Every day, countless zombified humans achingly moan for their beds as they drag their tired feet into the nearest convenience store looking for a jolt of life to get them through the work day. Lifting their sleepy eyes to the painfully bright light of the refrigerator, they scan the selection of bottles and cans lined up on the shelves to find names like “Rockstar,” “Monster,” “Full Throttle,” “Red Bull,” and “No Fear” glistening proudly off of the aluminum, boasting liquefied awesome in a can, complete with badass illustrations of skulls, fire, and lightning bolts, and the ever-important assurance of long-lasting energy. Like Popeye reaching for a can of spinach, anyone looking for a kick of vigor and a shot of (promised) strength gladly reach for an energy drink of choice.

“Are you pouring on the pounds?”

For three months, starting in August of 2009, this was the question posted on 1,500 subway cars, confronting millions of New Yorkers with an image that, no doubt, elicited its fair share of double takes. What first appears to be soda from a soft drink bottle pouring over the words and into a glass is quickly recognized as otherwise. After reading the ad’s zinger, “Don’t drink yourself fat,” a closer look makes its point even clearer. That “soda fizz” running over the side of the glass? It’s actually a big, yellowy glob of human fat.

Back-to-school season, colder weather, and the holiday rush all mark back to the doctor for many prepared to get their annual flu shots. This year, a new viral infection known as H1N1, or swine flu, poses an even larger threat, particularly since June 11, 2009, when the World Health Organization declared it a level 6 (highest level) pandemic. In just a few short months, the H1N1 flu spread across 177 countries, resulting in over 209,000 confirmed infections and 2,185 deaths. Since that time, four manufacturers—(Australia’s) CSL Ltd., (Switzerland’s) Novaris, (France’s) Sanofi-Pasteur, and (The United States’) Medimmune—were licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as vaccination providers. Out of these, Medimmune is the only one that produces a nasal spray flu vaccination. “Right now, you need to become educated about vaccine, influenza, vaccine risks, and the public health laws in your state,” says Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center.

With a health pandemic the government updates the public on daily, and many frenzying for a vaccination to soothe all fears, how many are really taking the time to ask necessary and valuable questions concerning this fast-tracked cure? Is anyone concerned that there was not enough time to study and properly research all the implications and possible side effects of the vaccine before it was put into mass production?

The “What” and “Where”
Your abdominals are located in the middle of your body and make up a large portion of what is often referred to as the body’s “core.” There are four groups of abdominal muscles: Rectus Abdominis, External Oblique, Internal Oblique, and Transverse Abdominis.

The Rectus Abdominis is the most superficial of these muscles (i.e. it’s the closest to the skin) and is the muscle that we see when someone has a six-pack. Its primary action is flexing the spine (i.e. bending forward at the hips or waist). The External and Internal Oblique muscles are located on the side of the abdomen and their primary action is rotating or flexing the spine to the right and left. The Transverse Abdominis is the deepest abdominal muscle, and its primary purpose is to compress the body’s abdominal contents and provide the strongest basis of core stability in the body. This muscle is often the one that people say they “didn’t know existed” until after they have taken their first Pilates class.

So you’re new to Pilates and don’t even know where to begin, right? Well, VM reader, not to worry! I’m here to walk you through all the basics you need to know to successfully complete and understand a Pilates workout.

Pilates is an exercise method that emphasizes a strong mind-body connection with a focus on the influence of the breath on the development of muscles. Most of the exercises involve strengthening the core muscles, which include the abdominal and back muscles that help to support the spine. By working the body’s deep core muscles, Pilates creates a strong and powerful base for the toning and development of the rest of the body. It also improves balance and stability, by intensifying the mind’s awareness of isolated muscles and muscle groups, as well as total body awareness. Pilates can be modified and adapted to accommodate people of all ages, body types, and athletic abilities, so everyone can benefit from it. Pretty neat stuff, huh?

Dear Cammi:

We all know that food additives aren’t good for you, yet they seem to be in everything! As a recent college graduate, I am trying to get away from the unhealthy, quick, easy, and inexpensive meals I relied on while in school. Can you help me identify the food additives I should avoid in my quest for getting healthy, or should I just avoid anything on a label that I can’t pronounce?

- Clueless in Commack

When taking on the fancy organic aisle at your supermarket, or even just buying everyday items like milk and eggs, confusion can easily set in when faced with the myriad of tiny stickers that post their mark on endless lengths of grocery items. Federal seals of approval, colorful organization logos, acronyms, and exaggeratingly big scientific words are often difficult to decipher. Suddenly, you find yourself faced with making a choice between “cage-free” or “free-range” eggs, “natural” or “organic” beef, and “biodynamic” versus “sustainable” produce. What does it all mean? And what is the difference, anyway?

In a sea of seemingly similar terms, there is a difference. Each tiny sticker represents a detailed back story of how that product got to the shelf, what went into it, and what didn’t; each serves as a brief explanation of how it was raised, processed, or cultivated. And depending on your personal beliefs and values, those elements can really make an impact on the decision of your purchase.

A new Brazilian restaurant is making its mark in the West Village, and I was recently fortunate enough to experience firsthand the food, drinks, and hot vibe at this eatery. Berimbau, named after a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil, lives by a motto that perfectly sums up the flavors it serves up: Food, Rhythm, and Joy!

Dear Cammi,

Where do cravings for sweets come from? I seem to crave sweet things all the time! Are there any suggestions you could give me as an alternative to sugar and other processed sweeteners?

- Sweet Tooth Sweetie

Where dreams become heart attacks.

That’s the slogan boasted on the top of every page of ThisIsWhyYoureFat.com , a blog-style website that serves as a forum for people to submit images of the biggest, nastiest, most artery-clogging concoctions they have ever consumed or witnessed. Its archives, filled with coronary nightmares, are a wince-worthy look at the entertaining, yet often revolting, reality of the American diet. With every click and scroll, one is served up a lengthy feast of deep-fried, greasy, fatty, and cheesy dishes, convincingly proving all the reasons for our lumps, bumps, rolls, and bulges.