Ignorance and Insanity: Atlantis

“But afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and floods; and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea.” - Plato, Timaeus/Critias

Atlantis has been a pop-culture icon, a symbol of a magical place and tragedy used throughout the ages in stories, songs, art, film and many other media.  Originally mentioned by Plato in his dialogue Timaeus (and after Critias), people have been searching for this lost city or whatever may have inspired the myth for centuries.  It makes for great mythology, but there are some people who have the ignorance to believe they can find it, and the insanity to keep trying.  The problem with their search is this: Plato introduced Atlantis in his dialogue Timaeus as a hypothetical city.  Its ruins aren't at the bottom of the ocean, they don't exist.  Plato was a great philosopher, using stories to pass along his concepts and opinions, and Atlantis was just one more story used to cushion his philosophy for the ease of consumption.  The vast majority of people who believe in Atlantis have come to this belief out of a yearning for such a city to actually exist after hearing of it in so many different media, without ever having read the original work it appeared in.  Some, even when faced with this revelation still believe it exists.  Personally, I love the concept of it, same as I love the concepts of Neverland, Oz, and Wonderland, but an extremely small number of people believe any of those places exist, knowing that they belong in stories, while many people, highly educated people even, believe that Atlantis is just further down the Atlantic shelf, or inspired by ruins ancient Greeks may have found while diving (despite the fact that they would likely have been unable to see anything at the depths most of these ruins are at without modern equipment even if they could swim that far down unaided).  Eldorado may have been used to mock the Conquistadors search for wealth and keep them as far away form the natives cities as possible, but Atlantis continues to be a source of disappointment for those too ignorant or insane to realize they're chasing a wisp, a myth that wasn't even believed in when it was first mentioned.

Ignorance: Gestalt Diet I: Or Very Vital Vitamins Verify Value:

One of the key things that a lot of people fail to have knowledge on is how different parts of a given machine operate to work the whole, and how to do maintenance on said parts.  I've fixed toasters, computers, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, video game controlers, and even a Playstation One before before gaining any assisted training on those machines (save the first bicycle I fixed) from another person directly, reading up on the machines and figuring things out for myself.  There are many things I don't know how to repair, but I've learned how to do basic electrical wiring, plumbing, laying grout, and all manner of other tasks some people have difficulty doing on their own due to their ignorance, hiring a specialist instead.  In certain cases, that's definitely a good idea, unless you are yourself a specialist in that area.  However, one machine people tend to overlook in terms of maintenance is the human body.

I talked before on weight management and one of the things covered was electrolytes.  They are a vital part of hydration and metabolism, but there are other things an individual needs to consume regularly to keep their body working in peak condition.  Most people know these as vitamins and minerals, carbs and fiber, fat and protein.  Everyone needs some of each of these for their body to work properly.  Any diet that doesn't cover all of these bases at least in a small measure is not one that will keep the dieter healthy in the long-run.  Another issue is with people falling prey to misinformation, ala the 'Got Milk?' advertising and other such misdirections.  Yes, calcium is needed to keep bone density up, however, the Vitamin D added to most milk products today is there because it is lacking for most other individual's diets otherwise.  Vitamin D is produced by the body by absorbing sunlight, but the amount depends on the body weight, skin surface, region, sunscreen amount and other factors.  Those who don't get very much sun tend to become sickly more often, and hence why the FDA pushed for Vitamin D to be added to aid in the general populous' health.

In addition to Vitamin K, Vitamin D also helps with the absorption of calcium and maintaining bone density.  This is but one among many balances the body has, and most people don't even think about what their recommended amounts are, or look to see what parts of their diet may be lacking or in excess if their health is stronger or weaker than normal based on their diet.  Most doctors don't either, as it tends to be one of the less likely causes of symptoms that may be easily treated if it is indeed not something more serious.  Many patients follow their doctor's orders and take medication which treats another possibility and suffer side-effects without seeing an improvement on their actual symptoms and get bounced around on different medications until it goes away on its own through unconscious diet decisions, or a different medication contains what was missing from the diet, or the doctor recommends seeing a nutritionist.  All in all, one does not need to daily check the nutritional information of food to ensure they are getting vital nutrients regularly, but having a basic understanding aids in treatment.  Massive migraines, especially in winter or when noticing a bright light, for example, were a problem I used to have during high school.  It turned out I had a Vitamin C deficiency which was easily remedied by having an orange instead of applesauce with my breakfast, or by having a Vitamin C tablet.  Far less expensive than going in for multiple doctor visits to find out that information, my godparents and parents looked into my symptom and decided to try nutrition first.  Lo and behold, that was all that was needed.  So, if you're ever feeling ill or sluggish, or otherwise under the weather, consider looking up your symptoms to see what helps.  After all, asprin itself comes willow bark, which ancient physicians and fishwives told people suffering of a headache to chew on.  In Ancient Egypt, papyrus was used instead, but it contains many of the same compounds.  Our bodies are organic after all, so it is only fitting that natural remedies in food itself may help keep us healthy.  This is but one part of a complete diet, but very vital.

