Stacia Deshishku, Director of coverage, CNN/US:

Wow. It's been 12 weeks since we embarked on this journey. At the outset I was hoping for significant weight loss - though I've lost only 10 pounds - but look at these AMAZING stats:

- My body fat has been reduced by 10 percent

- My chest is down 4.25 inches - my hips down 5.75 inches!

- My thigh is down a whopping 6 inches - multiply that by two legs and we are talking a foot smaller!

- My waist is 4.5 inches smaller (I'm still aiming for that 35-25-36 I had in high school! - it's good to have "stretch goals")

- My resting heart rate has gone from 84 beats per minute to 60. My heart rate while working out has dropped dramatically from 140 bpm to 90!

- I started out only able to do 10 push-ups. This time I completed 50! (In fact, I doubled that. My trainer said I did only 40 - I swore I had done 50. So the only way to solve it was to do the 50 again - which I did!!!)

- The wins just go on and on

I'm so proud of myself. I simply feel better - physically and psychologically. I've come to understand that I really can do this. I can balance my eating habits with my exercise routine without changing my life so much that I no longer recognize me or set myself up to attempt to maintain unrealistic goals. This is soooo livable and reasonable!

Robert asked me this afternoon whether I now love working out. Truthfully, the answer is no. But I do like the way it makes me feel. Sure, I like the way my clothes are literally hanging off of me. But I really like that I know I can run a mile - the idea of a half-marathon isn't so out of the realm of possibility these days. In fact, who knows what I can do. The sky is the limit. Thank you, Sanjay. Thank you, Fit Nation. Thank you, Robert. Most importantly, thank you to my Fit Buddies - Eddie and Matt - for giving me such unflagging support and motivation throughout this journey.


Ed Lavandera. CNN Correspondent:

When we started this Fit Nation adventure back in April, I said my goal was to learn new habits and some techniques that would get me on the right weight-loss track. Not only have I reached those goals but I've also lost 30 pounds along the way.

Some new eating habits I try to stick to each day:

-- A good dose of protein in the morning sticks with me longer and helps me eat more sensible meals later in the day.

-- I look to eat my carbs for breakfast or lunch and try to avoid them at dinner.

-- All this has helped me cut down on snacking too much between meals.

New workout habits I think about each day:

-- Mix up the exercise as much as possible. I ride my bike; I use weights now; I'm on the elliptical machine.

-- Get outside and surround yourself with other people who want to exercise.

-- Break a sweat every day.

The formula to losing weight is simple: Eat Less, Move More = Weight Loss. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula for developing good habits and staying motivated. That's the struggle, but I've never felt better about overcoming this challenge.



Matt Sloane, CNN Medical producer:

Its been a turbulent ride! The first few weeks, I was very comitted. Then, I suffered a bit.

Missed several workouts, some because of work, some because of a cold, but each missed workout and bite of bad food in the past would have derailed me.

Robert said in an earlier blog that I was not a superstar in either the gym or with my eating but that I was following a moderate plan I could adopt for the long term. I truly believe that to be the case, and I've never been this thrilled to be mediocre.

The truth is, if I had adopted an extreme exercise regimen with Robert, and then stopped being able to go, I would have quit completely without his encouragement. If I had adopted a strict eating regimen and then had a string or barbecues or special events, I would have derailed.

Instead, I eat pretty well but allow myself things I want when I REALLY want them. Turns out I don't REALLY want them that often. I may not workout as much as Eddie, but I do enjoy going to the gym now. I know my way around, I learned some exercises I can do at home, and now I even own some small at-home fitness tools.

Either way, I've lost about 15 pounds, and gained two really great friends! Fit Buddies might be over, but my weight-loss journey has just begun.

Stay tuned to the blog... The four of us might just surprise you with updates now and then. I wish you success in your Fit Nation.



Robert Dothard, trainer:

The health and fitness industry is full of promises, from pills and shakes that promise weight loss with little or no effort, to drugs that cause horrific side effects and can put your health at risk. I can proudly state that it is also an industry with a passionate group of professionals all over the world who stand ready to help you, at whatever level of health and fitness you find yourself. That's even if you don't have a Stacia-like "bring it on" attitude, or if you are not the "McGyver" of fitness, like Ed, who can be in a town covered in floodwaters, yet still find a way somehow to get his workout on, or even if you are not like Matt, with every reason to train, like the start of a brand new life with his fiancee, not to mention, at his young age, there is almost nothing he cannot accomplish, if he is truly committed!

The Fit Buddies' stories are not unique. It can be YOUR story as well, if you are truly committed to the process. If you have been following as part of Fit Nation, congratulations. You have taken the first step, getting information, from an established and trusted source.

Now YOU have to take ACTION!

I would encourage you to keep trusting CNN Medical News. If taking action stops you, contact the nationally certified trainer in your area.

Good luck, and good health

The latest film from director Michael Moore opens across the country this weekend. "Sicko" is Moore's examination of the health-care system in the United States and how it compares with health care in other countries.

CNN Medical started hearing about "Sicko" more than a year ago. About a month ago we started receiving messages of support for Moore and the film from various organizations - and an equal number criticizing "Sicko." I am still not sure how many of these groups had seen the film before sending out their "reviews"... but considering that the film's nationwide opening is still a day away, I have my doubts.

CNN is covering "Sicko." Moore will be the guest on "Larry King Live" Friday night. Following Larry King, CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, will offer his analysis of "Sicko" on "Anderson Cooper 360." Dr. Gupta has fact-checked the film, and his findings might surprise you. He also will introduce you to a 9/11 rescue worker who is featured in Moore's film. She joined Moore on a trip to Cuba in search of high-quality, affordable care for health issues stemming from her work around ground zero.

