation spots where you're screwed if you have an accident: http://ti.me/r15VhG

When restaurants post calorie data, is it accurate or total bulls#t? Study says it's mostly true, but some items are way off. http://bit.ly/n0SxGT

Ears ringing? Promising new treatments for tinnitus: http://n.pr/phFHmt (Thank god, 'cause I stupidly keep listening to loud music).

Whey to lose weight! Turns out whey protein powder helps lower ghrelin levels. http://bit.ly/nTs4z0

What? A new healthy tasty snack? Sign me up! http://t.co/7TVOo8q (Sorghum popcorn! Anyone tried it yet?)

Got non-melanoma skin cancer already & don't want to get melanoma? Study: Vitamin D plus calcium reduces risk 50%: http://bit.ly/o7HKeq

Cell phones now classified as possibly carcinogenic by official-sounding agency. http://bit.ly/oyila5 Note to self: Headset! Headset!

Those who are chronically sick and use antibiotic soap appear to get SICKER. http://bit.ly/l2gNn2

Study: replacing saturated fats with unsaturated better for heart than going low fat: http://bit.ly/qyNGyS Hooray for olive oil & avocados!

Want more random health links, to find out, for example, what body part you should wash thoroughly to keep from attracting mosquitoes?  College Candy has a weekly round up.

Do what I say, not what I do:  So it might seem ironic that when people google "proper elliptical form," they often end up at Cranky Fitness.  But this week's  "blast from the past" post does actually contain some elliptical trainer form tips, along with the usual whining.

And speaking of internet searches, what are the "keywords of the week?"  Two terms people used to find Cranky Fitness this week:   "Porn for Crabby People," and "Shaved Gorilla."

So how's your Friday, folks? Doing anything fun this weekend?

Enjoying the Holiday?

Photo: Failblog

Crabby and Merry are both taking a day off to celebrate Labor Day in the traditional way--by not laboring. But don't worry, there's plenty of information and entertainment still to be had on the internet!


Let's take a quick tour, shall we?

Over at Weight for Deb, Deb's got the scoop on HGH and the best way to get the benefits from this "eternal youth" hormone. Hint: no expensive injections required!

And for a sad yet inspiring post on trying managing holiday temptations, Diane at Fit to the Finish shares some unhappy Labor Day memories.

Want a thoughtful take on whether it's mean to be laughing at the People of Walmart? Charlotte hosts an interesting discussion over at The Great Fitness Experiment.

Or how about some inspiration to go? Two of our Cranky Fitness favorites, Shauna (of The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl) and Mizfit, have teamed up to create a downloadable podcast!

And finally, there is a hilarious post by The Bloggess on getting lost, in which she introduces the Greatest Invention in the History of the World. I would so totally buy it!

Doing anything fun for the holiday? (And if it's not a holiday for you, sorry about that! Just tell your boss "But Crabby McSlacker said I should take the day off" and see how far that gets you!)

Linkies

[By Crabby]

Cranky Fitness has been terribly remiss about linking to other people's blogs lately. Or at least the Crab half of the team has been seriously slacking.

Basically, I visit many of your awesome blogs and think: "Wow, great post! I should leave a comment! Or better yet, I should link to this post the next time I'm writing about [fill in the blank]... And dang, it's really way past time to update my blogroll, some of my favorites aren't on there yet. I'm gonna do all that this afternoon, definitely. Oh wait, but I still need to pay that Visa bill and return that book to the library and wasn't I supposed to defrost something for dinner? Hmm, I think it's time for a nap."

It's tough being a McSlacker.

Of course there's no way one hurried weekend post is going to make much dent in the backlog, but hell, you gotta start somewhere. So these are just a few recent notables--and I really will try to remember to do this more often. (She said, looking longingly at the Nap Couch). So here we go:

Stephanie at Back In Skinny Jeans not only has a cool new blog, Noshtopia, but she's apparently going to be the next Skinny Bitch-- and we mean that in the nicest way!

And Vanilla at Half-Fast isn't content just being hilarious, apparently he wants to start his own unique blog niche: he's going to save you from various common running emergencies like falling into quicksand. Oh yeah, and he still remains the foremost world authority on running skirts for men.

If you like our feature "Ask Cranky Fitness" but have noted the lack of unfaked questions, you might want to check in with MizFit. She's funny and she actually knows something about fitness. For example, you know how the experts are always nagging you to drink more water? She can tell you how the hell you're supposed to do that.

(And speaking of Fitness Advice, don't forget our pal Dr. J at Calorielab--you might even get a $10 gift certificate if he chooses your question!)

Oh, and our newest sponsor, My Fitness Solutions, not only offers online help with getting into shape, but has a blog of its very own with plenty of health and fitness suggestions!

While over at Iowa Avenue, they've introduced a new feature called "Tight Ass Tuesday." Of course Cranky Fitness heartily endorses anything with the word "Ass" in it.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight, if you do that sort of thing, click on a few links here if you have the chance, and have a great rest-of-the-weekend!

And we'll be back Monday with more of whatever it is we do here.