Ignorance: Introversion and Extroversion:

Most people have heard of introversion and extroversion, terms first popularized by Carl Jung, either from their early years from teachers, counselors, or psychologists.  The problem with said terms is that most people don't seem to truly understand what they mean.  The term extroversion is typically used for those who are more outgoing, social, and interested in group activities.  Conversely, the term introversion is typically used for those who are more reserved and solitary.  At a basic level, those definitions are certainly true...  But people use them as an excuse to either judge people for being introverts, or brush off their lack of social skills as just part of their personality, rather than a skill-set that was hindered during early development.

Extroverts are those who more easily join group activities, and think more about other individuals' reactions than those that are introverted.  Introverts are far more absorbed in their own thoughts and plans than in group activities, but they're generally more concerned with being satisfied with their projects personally than with the reaction of others to them.  However, conversely, extroverts tend to be easily able to shrug off rejection and move on to another to show their projects when they have them, while those that are introverted tend to be crushed by rejection and negative reactions, slaving over their projects to find out why someone else didn't enjoy it as much as they did.

The one key thing people tend to be ignorant about is that having extroversion and introversion does not prevent one from gaining social skills if developed at a young age, and that introverts tend to be focused with the details, while extroverts tend to be focused on the outward appearance of general performance.  Additionally, some people are both, but have introversion about one subject while having extroversion about another.  No two people are alike, and no two personalities are the same either.

Ignorance and Insanity: Weight Management:

Elephants are the only mammals that can't jump.  Unfortunately some humans have joined their ranks with their excessive weight being beyond what their frail bones can handle.  Some blame it on their metabolism, the food industry, 'big bones' and the like, but the simple fact is that aside from a few with truly rare medical conditions, the vast majority are just too ignorant or too insane to do proper weight management.

The human body is a machine, organic and massively complex, but a machine nonetheless.   Input, in the form of food and drink, is converted into sustenance for our bodies and the remainder is converted into waste.  Now, due to the complexity of the human body, sometimes excessive calories (kilocalories technically but shortened to simply calories for food and drink on packaging nutritional information) are in the form of protein and used to increase muscle mass.  However, most are either not protein or past the point of safe protein buildup, and are broken down into more waste and lipids, fat.  Fat is stored in case the body needs more warmth or energy for other purposes when food is in short supply.

Starvation diets fail because the body tries harder to retain fat after the diet ends, and without enough calories and carbs, the body doesn't work efficiently to remove toxins and other waste from the body, in addition to the immune system and brain function slowing.  Diet pills for the most part do nothing other than work as a placebo.  Shedding a pound or two in a month can easily be chalked up to not having a third slice of bread every day during that month, or measuring at times immediately after using the restroom instead of measuring prior if one was previously.  High carb and high protein diets give a person energy, and hence why many athletes do them, however, they are exercising a lot more than the average person and need that excess energy.

So what actually works?  First, proper hydration.  On average, a person should drink eight glasses that are about eight ounces each.  The actual recommended amount if not overly sweating, is half the body weight in pounds to be drank in ounces, so adjust accordingly with the amount daily and at each time one drinks or add more times to drink.  The two times I had used The Hacker's Diet (which is highly effective if combined with the glycemic index and other details), I had several eight ounce canning jars that I had gained from the owner of a restaurant whose basement I had volunteer to help clean.  I still have them in fact, though I use them less than I used to.  One should drink a glass on waking up, one half an hour before each meal, one during each meal, one before any time doing exercise and again if feeling thirsty, and one half an hour before bed.  Additionally, unless you're planning on singing or doing a long speech try to drink cold water (if you use ice, compensate with more water unless you drink the ice too as it melts).  If singing or doing a long speech, use room temperature water as it won't strain the vocal cords as much.  The reason for drinking cold water is that it forces the body to use more of its heat to raise its temperature to usability and the increased density also takes up slightly more space in the stomach.  As a result, not only will it make one feel fuller, it will also burn more calories, especially when combined with the timing of the initial drink.  While the timing does help, basically if one feels thirsty, they should drink sooner as even the initial onset of thirst is a sign of dehydration.  However, there is a downside to drinking too much water.  If the amount of water being drunk exceeds the amount of electrolytes consumed by too much, it is sapping vital nutrients the body needs to function properly and if too excessive can even lead to death.  Best to stick to 8-10 glasses on average unless doing a lot of exercise or to prevent heatstroke and the like.  If taking more, it is suggested to add half a teaspoon of sea salt to at least one drink or spread that across the meals of the day.  Pretty simple really.

