I know I shouldn't blog when I'm tired... but I had to just get this one down. It's the worst 'use' of 'Science' as a supporting argument I've ever heard. Surprise, surprise, it was Oprah.
Oprah was talking about power. In this case, will power, and its application to eating well, exercising, losing weight, and keeping the weight off. At the core of the argument was the concept that lifestyle changes happen with discipline over time, and you can't rush losing weight and the process still be healthy.
So, to bolster the argument, they decided to take something from physics. Something profound. Here it is: power equals work over time. If you are disciplined [work] for long enough [over time] you have the power to change your lifestyle and your weight. So, the more disciplined you are, and the longer you stick at it - the more power you have.
I've highlighted where the fundamental problem is. Over. Do you know what that means, Oprah? It's division. The formula is power = work divided by time. The shorter the period over which the work is done, the greater the power.
Maybe that's not even the biggest problem. Even if it was the right way around, do you really need to try and use anything but: energy consumed > energy expended = gain weight?
Shakespeare wrote that the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. Physics just shouldn't be like that.
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3 comments:
Serves you right for watching Oprah! I also commented on your photos but i think i pushed the wrong button and sent it off into cybervoid. The photos were great - thank you for those....
....lets see if i can get this right this time......
Ha ha ha... I didn't think of that. Of course I've had to have seen this happen to recall it.
All I can say... is that it was a long time ago, and I may have been just flipping channels... or something.
Glad you liked the photos, we have a slideshow we can send you too.
lulz!
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