Do you plan on seeing "Sicko"? What changes would you make to the U.S. health-care system?

My 10-year old cousin is a ticking time bomb. He's more than a little chunky -- actually, a lot more -- he's fat. His mealtime staples include french fries, processed chicken nuggets and of course, soda. Lots of soda. I stand by as my relatives feed him this toxic menu and I know he has friends who eat the same way.

The obesity epidemic in the United States is particularly glaring among our young people. Add asthma and mental illness and you've got the top three chronic illnesses setting millions of children on a perilous path. What you may find shocking is that many of these kids could die or be severely handicapped by their 30s or 40s, and some in their 20s. In fact, today we know that the number of children whose parents report that they are disabled by their illness -- that means staying home from school because they can't breathe, or have hypertension at age 10 -- has quadrupled since the 1960s.

Dr. James Perrin, a director at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston, says that unless we stem this trend, there will be millions of people in their 20s and 30s who will be living on public welfare, unable to find a job. And that doesn't even take into account the strain they will put on the health care system.

The reasons for the obesity problem among our youth are definitely complex, but television seems to be at the core. Kids are simply watching too much, and it is happening at the expense of exercise.

Even if you don't have children, this is the type of story that can make you wonder what's happening to kids today. The idea of an entire generation incapacitated, unable to work, or dying too soon is very scary... and very real.

Of course there are ways we can reverse the trend.

Parents can become more aware of what's going on with their kids - get them moving, not watching more TV. In fact, studies show that when families exercise together, the weight loss is more substantial than if children are left to their own devices.

There are other ways to curb the trend of childhood illness -- community centers, school exercise programs, and eating better are all examples.

But the real impact begins at home. What do you think?

Today is Fit Nation day at CNN, but you won't see it on TV. Today, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN Medical News are encouraging CNN employees to get and stay fit. We are sponsoring a field day of sorts at CNN Center in Atlanta as a way to encourage people to exercise during their lunch break. We are also asking our CNN colleagues to sign up for the Fit Nation Challenge.

The Fit Nation Challenge is really simple - just pledge to exercise a specific number of hours each week. We already have more than 800,000 hours pledged. You can sign up for the Fit Nation Challenge here. The idea is to get moving -- and by making a commitment to exercise -- get fit.

This weekend, Dr. Gupta and CNN Medical News will be in Chicago, Illinois, on the Fit Nation tour. We will be encouraging people to exercise and eat right. Some of us will be running in a 5K race that will wind its way through parts of the city on Sunday. All of us will be handing out exercise information and items including pedometers to encourage fitness. Chicago is the last stop on the Fit Nation tour this year. We already are making plans for the 2008 tour.

Fitness is extremely important to Dr. Gupta -- you could say it is a passion of his. What health issues do you feel passionate about? What are you doing about them?

Want more info on Fit Nation? Check out CNN.com/Fitnation or click here to sign up for Fit Nation alerts and tips from Dr. Gupta.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta with veteran Tammy Duckworth

A woman from Lillyville, Illinois, once told my grandmother, "It's the rich man's war, and the poor man's fight." My grandmother believed that saying to be true. She herself worked as a "Rosie the Riveter" at American Can Co. during World War II, making containers for ammunition. She fought her own war at home, while my grandfather served in the South Pacific. It made me wonder why the same isn't true today. While so many troops serve overseas, what are Americans doing at home other than their daily routine? Are we really a nation at war?

Then I met Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee from the Iraq war who continues the fight at home. In November 2004, she lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. Thirteen months later, Tammy ran for Congress, losing by less than 3 percent of the vote. The narrow loss only motivated her more. Tammy now fights for veterans' health care as director of Illinois' Deptartment of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and I were with Tammy when she received her prosthetic legs this spring. At the same time, the war in Iraq was getting very personal once again for Tammy. She had to say goodbye to her husband, Maj. Bryan Bowlsbey, who is deploying to Iraq with the Illinois National Guard. I asked Bryan whether the thought of staying home for Tammy had crossed his mind. The soldier in him spoke first saying, "That's not what we do." Then the tears came, a soldier torn between caring for his wife at home and serving his country overseas.

Tammy and Bryan weren't the only ones crying in Delavan, Illinois. About 60 families were saying goodbye to their loved ones. I had felt so far removed from the Iraq war until that day. Witnessing the pain of sending a husband, a brother, a mother off to war, made the war all the more real. And for these brave military families, every day is a day at war.

For more on Tammy and Bryan, watch Dr. Sanjay Gupta's report on "Anderson Cooper 360" tonight at 10 ET

The CNN Fit Buddies have made it through another week in their weight-loss and fitness challenge. Here's an update on their efforts to eat better and exercise more. Read about their successes and frustrations every Friday here on the Paging Dr. Gupta blog. And join the Fit Buddies by accepting the Fit Nation Challenge (details here).

Ed Lavandera, CNN Dallas correspondent

It's been the worst week of all for me.

I've been reporting from small towns along the Texas-Mexico border, crossing onto the Mexican side, working about 16 hours a day. Tex-Mex restaurants at every turn. I've worked out only one time. The hotel gym is terrible. And even when I could work out, I've just been exhausted.

I won't waste more time beating myself up over it. We have one week left in the Fit Nation program and I remind myself that I've come a long way since April. The encouraging sign for me is I miss my intense workouts. I'm eager to get back on the bike and to the gym.

