Book Review: Gold By Chris Cleave

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Coco

This is the first book I read because it showed up in a friend’s list of books on Goodreads, which I just joined because I am having a hard time finding books that I want to read.

Gold by Chris Cleave

While the story revolves around two Olympic athletes, I would have enjoyed it even if I wasn’t reading it during the pre-Olympics hype, and while the athletes are velodrome bicyclists, I would have enjoyed it even if I wasn’t reading it during the Tour de France.

I don’t like the summary on Amazon and think it may reveal too much, but I pretty much agree with this Publisher’s Weekly review on the author’s website:

Cleave goes for the gold and brings it home in his thrillingly written and emotionally rewarding novel about the world of professional cycling … Cleave expertly cycles through the characters’ tangled past and present, charting their ever-shifting dynamic as ultra-competitive Zoe and Kate are forced to decide whether winning means more to them than friendship … Cleave likewise pulls out all the stops getting inside the hearts and minds of his engagingly complex characters. The race scenes have true visceral intensity, leaving the reader feeling breathless … From start to finish, this is a truly Olympic-level literary achievement.

I found the book to be well-written, fast-paced enough to keep me turning the pages (or swiping them on my iPhone Kindle App), and engaging enough to make me care about the characters and what happens to them. The main “conflict” between the two athletes was intriguing—on the one hand, they are (nearly) life-long friends, while on the other hand they are fierce competitors in the same Olympic event. Instead of asking if a man and a woman can be “just friends,” this book explores whether two women can compete and be friends at the same time. While my work is more collegial than competitive, I do know women who work in more cut-throat environments and feel that their female colleagues are their worst enemies.

Have you read any good books lately?

Are you on Goodreads?

Posted in Life | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday (The Williamsburg Bridge Edition)

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Coco

I am hesitant about running outside when I am travelling,
but since I did this route last year, I packed my running gear.

I walked a few blocks to the path along the river.

I knew I could run to the Williamsburg Bridge.

It was amusing to see the old Domino Sugar plant across the river.

When I finished my run, it was fun to look back and see how far I’d gone.

Of course, I stopped at Starbucks for a grande bold and some chocolate milk to refuel.

Motion X GPS App Data
Total Distance: 5.2 miles
Total Time: 45:45
Avg Pace: 6.8 mph

Do you run alone when you travel?

Have you tried refueling with chocolate milk?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

This One Isn’t Magic Either

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Coco

Last week when I first heard reports about a new FDA-approved weight loss drug, I thought it was “old news” from June, when the FDA approved Belviq. When I learned that it was a new newly approved drug, I had to investigate again.

What Is It?

The latest drug is called Qsymia (maybe you aren’t allowed to eat until you are able to say it three times quickly?) and includes two active ingredients: (i) immediate-release phentermine hydrochloride (one of the components of fen-phen) and (ii) extended-release topiramate. According to the prescribing information, the activity of phentermine is similar to amphetamine, and acts as an appetite suppressant. Topiramate is used to treat migraines and some forms of epilepsy, and is known to have a “side effect” of weight-loss in those contexts.

Does It Work?

The prescribing information sets forth the results of two randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies that were conducted in obese patients (Study 1) and in obese and overweight patients with two or more significant co-morbidities (Study 2). Both studies had a 52 week treatment period. Study 1 tested daily doses of 3.75 mg/23 mg and 15 mg/92 mg, while Study 2 tested daily doses of 7.5 mg/46 mg and 15 mg/92 mg. All patients were advised to follow “a well-balanced, reduced-calorie diet to result in an approximate 500 kcal/day decrease in caloric intake” and were offered “nutritional and lifestyle modification counseling.”

The study looked at the percent weight loss from baseline and whether the patent achieved at least 5% weight loss from baseline. After 1 year of treatment, “all dose levels resulted in statistically significant weight loss compared to placebo,” and “[a] statistically significant greater proportion of the patients randomized to Qsymia than placebo achieved 5% and 10% weight loss.”

