An Armed Citizenry?

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Coco

In the wake of the Aurora shootings, I was horrified to see a Letter to the Editor of the Washington Post saying that because “gun control does not work,” we should instead “encourage the carrying of personal weapons.” In the author ‘s view

An armed citizenry would give pause to anyone intending to do mass damage, since he or she would know that there would likely be someone shooting back, rather than helpless people waiting to be slaughtered.

Right. Because “anyone intending to do mass damage” is thinking rationally, and carefully weighing the consequences.

My first reaction was that this person must be kidding, but I would be deluding myself if I didn’t acknowledge that there are people in this country who do believe that if only more of us were armed, fewer of us would be victims of gun violence.

The idea of living in a country like that terrifies me. I hate guns. I hate that they can accidentally take a life in an instant. I hate that they can take the anger of the heat of the moment to a point of no return. I don’t want guns in my house. I don’t want guns in my neighborhood restaurant. I don’t want to go to the movies and sit in a dark room full of people with guns in their purses and pockets.

When my kids were younger, I was that Mom who asked if there were any guns in the house before letting my children visit for a playdate. I even was that Mom who confiscated the plastic guns from the action figures. Maybe my concerns were irrational, but just last week a 4-year old boy fatally shot himself with a gun he found in an unlocked truck outside his house. I don’t know people get through that type of tragedy.

Doesn’t the Travyon Martin case show us how “an armed citizenry” can go horribly wrong?

Posted in Venting | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Skipping Church

Posted on July 29, 2012 by Coco

Going to church is an important part of my week. I enjoy seeing my church family, singing hymns, hearing the Bible readings, and listening to the messages in the sermon. For me, going to church is as important to my spiritual well-being as a healthy diet and regular exercise are important to my physical well-being.

But this weekend I skipped church to spend time with a friend. Sunday morning was the only time that she was free, and it had been so long since we’ve seen each other that I decided that making time to see her was more important than going to church.

Sometimes indulging is important to maintaining balance in your diet. Sometimes sleeping in is more important than fitting in your workout. And, yes, sometimes spending time with dear friends or family members is more important than going to church.

Posted in My Faith | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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