There used to be a late-night sports show on CNN called "Calling All Sports." (If you remember this, you are a true CNN fan!) The host, Vince Cellini, used to end the show with a rapid-fire call-in segment. He used to scream at viewers "FINISH UP STRONG!" I loved it! That's a good rally cry for me as I head into another challenging week and the last days of our "Fit Nation" program.

Of course, the end of "Fit Nation" is really only the beginning for me.



Matt Sloane, Medical news producer

I had a vision last week of what I could look like 50 pounds lighter. My dad told me before we went on vacation that he was on a diet and that he planned to eat well and walk a lot while we were away. My first thought was, "Dad's been heavy for a long time, and he's been on a countless diets... we'll see how this works."

But when we met him at the hotel in Bermuda, my jaw hit the floor!! We started at the same weight, though he started his diet a few months before I did. The transformation was ASTOUNDING -- he lost 50 pounds!

He looks healthy, he had more energy, he ate less, had no desire to waste calories on alcohol, and he walked a ton every day. He actually looks like one of those "skinny guys."

If that, along with the thought of getting into a tuxedo in the somewhat distant future doesn't keep me going after this program is over, I don't know what will.

I've lost somewhere between 15 and 20 pounds now (scale issues making it tough to pin down an exact number), but my goal is to look like him. (Minus the gray hair of course!)



Stacia Deshishku, Director of coverage, CNN/US

I'm feeling really melancholy. I'm not ready for Fit Nation to end. Will I stick with it? Will I cheat? I feel it's simply too soon to "check out" of my fitness rehab!

What an experience this has been. Emotionally and physically. I have done more than I thought I could, faced demons I didn't know I had and learned what does and doesn't work for me. I've also met and talked with scores of people about fitness. My participation in this program and its visibility have given me a forum to talk about my challenges. Simultaneously it has given colleagues an invitation to talk to me about their struggles, share tips and become fitness buddies, if only vicariously!

As I reshape my body, I also need to reshape my thinking. This isn't an end, rather, just the beginning. I certainly hope my original fit buddies, as well as the ones I have added along the way, will continue on this journey with me!



Robert Dothard, Fit Buddies trainer

When I run, I sprint at the end. When I weight train, I drop the weight I am lifting by 10-20 percent, and I finish by doing as many reps as I can.

The Fit Buddies are in the homestretch, and I want them to "kick it" into high gear, but not for THEM -- for YOU! Allow me to explain.

In my 20+ years as a trainer, I have learned what makers of infomercials have known for years: Testimonials WORK! It is a formula: Have enough people talk about a product or service in a positive way, put it in front of people a few "hundred" times, and a good percentage will give it a try. Well my product is fitness advice and accountability, and the Fit Buddies' testimony is ongoing, but the jury is already in on the results: POSITIVE!

So if you have been waiting, I submit CNN's Fit Nation 2007 as my favorite infomercial. I believe if you invest the TIME and EFFORT, YOUR fitness results will also be POSITIVE, and ongoing!!!

Good luck and good health.

The first time I read about the dangers of hand sanitizer, I thought it was a joke. There was a widely circulating story about a child eating or drinking hand sanitizer and becoming deathly ill. C'mon, you're thinking. That is an Internet hoax.

Well, not so fast. While there hasn't been a single documented case of a child dying from it, there have been some pretty frightening stories. Parents, like myself, should at a minimum be aware of what is in hand sanitizer. Flip that bottle over and you are likely to see that it's 62 percent ethyl alcohol. That is also known as ethanol. It is also the same stuff in wine, beer and Jack Daniels. That's right: A little 2-ounce bottle = 4 shots of vodka.

The New England Journal of Medicine first warned of cases of people ingesting hand sanitizer a few months ago. Now according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, the country's 61 poison centers are getting more calls about it. There were nearly 12,000 cases last year, up from 2005. Already, this year, there have been about 6,600 cases.

As a father of a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old, I know just about everything goes from hand to mouth. And, hand sanitizer can smell especially appetizing! If you look at a 1-year old child weighing about 22 pounds, a squirt of sanitizer is like your child drinking a sip of a mixed drink. So, is it time we start locking up the hand sanitizer and treating it as a poison? How do you keep your kids safe from these seemingly harmless substances?

If you have any questions, you can call the American Association of Poison Control Centers Poison Help Line 1-800-222-1222. You'll be connected to your local poison control center.

Last week I blogged on the results of an informal poll of my friends and family regarding their use of sunscreen to illustrate the importance of skin protection for people of all skin types and colors. But, if you're like me and have never worn sunscreen, then the letters SPF probably mean nothing to you. Hey, even if you have slathered on sunscreen, SPF and all the numbers can still be very confusing. Does SPF stop you from getting skin cancer? Or does it provide a false sense of security?

For help on answering these questions and others, I spoke with Dr. Jodi Ganz, an Atlanta, Georgia, dermatologist. Here's what I learned.

The "Sun Protection Factor" or SPF is a rating system used by the Food and Drug Administration to express how much sun exposure your skin can receive before burning. This burning baseline differs per skin color, with fairer-skinned people tending to burn more quickly than those with darker complexions. The number you see on sunscreen labels (15, 45, 80, etc.), means the SPF value, or the protection against sunburn, is increased. The higher the number, the more the protection. But, it doesn't protect against everything! Which leads me to the next point...

Wearing SPF lotions, creams, and even clothing does not mean you can entirely avoid the sun's damaging UV rays, and therefore does not stop you from getting skin cancers. So if that's the case, how do we explain the more than 100,000 over-the-counter SPF products currently on the market? Well, the FDA believes prevention is the best solution. The products don't eliminate your risk, they minimize them. And if you take into consideration research from the American Cancer Society showing melanoma causes nearly 80 percent of all skin cancer deaths, then perhaps prevention is not a bad idea.

Dr. Ganz, says SPF protection provides a false sense of security if you're not informed. Knowing the options and their limitations means you're giving yourself one more line of defense. For instance, your SPF is effective only as long as the lotion remains on. Heavy sweat and spending time in the water can weaken the sunscreen and re-applications are important. In theory it should take longer to burn with an SPF 60, than with an SPF 30. But, how much longer depends on how fast a person burns in the first place. With that said, if you'd like to learn more, check out the article Separating Sunscreen Fact from Fiction on CNN.com.

I'm curious-- what is your skin type and what SPF sunscreen do you use? Have you changed your "sunning" habits in recent years? Why?

The dwindling water supply at Lake Chad, Chad

"The white man will brings us water. Only, the white man has power."

I sat there stunned as I listened to the words of 45-year-old Maloum Mahamat. He's the chief of a tiny fishing village on the shores of what is left of Lake Chad in Central Africa. Mahamat is possibly the last in a long line of generations of fishermen. I press him on what can be done to help his people adapt to the receding water. He has two answers. The white man will come fix it and God will do what he must. In the 10 days our team spent following the shorelines of what's left of Lake Chad, we heard those two responses time and time again.

Whether it's on television or words, the story of Lake Chad is tough to tell. In the 1960s, Lake Chad was one of the world's largest lakes. At its greatest levels in modern history, it was as if the entire state of Vermont was covered in water -- simply enormous. Today, Lake Chad is one-tenth of its former size. Yes, it's shrunk by 90 percent in the last 40 years. The lake has always been shallow. Even at its deepest, it never measured more than 30 feet deep. Now its greatest depths measure only 3 feet to 6 feet.

The waters are receding and are becoming shallower. There are fewer fish in species, number and size. Fishermen need to adapt and find new ways to make a living. Less water means less vegetation. Less vegetation creates more sand dunes. Sand dunes lead to even less precipitation. It's an interconnected cycle. Tragically, as populations increase and resources become scarce, more people rely on the lake for sustenance than ever before, even as it has less and less to offer.

So, why is all this happening? The United Nations Environment Programme says that about half of the lake's decrease is attributable to human water use such as inefficient damming and irrigation methods. The other half of the shrinkage is due to shifting climate patterns. Anada Tiega of the Lake Chad Basin Commission blames climate change for 50 to 75 percent of the water's disappearance.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and I, along with our crew, traveled to Africa to find out just how much of the lake's disappearance was due to climate change and global warming. It's definitely hard to discern.

The truth is that Lake Chad has waxed and waned before. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the lake has probably dried out about a half-dozen times in the last 1,000 years. Scientists are confident that Lake Chad's waters will one day return, but that day probably will not be in this lifetime.

What effect do you think climate change has had on Lake Chad, if any? If Lake Chad naturally disappears and returns over geological time, does it matter what we do in the present. Do you believe in or care about climate change whether the effects are felt in Africa or elsewhere? Do you want to learn more about climate change, global warming and human health?

Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports from Lake Chad on climate change and the shrinking resources of the desert, tonight on "Anderson Cooper 360," 10 p.m. ET

The CNN Fit Buddies have made it through another week in their weight-loss and fitness challenge. Here's an update on their efforts to eat better and exercise more. Read about their successes and frustrations every Friday here on the Paging Dr. Gupta blog. And join the Fit Buddies by accepting the Fit Nation Challenge (details here).

Ed Lavandera, CNN Correspondent

You always hear people say they have more energy when they lose weight or start working out regularly. I never really believed it to be honest. But I experienced that this week. It was better than any double shot of espresso.

A few days ago I took an 11-mile bike ride with a friend. It was a hot, muggy day. I broke a good sweat.

A few hours after the ride, I realized I wanted to keep going. It was a strange feeling. I couldn't explain it. So I jumped on the bike again and went on another 11-mile ride. 22-miles in one day. I could not believe it.

I'm a believer now. Working out and eating better does give you more energy!

Stacia Deshishku, Director of Coverage CNNUS

As we approach Father's Day weekend, my heart is full. I am looking forward to going away with my husband and kids to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the weekend. A short getaway. Some family time. A few days to exercise and spend time outdoors. All will be made easier because my husband and I have both been exercising regularly. Before Fit Nation we would have plopped ourselves down in front of the hotel TV and ordered room service. Now we are talking about swimming with the kids and taking a hike up Lookout Mountain. There are moments when we ask ourselves, "Where are the old Deshishkus and who are these healthy people inhabiting our bodies?"

Getting back to my heart : One of the greatest improvements we have seen has been in our heart rates. Both of our resting heart rates have dropped dramatically. We were also both in the 140 bpm range during exercise. After 6 weeks of solid cardio work we have both dropped to under 100 bpm. Our hearts are getting in shape along with our bodies. That's really what it is all about. My husband is my best friend and I want him around as long as possible. We have two gorgeous boys to raise and turn into fine men. We have a lot to live for - for a very long time. Thank you Fit Nation for helping put us on the road to a long and healthy life.