Study 1 patients achieving 5% weight loss:
Placebo: 17%
3.75 mg/day: 45%
15 mg/day: 67%

Study 1 patients achieving 10% weight loss:
Placebo: 7%
3.75 mg/day: 19%
15 mg/day: 47%

Study 2 patients achieving 5% weight loss:
Placebo: 21%
3.75 mg/day: 62%
15 mg/day: 70%

Study 2 patients achieving 10% weight loss:
Placebo: 7%
3.75 mg/day: 37%
15 mg/day: 48%

Interestingly, “[a] substantial percentage of randomized patients withdrew from each study prior to week 56, 40% in Study 1, and 31% in Study 2.”

What Are The Possible Side Effects?

The prescribing information includes a discussion of possible side effects including:

  • Fetal Toxicity
  • Elevation in Heart Rate
  • Suicidal Behavior and Ideation
  • Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma
  • Mood and Sleep Disorders
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Metabolic Acidosis

According to an ABC News report, the FDA originally denied approval due to concerns about some of these potential side effects, but granted approval after the manufacturer gave “assurances that the company would provide detailed information to physicians about the risk of the drug and how to manage them.”

Another Option

The approval of Qsymia gives obese patients another option to discuss with their doctors. Hopefully this new drug will prove to be safe and effective in the long run.

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Ten Minutes Of Tedium (Plank Routines)

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Coco

I am thrilled that my physical therapy seems to be working. My longer runs have not caused any set-backs, and I expect to be cleared for even longer runs (8 miles?) this week.

I am a good patient. I do all of my exercises almost every day. I have enjoyed learning new strength moves, being shown the proper form for exercises I thought I knew how to do, and seeing and feeling the progress I was making. But, I am getting sick of doing so many damn planks!

While the trainer added and subtracted different glute and leg exercises to my program, he’s had me doing some variation of planks since day one.  I like my new lunge exercise with a trunk rotation. I don’t mind the airplane pose even though I almost fall over after a few reps. I will push through the fitball pike exercises. But I am just plain bored with planks. Last week after I snoozed through my workout time because I just didn’t want to do them, I knew I needed an attitude adjustment.

In my current program, the planks take me about 10 minutes. While they are 10 tedious minutes, they are only 10 minutes. I can get through 10 minutes a day in order to get strong for my fall races.

With all my whining about my planks, friends have been asking about my routine. These are the three main plank routines that the trainer has had me do.  I did each progression for 1-2 weeks and then moved on to the next one. For the front planks, put your knees down between reps.  For the side planks, put your hips down between reps. Proper form is very important–you want to engage your core and your lower back. I’m also outlining the warm-up, which actually feels good to do at the beginning and end of my workouts, and at the beginning and end of my day.

Warm-Up (10 reps each, 1 set)
Cat-cow sequence
Sidewsie cat-cow sequence
     (on all fours with flat back, rotate back into forward/backward “C”)
On back with knees bent, feet flat on floor, rotate hips so knees touch floor on each side

First Plank Progression (8 second hold for each rep, 3 sets)
Front planks on elbows (6 reps)
Side planks on elbow with both feet on floor, top leg in front (not stacked) (6 reps/side)

Second Plank Progression (8 second hold for each rep, 3 sets)
Front planks on elbows (6 reps)
Side planks on elbow with feet slightly elevated (such as on a yoga block) (6 reps/side)

Third Plank Progression (3 sets) 
Front planks on elbows holding one foot slightly elevated (6 reps/side, 8 sec hold)
Side planks on elbow with upper body rotation to face floor (15 reps/side, no hold)

I use the stopwatch function on my iPhone or iPod nano to keep track of the time. It keeps me from cheating on the 8 second hold and gives me something to focus on. When I first started out, I took about 15 seconds per rep (8-10 sec hold, a few sec pause in between), but I trimmed that to about 10 seconds per rep (8 sec hold, a brief pause in between).

For those of you who hold your planks for 1-2 minutes, I’d love to know if you find this approach (multiple short reps) easier or harder.

What is your least favorite exercise that you do anyway?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Prayers For The People Of Aurora

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Coco

In times of true tragedy, I turn to the Bible and the Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer. I find that the words express what I want to say, and what I need to hear.

From the Prayers of the People:

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

A prayer for the departed:

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother (sister). We thank you for giving him to us, his
family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on
our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion,
console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue
our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

A prayer for parents (and others who are grieving):

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with (Parents) in their grief.
Surround them with your love, that they may not be
overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your
goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Posted in My Faith | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments