From the Front Lines

I'm writing this from the front lines - in front of the TV, watching the CBS Early Show. While TV news is a dubious source for your health and fitness science, at best, I can't help myself: They are reporting on a study linking depression and abdominal fat. Here's what that gorgeous doctor from The Doctors has to say:

Clinical depression can lead to buildup of deep belly fat (not the stuff you grab with both fists and growl at - this is the deep, dangerous fat inside your abdomen that wraps around and chokes your internal organs) This fat increases risk for bad cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, etc.

Clinical depression itself, however causes weight loss: You are less likely to eat. The study volunteers did not gain weight - but their weight was redistributed such that they developed more fat in the abdomen.

Why? Blame cortisol, the "fight or flight" stress hormone: Cortisol signals to the body to lay on deep belly fat for storage during danger. It's a useful hormone if you are running from a lion. If you are watching the lion on TV while debating whether to fold the seven loads of laundry or complete the report due to your boss tomorrow (who may not, in this economy, be your boss the day AFTER), the cortisol streaming through your body is, itself, the danger.

"Exercise is the all-natural Prozac!" the hottie doctor just announces. Oooh, I love that man!

My prescription: Cardio, in the morning, if possible (another, well-respected study showed that morning cardio for about 20 minutes was as effective as a clinical dose of Zoloft); Yoga, yoga, yoga (which is geared towards stress relief and total mind/body wellness); and keeping up with your doctor. If you are blue for more than two weeks, you need to consider that you might be depressed. This is a MEDICAL condition, that needs to be dealt with on multiple fronts - including whatever tools your doctor prescribes.

Do what you can to have HAPPY holidays!