Matt Sloane, Medical News Producer

Fortunately for my weight-loss goals, my dad is on a diet, too. So when we met up with him here on vacation, neither of us was in the mindset to gorge.

We did a TON of walking, ate pretty well and didn't drink a lot.

Dad also brought a scale, so I'm happy to report I've lost a 1/2 pound since I've been here! Not very much, but I figure, if I can go on vacation and not completely torpedo my weight loss, I've done OK!

Now the news you've all been waiting for: She said YES!!

Back to vacationing. See you all next week.

Robert Dothard, Fitness Trainer

It is amazing how the Fit Buddies' training "issues" mirror the training problems I have with many other clients. Warmer weather brings schedule problems: kids' camps and activities, vacations, and the special holidays and events. The Fit Buddies are celebrating with Matt the news of his engagement, and since he was on vacation when he proposed, he has been the biggest victim of the summer workout 'meltdown," but we will all have the July 4 holiday to deal with in a couple of weeks.

I suggest three strategies to keep the "Fit Nation" on task this summer: First, plan ACTIVE events for yourself and your family. For example, my son has attended two camps already since school let out (horse riding and karate), but the activities can be as inexpensive as a family hike (we went up Kennesaw Mountain, near our home). Second, do your "homework." Find activities that are available when you are on vacation; with the vast amount of information online, this should be easy. And third, the best things in life are free. My best memories from last year's Fit Nation tour were of my runs in the various tour cities, ranging from the snow that I ran through in Michigan, to Iowa, where it rained so hard 10 minutes after my run that I have a picture of Sanjay holding an umbrella INSIDE the auditorium!

I hope that all your memories are pleasant, and that they include MANY healthy activities. Good luck, and good health.

I have a confession to make. When I was at my heaviest, I was able to sit down and eat an entire medium, thin crust pizza by myself. Now, I'm not very proud of that. It was a horrible way to eat, and I have learned from my mistakes over the years. But I've often wondered why my behavior was so irrational. Why would someone who knows that consuming an entire pizza is nutritional suicide still do it? Who's to say. But I always did it when I was stressed, or sad, or bored. Even though I was wolfing down thousands of calories and hundreds of grams of fat in one sitting, it made me feel good, for a little while. And that was the catch - for a little while. Then I'd realize what I had done, get angry with myself and start the whole process over again.

Was I addicted to food? Were tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese my drugs of choice? Some doctors these days think so - that food has become as addictive to some people as alcohol or cigarettes to others. What a lot of researchers are finding is that obesity, which once was thought to be a condition of the gastrointestinal tract - the stomach - now may be more of a psychological or neurological issue. Yep, that's right: The brain may be the culprit. Certain physicians believe that something in the brain of an obese person reacts to food, just as it would to other addictive substances. Food addiction is kind of a new term used to describe the compulsive or excessive craving for food to comfort the soul. Not only can this addiction be characterized by eating abnormal amounts of food (an entire carton of ice cream in one sitting, for instance) but the foods these "addicts" crave are not very healthy. When was the last time anyone said, "Gosh, I'd love to have a raw carrot right now!" or "I could really go for some steamed broccoli!" Not going to happen. Nutritionists have found that most people who are overweight tend to crave high-fat, high-calorie foods, which pack on the pounds. Studies have also shown that certain people who undergo bariatric surgery turn to other addictive habits after their operation, trading one addiction for another. So it becomes a vicious cycle. How to stop it? Doctors don't know, but they are researching ways to curb these cravings.

Some experts say addiction is not the root of obesity and that food addiction is an overused term. They note there isn't enough research to prove that people are addicted to food and that people who turn to other addictions after treating their obesity with surgery may have addictive personalities, but that's not the driving force for obesity. These physicians say most obese people just don't know how to eat properly. They binge, they cut back, they go on diet after diet after diet. They splurge, feel guilty - the whole nine yards. They're not in control of their eating patterns. Obesity experts find that behavior modification and nutritional guidance usually help many obese patients lose enough weight to help them avoid certain illnesses, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. So it's really more a life change than treating addiction.

As for my pizza indulgence... I don't do it anymore. With help from my nutritionist and a wonderful gym, I have lost enough weight to leave the obese category. But still there are days when instead of thinking of whole grain cereal and raisins, my head keeps telling me that a nice sausage biscuit would be good. But I know now how to tell my brain that that's not the best thing for me, and instead, I set my kettle on the stove to warm up water for my instant oatmeal.

Do you think you might be addicted to food? Do you think behavior modification is the way to handle obesity? Let us know.

I admit it. I have never worn sunscreen. Ever! The truth is, like many other people of color, I just didn't think I needed to.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says messages regarding skin cancer protection have traditionally targeted fairer-skinned people because this group is 10 times more likely to develop melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer. Perhaps as a result, many minorities, myself included, consider skin protection a non-issue. And an informal poll of my African-American family and friends found NONE of them actively wears sun protection during the summer.

The truth is, skin protection IS an issue for this group... especially since new research finds darker-skinned people who develop melanoma are more likely to die from the condition. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed in the United States each year. And although black people are less likely to develop skin conditions, they are three times more likely to die than Caucasians. Lack of protection, combined with late detection, often leads to higher death rates for black people, as well as for Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans.

Part of the misperception has to do with melanin, the pigment that gives skin and hair their natural color. I have always had the idea that because I have lots of melanin, I am at not at risk. Not true! Although pigmentation helps block the suns damaging UV rays, acting as a natural layer of protection, it does so only to an extent. Dermatologists are now seeing people from various ethnic groups coming in for skin checks because of a rise in skin cancer overall. And darker-skinned patients, if they are getting enough sun exposure, are equally at risk.

