Fast Food - Should there be an age restriction? (Blog in progress, will be updated as & when facts and figures all collated )

#Please note that this blog will be written in stages. As I've been thinking about this I am now wanting to explore this topic further by getting in touch with my local government officials, schools, parents, nutritionists, colleagues and the fast food chains. If this were a can of worms....it's open and I'm hungry!

Points I will write about
- Child obesity - links to welfare lifestyle?
- health stats (local and government)
- Education of parents - how they choose/barriers to health/
- The role supermarkets play
- choice of the individual (age to choose for themselves)
- Government agenda/marketing/outreach/education
- Schools - their role in choice/health/education of nutrition
- Anything else that pops into my head


This subject/idea has been stuck in my mind for quite some time.

Firstly lets put it out there that fast food chains and processed meals aren't going to go away. They generate massive amounts of money.
If you look at MacDonald's as a business it is simply epic. It's a monster corporation that generates huge turnover and as a business model it is excellent. Problem is, the products they sell to people are very sub standard and bad for your health. If only they produced products that were healthy for you but that begs the question.... Would it of had the same success?

In an ideal world I'd love to see steak, veggies and nuts on the breakfast menu rather than a sausage and egg mcmuffin. (I'm using MacDonald's as an example as it's the most well known)

Where I work is located within a town centre and as such is surrounded by your typical high street food stores.
As I take a walk to my local bank branch I pass the local MacDonald's. Every time I get a surge in anger. You may feel that this is an excessive reaction to just walking past a fast food chain but it's what I see inside that infuriates me.

The cause is seeing very young children being taken in their by their mum or dad and being fed the foods that are on offer. I am talking young kids as well - one lad was around 18 months old, sitting in a high chair,being fed fries and a burger bun........
When I see this it upsets me, saddens me and challenges my mindset to understand the thought processes of the parents.
I am not going to start questioning if they are good parents as it's not my place and I'm sure 99.9% of them are great. Kids rely on their parents for everything and we have a responsibility to make sure they grow into healthy people.
My issue is with these children not knowing or having a choice about what food they are being given to eat. Here's what I want to go into....when does a child have the ability to make an informed choice to eat foods that have a negative effect on their bodies????

As we grow up we have age restrictions and progressions in differing aspects of our lives. Have a think when you read this list on why these ages and who decided. What are the thought processes of those who decide what's the right age?? (based on the U.K)

 - MMR jab =
 - Pre School/nursery =
 - Starting infant school = 3
 - Starting Secondary School = 11
 - GCSE exams = 16
 - Allowed to have Sex = 16
 - Driving = 16
 - Drinking alcohol =18
 - Starting University (generally speaking) = 18
 - Allowed to work = 16 (late into 15 as long as a national insurance card is issued)
 - Age of retirement =

Everyone likes to discuss sex so I will use that to delve a little deeper...no pun intended ;-)

Let's also assume that the example I give is that of someone that hasn't had sex. (I am not going to discuss puberty and the body being ready to reproduce at younger ages than 16 - focusing on the mindset and choices that occur)
Said person gets to 16 years old and suddenly is experienced in life in today's society to engage in sexual encounters and deal with both the positives and the negative aspects as a result??
Yet they can't drink alcohol but can drive a vehicle.
The way I view these age limits is the government saying that at those ages without any outside help from your parents or friends you will be able to cope with any and all outcomes. I am being very generalised here as each topic can be greatly expanded upon.


.....MORE TO COME

14th May 2013 - Today's leg session

Today's leg workout consisted of....

I have the same sets and reps for each exercise. Picking the correct loads to maximise each set.

Sets per exercise = 7
Reps per exercise;
set 1 - 8
set 2 - 8
set 3 - 6
set 4 - 6
set 5 - 4
set 6 - 4
set 7 - 10-12

Total sets = 28 (high volume)

Rest times are different between and after each super set depending on the rep range.

8 Reps = 60 seconds
6 Reps = 90 seconds
4 Reps = 90-120 seconds

The Session.

1a Barbell Front Squat
1b Deadlifts - overhand grip

2a Step Ups - Barbell on back
2b dumbbell Romanian Deadlifts - fixed 25 degree knee bend

The training goal for this phase is myofibril hypertrophy. Leading more towards strength gains of the muscle fibres as opposed to increasing their size.

Targeted muscle groups.

1a - quads and glutes
1b - hamstrings, back and glutes
2a - quads
2b - hamstrings and lower back

Post Transalpine Run.

Putting myself on the chopping block here!

Pic on the left is from the start of Feb 2013.
As you can see, after my Transalpine Run in September 2012 I had turned into a 'skinny fat' physique.
The event took a lot out of my to the point I lost around 8kg of muscle tissue. I'd say it took me a good three months to feel normal after that event and that was after having a period of rest and then getting back into strength training. I was suffering with my joints as the muscles in my legs were very weak from the run.

Pic on the right is from May 8th 2013. I have taken my time since the event to recondition my body. I have been doing this by achieving marginal gains each workout, planning my training cycles and having a solid nutritional base.

I am not in any rush - I am setting my goals and working my way towards them.

I want to remain feeling good, staying injury free, regaining my athletic performance, developing my business and learning.

Now things are getting themselves together I will add more content on this blog relating o my training, thoughts and other such things.

Neglected

Howdy!

So I have somewhat neglected my blog as of late.


I am busy expanding the reach of No Regrets Fitness and haven't given the blog any attention.

Will get back to finishing my transalpine story soon enough!!


Nick