Second, being full.  Most people eat until they feel full and some go even further because of the sensation of taste.  The human body takes half an hour to feel full after it has actually gained enough nutrients.  That's why it's better to eat a well proportioned meal and if still hungry half an hour later have a very modest snack.  This also applies to diabetics and others concerned with their blood sugar levels going too high or being too low.  Additionally, the more carbs of a meal that come from fiber, the fuller one will feel.  Celery is a great choice in this, as it is mostly fiber, low in calories and packed with water which not only helps fill but increases the metabolism.  Adding a light amount of low-calorie dip, peanut butter, or other spread onto it as per one's pallet is fine, but celery is a great staple for people wanting to lose weight.  It can even be grilled or added to many Asian Cuisine dishes with the right spices and sauces to taste.  There are many other high fiber foods, and drinking water also helps, but eating less calories at a time has the best effect overall.  When I lost the seventy pounds I had on The Hacker's Diet, I hate three modest meals and had two snacks each a third the size of the meal or less.  Another key part of feeling full is the glycemic index.  If one has some food that gives higher blood sugar and some that takes longer to digest, they will still feel full later, but too much sugar at once will give a sugar rush that fades into a crash as it is burned up.  Additionally, this can greatly add to the risk of diabetes or be harmful to diabetics if not coupled with proper insulin use and moderation.  Protein also needs to be consumed to keep up muscle mass so as better to remain efficient in movements and burn more fat.  Which leads to the third part.

The third part of the triforce of weight management is exercise.  If one consumes too many calories it is difficult to burn them off from regular daily activities, and exercise should never be used simply to lose weight or cease after weight is lost, as exercise takes much more work to burn off weight than proper calorie intake in the first place, and ceasing it without changing the food intake will just make the weight come right back.  Proper exercise on a regular basis will boost the metabolism and lessen the feeling of hunger, though it will increase thirst.  Part of the reason hunger will lessen is that exercise breaks down muscle and fat for energy use before rebuilding the muscles and fat for continued storage in case of later necessity.  Without enough protein the muscles will atrophy, pull or strain from lack of or over-exercising, however a balanced amount will keep the muscle mass at the same level and possibly even more dense while slimming body fat.  Larger amounts, however, become more fat if additional exercise is not done, and may be toxic to the body if too excessive.  One of the easiest ways to do more exercise is to add ankle weights for all your daily tasks.  By carrying more weight around, your body has to work harder to move with close to the same speed, burning more calories.  Dancing or running are two other great ways to shed the pounds with proper diet.  Lower-stress workouts also include swimming, jumping rope, and calisthenics.  There are other methods of exercise, but a combination of those forms of exercise tend to lose weight the fastest with the least amount of soreness.  Targeting specific muscles for development will bolster their density, but rarely lose weight across the entire body as effectively.

Weight management is a difficult process and one that requires discipline, patience and actual care for one's health instead of for peer pressure or other temporary reasons.  I weigh two-hundred twenty-five pounds currently, and while I have weighed both more and less, it is a weight I can consistently keep without added exercise to my daily routine or altering my diet much, while also being manageable for my diabetes.  It is forty pounds less than my weight before the two times I lost weight intentionally, while still being above the 180lbs I weighed in the hospital when I had diabetes.  Part of the reason for that was excessive water intake forcing the high sugar content out and taking insulin managed it while making me not as thirsty (I was drinking a gallon to a gallon and a half of water on a day depending on the temperature instead of half a little over half a gallon as I should have been).  My weight is not necessarily the ideal for my height, but it is manageable without risk of complications from my diabetes or expensive membership at one of the local gyms which I can't afford.  Would I like to have it lower?  Perhaps, but my health concerns are at least addressed enough for me not to care enough to drop it by much at present.  However, the vast majority of people who either can't shed more than a few pounds without regaining it or can't figure out how to properly manage their weight and use fad diets, pills or other inane means are ignorant if they try an incorrect method once, or insane if they keep doing it again and again.  It's actually not that hard if one cares enough to do it.  It just takes willpower and knowledge.