The moral of the story is that no one is exempt. The CDC recommends a sunscreen with a sun protection factor or SPF of at least 15 for everyone. And because skin tones are as diverse as the rainbow, it's important to check with your dermatologist to find out what more is needed to protect your skin type.

Summer officially starts June 21. Do you have the proper sun-protective resources for your skin? Do you consider yourself at risk for skin cancer?

She's 18 but she looks 14. With a red sweater, horn-rimmed glasses and a funky ponytail tied above her head, Jessica (not her real name) seems like your typical teen. But there's nothing typical about her. Raised by a woman who used crack and crystal meth, Jessica jumped from home to home, living with family and friends, while her mother spent time in jail, rehab and other facilities to quit her habit. Sometimes Mom would be clean for weeks, then, according to Jessica, "She'd give in to the devils inside her." Most of the time her mother prostituted herself for her hits. It was rough for her, but even rougher for Jessica.

I met Jessica on the last day of a fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee this spring. The weeklong event was designed to introduce journalists to the world of crystal meth. We attended classes, visited rehab programs, talked to professors, users, judges, police officers and doctors who've seen meth's effects on society. We witnessed how the production of meth destroys communities, kills, maims and puts an incredible financial burden on our penal system, medical community and foster care systems. But it was Jessica who opened my eyes the most. Here was this girl sitting across the table from me, talking about drugs, paraphernalia and pimps as if everyone lived this kind of life. Not once was she bitter. Not once did she come off as hating her mother, or the system that forced her to live in foster homes. In fact, here was a child, a young woman actually, who had no anger. Instead she had hope.

That's because for the past few years, Jessica and her mother have been living in a group home called the Renewal House. It's Nashville's first and largest long-term recovery community for women addicts and their children. What makes Renewal House different is that instead of splitting up families, as many rehab facilities do, Renewal House keeps the mother-and-child relationship intact. Research shows that keeping children with their parents, even mothers who are struggling with drugs, helps the child to grow with more confidence especially when that child enters society, moreso than if he or she were put into foster care. Studies also have found that children of drug addicts usually turn to crime or drugs themselves when taken away from their families, reflecting the loss of the nurturing bond that only a mother can give. Experts also note that programs that keep families together see a higher success rate of addicts getting off drugs and staying off drugs. So the mom helps the child and the child helps the mom.

Renewal House looks a lot like an apartment building. Children live with their mothers as the parent progresses through rehab. The kids go to school and live as normal lives as possible, while moms attended meetings, workshops, and therapy sessions. Renewal House's goal is to get the women off drugs and back to work, so they can provide a healthy home for their children. It doesn't always work, but the Renewal House has a success rate of more than 50 percent. Experts say that's impressive. And Renewal House provides a loving home for kids who normally would be shuttled off to live with someone other than a parent.

So Jessica was not angry. Jessica was not scared. In fact she was proud of her mother, who now works with other women in the program. You could see the love in her eyes as she spoke about her mom and her mother's will to break free from a habit that once consumed her. Asked whether she had felt abandoned at times, Jessica said no. "'Cause even though she was a whore and a junkie, my mama loved me. She will always love me. That's why we are where we are. "

Do you think states should fund more programs like this? Tell us about positive rehab facilities in your neighborhood.

The CNN Fit Buddies have made it through another week in their weight-loss and fitness challenge. Here's an update on their efforts to eat better and exercise more. Read about their successes and frustrations every Friday here on the Paging Dr. Gupta blog. And join the Fit Buddies by accepting the Fit Nation Challenge (details here).

Ed Lavandera, CNN Correspondent

I pull into the parking lot of the Denver hospital where TB patient Andrew Speaker is in isolation. We've come straight from the airport and we're racing to get our first live report on the air. I rip my suitcase out of the rental car and grab my blue sports coat. I haven't worn this jacket in several weeks. When I put it on it hangs like a clown suit. The only thing missing from this outfit are big red shoes. My producer just laughs and says, "Wow, you have lost a lot of weight!"

I've written a lot about motivation and the importance of finding fresh ways to keep myself focused on losing weight. This might sound weird, but even though I knew in the back of my mind that if I lost a lot of weight I would need a new wardrobe, I never suspected to get such a rush out of seeing it happen.

Right now, I have no suits that fit me properly. (Some creative photography made that blue sports coat in Denver look presentable on television.) I've had to poke new holes in some belts. Pants and shirts are oversized now.

So if you need some motivation just remember that when you lose weight, you get to go shopping!

Stacia Deshishku, Director of Coverage CNNUS

This week has been another struggle -- getting back on track after a week off. My workout on Monday was a KILLER! My thighs, five days later, still are screaming at me. Just goes to show that a few days off often feels like starting all over again.

One thing I have started this week -- brace yourself -- is running. Yes, me, running. I can't believe it. It started out as one minute of running and one minute of walking - back and forth. Then two minutes, with a one minute break in between. Then three and so on and so on. I can't believe it. I'm strong enough to run! For years I have given myself 100+ reasons not to run: I have flat feet. It gives me shin splints. I don't have the "wind" for running. My chest double bounces, as does my backside! The list goes on and on. Additionally, back in the recesses of my memory are those horrible days in junior high when we would have to run around the track as discipline. I hated it. Therefore I hated running. Period. That feeling has stayed with me for more than 20 years.

When I see a woman in really great shape, the odds are that she is a runner. It makes the body look long and lean. Though I'm only 5 feet 2 (barely) my muscles can still look longer and less bulky. I'm hoping running will do this for me. I'm just starting out so I’m not running long or far, but I am running. Most importantly it is something I can do anytime, anywhere. No gym membership needed. No trainer. No special tools. Just me and my running shoes. Wish me luck!

Robert Dothard, Fitness Trainer

What's your motivation for starting an exercise program? For the Fit Buddies, the incentives have changed a bit since the program began. I once heard a motivational speaker say, "People will do more to avoid pain than they will to seek pleasure.' In my line of work, I always have people responding to a negative, the client is out of shape,,or even worse, a medical condition has brought them to me.

Whatever your reason for joining the Fit Nation, remember "AAA": Assess your health, which should always include an annual physical; Accept the results of the assessment, even if it is as simple as 10 extra pounds, or a comment from a concerned loved one; and then Act. It's great to have programs like this one with CNN, but let's get real - a lot of times we need something negative to get us to do something positive!

I hope like Stacia, you have strong family support and a spouse who is now a workout "machine," or maybe you are like Ed, who had no choice because of his family medical history. The fact that he has young children means he has needed almost no motivation from me. And finally Matt, who has a whole life that he is starting with someone else. I don't think motivation will be his issue for a while. Well if she says "yes," that is!

I wish you good luck, and good health.

Matt Sloane, Medical News Producer

It's vacation time (finally!!) and I'm headed to the islands. Sounds great, but I'm a little concerned about how I'll behave while I'm there. I've already made one commitment to myself: exercise! My dad will be there, and he's been on a diet as well, so he suggested that we all take long walks into town and play tennis whenever the weather is not too hot . Thanks, Dad!

My other enemy here is food! Luckily, Bermuda doesn't really have any must-have native foods, though they do have some great drinks. The plan is to cook as much as we can, and eat out only a few times in the hopes that by having more control, we'll eat more healthy stuff.

I'll have a lot to report when I get back - I hope all good news! As Robert alluded to, there's another big thing in the works, but more on that later... after I get her answer! (Ed told me that if she says no, I have his permission to eat whatever I want!! Thanks, bud, but let's hope I'm still on a diet when I get back!)

Although I have so far been spared the diagnosis of cancer, I did watch my mother die from lung cancer. That was less than eight years ago. But so much has happened in cancer research and treatment in that short time. Had she received her diagnosis today, I'm confident she would have lived longer than the three months she had between diagnosis and death. Because of medical advances in treatment and therapy, we now have more cancer survivors in the United States than ever - 10 million - and experts believe that number can double in the next decade.

Earlier this week, more than 32,000 cancer specialists met in Chicago, Illinois, to present and learn about the latest successes (and a few failures) in cancer research and treatments. Over 4,000 new studies were presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. There were no blockbuster breakthroughs or discoveries, but a lot of studies were presented, showing - as Dr. Archie Bleyer, a Bend, Oregon, oncologist, put it, "Investment in cancer research is paying off."

For the first time, researchers have found a way to treat advanced liver cancer and extend survival (Nexavar - Full Story). Doctors also reported on better, more tolerable treatments for some of the other, more difficult cancers - like ovary, thyroid and kidney. Until recently, there were no good treatments available for these cancer patients. But according to many cancer specialists, this progress is in danger of seriously slowing down. That's because the funding of cancer research is dwindling.

Dr. Allen Lichter, ASCO's vice president & CEO and former dean of the University of Michigan's Medical School, told reporters at the beginning of the conference, "We are now in the midst of the longest sustained period of flat funding in research in decades." He says in real dollars, the funding of the National Cancer Institutes has actually declined 12 percent over the past four years.

Many doctors I spoke with at this conference are concerned about the lack of research funding. Some are finding alternative resources such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation. But these alternatives cannot replace what the federal government can offer. Armstrong, a cancer survivor himself, told you earlier this year how he's running out of patience on this funding issue and wants congressional leaders to act. (Full Story)

Slowing down the pace of cancer research and breakthroughs can be devastating to those suffering from the disease. "1,500 people will die from cancer today," Lichter told reporters. But there are only so many tax dollars to go around.

Next June, more than 32,000 cancer specialists will gather in Chicago again. Will cancer research funding be an even bigger issue then? What should be done? Should more tax dollars go to cancer research? Should, as Lance Armstrong suggests, cancer research be a more prominent topic discussed among our elected and potentially future elected officials? .

Some of the biggest highlights from the Republican debate last night revolved around immigration and the war, and even religion. Lightning actually interfered with Rudy Giuliani's microphone as he answered a question about his support for abortion rights. That was a little unsettling. Still, something else caught my attention. Sen. Sam Brownback reminded us that "the leading cause of fear in America today is that you'll get cancer." He went on to say, "This one is actually within our reach and it something we can go at and we should go at, and it touches a lot of Americans." That is so true. In fact, it even touches a lot of presidential candidates.

Sen. John McCain had melanoma, and Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Sen. John Edwards, has stage 4 breast cancer. Giuliani has a history of prostate cancer that may have been the reason he dropped out of his senate race a few years ago. Sen. Hillary Clinton's mother-in-law died of cancer, and former Vice President Al Gore (who has not announced) lost his sister to cancer years ago. Former Sen. Fred Thompson, who is widely anticipated to enter the race, has a type of lymphoma.

Last night, we finally started talking about an issue that is a concern of millions of Americans - health care. Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson had the numbers at his fingertips. We spend 2 trillion on health care, which is 16 percent of the gross national product, and 93 percent of those dollars go into caring for someone after they are sick. Less than 10 percent goes into actually keeping people well. Thompson's plan focuses a lot on shifting money toward preventive care to cut costs in the long run.

In the United States, we pay the most and get the least of any industrialized nation, with regard to our health. Most of the candidates have some sort of plan, whether it is heavy government subsidies, requiring employers to help finance health care or even raising taxes. Some even want to appeal to the pharmaceutical companies to drive down prescription drug costs. What do you think? We have had a broken health care system for decades. Is it fixable and how do we achieve that?

As a general rule, doctors hate saying "maybe." It shows a lack of confidence and a degree of uncertainty to which medicine is unaccustomed. So, you can imagine my consternation when I had to say it repeatedly this morning on television. The question: Is Andrew Speaker contagious or not?

Well, maybe... sort of. Alright, yes is he is contagious, but not very. Make sense? There are several things doctors look at when determining whether someone is likely to transmit an infectious disease. One is whether he or she is sick (coughing, sneezing with fever). A second is whether a sputum test is positive - meaning bacteria are present in the saliva. In Andrew Speaker's case, both those tests suggested he was not contagious, and may not be now. He did, however, have a third test come back positive, which is a culture test. That means, doctors had Speaker cough onto a slide, and, although no bacteria were initially present, after a few days they did show up when placed in a culture medium. Based on all of that, the hospital where Speaker is staying issued a statement saying he is "relatively non-contagious" and may even consider taking him out of isolation, although he would still wear a mask.

To be clear, there is still a lot of concern surrounding Speaker. Here is one way of looking at it: When examining risk, you really have to balance the likelihood of transmitting the bacteria with the seriousness of the disease. In this particular case, it sounds like the likelihood of spread is low, but the potential consequence is very high. That is especially true with XDR-TB, where there are very few treatment options.

So, now after hearing all of this, which is admittedly confusing even for the medical establishment -- does it make you more or less understanding of Speaker's decision to fly internationally?

"Mom, I really don't want to go. I'm so itchy," I whined.

"You have to go. That's the plan. Your aunt is expecting you," my mother told me as she wrapped a scarf around my neck and put sunglasses on my little head to cover up the marks. I was 8 years old.

"But I'm not allowed on the airplane with chicken pox. If I had school, I wouldn't be allowed to go there," I pressed.

"You'll be fine. Just don't talk about chicken pox," my mother commanded as she nudged me on that plane alone headed toward Mississippi for summer vacation.

For good or bad, my childhood experience has made me question how differently I would have acted had I been in Andrew Speaker's shoes.

For sure, tuberculosis and chicken pox are very different. Just a few facts on your average tuberculosis (less serious than Speaker's "extensively drug-resistant," or XDR-TB): About a third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis and most cases are latent, or not active.

Tuberculosis kills approximately 1.6 million people a year. The bacteria take over your body and keep it from functioning properly. "It's been called consumption because people literally waste away. You end up looking like a concentration camp victim," says Dr. Max Pomerantz, a TB expert and surgeon at University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center.

Each person with tuberculosis infects 10 to 15 other people, usually by coughing germs into the air, according to the World Health Organization. Once inside a new host, TB develops in 5 percent to 10 percent of healthy people. In the remaining people it can be carried around for years or decades without causing any symptoms. The dormant TB can be triggered to activity by a disruption in the immune system.

To be clear, extensively XDR-TB is no more virulent or contagious than non-resistant tuberculosis. It's more dangerous because it does not respond to some of the strongest antibiotic treatments in existence. It's very difficult and very expensive to treat. Andrew Speaker faces a two-year course of treatment and his doctors in Denver approximate it will cost at least $250,000 to $350,000 for his care at National Jewish Medical Center.

So armed with all that information, I'd like to say that I wouldn't have tried to get on a plane home after authorities warned me I was a health risk, but to be honest I'm not absolutely certain. Speaker apologized to his fellow passengers on "Good Morning America" on ABC: "I don't expect those people to ever forgive me. I just hope they understand that I truly never meant them any harm."

How would you have acted? Would you have stayed in a foreign country's hospital after being warned? If you didn't have symptoms, would you have believed you were a public health threat? Do you think Andrew Speaker should be held liable? Do you have more questions about tuberculosis? Do you think the TB case merited so much media attention?

A running theme throughout our time as Fit Buddies has been balancing health and fitness with a busy work life. Like many of you, Ed Lavandera, Stacia Deshishku and I all have jobs that are unpredictable, and this week has been especially busy. For the last four days, each of us has been involved in covering the story of Andrew Speaker, the man who traveled to Europe for his wedding while carrying a rare form of tuberculosis. (Full Story)

Needless to say, getting to the gym, eating well and blogging are all difficult during breaking news. So, how have we all fared?

Stacia has had to miss her workouts this week - one of which we had planned to videotape for an updated piece about our success. (Watch Video) She promises Robert, though, that she'll be headed to his studio directly after work today!

Yesterday Ed had a slice of the pizza that was delivered to the CNN satellite truck in Denver, but he also managed to fit in a workout! (Sound familiar? I did the same thing at Virginia Tech, minus the workout.)

I missed my workouts as well, and most likely will miss tonight too. Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is headed to Denver tonight to anchor a one-hour special edition of Anderson Cooper 360 from National Jewish hospital. That means I'll be here in the office until the show is over at 11 p.m. ET.

Maybe Sanjay and Ed can talk fitness over tonight's pizza delivery?