TIME LINE - RACE TO THE SOUTH POLE

[Guest guest]

A four-part weekly series called TIME MACHINE began airing on PBS on

12/02. The title of the series is THE RACE TO THE SOUTH POLE. Each

program is two hours long and covers a simulation of the race between

Norway's Ammunson and England's to reach the South Pole.

CRONies may find certain content of the first two programs (12/2,

12/9) VERY interesting if they are willing to wade through four hours

of snow scenes.

The series begins by interviewing each of the participants in the

simulated race, including weighings. Percent body fat measurements

may also be documented. Then off they go on a trek across the

Anarctic snow fields. The participants apparently tried to eat the

same high fat diet that the original explorers ate.

About ninety days later when some of the racers returned to

civilization they were again weighed. And that is where I nearly

fell off my chair. Of course it is to be expected that ALL of them

lost weight, on average about twenty pounds, even though they were

eating about 4,500 calories per day. This is attrributed to the fact

that they were expending tremendous energy both haulng sleds but also

in fending off the cold.

But here is the shocker. If I undersatnd the analysis given at the

end of the second part, nearly ALL of the weight they lost was in

muscle loss, despite the fact that they were exercicing nearly twelve

hours per day! And the pictures of the participants looked like that

was true. They all look like office-bound couch potatoes to me.

Like I said, if you can stand to wade through four hours of snow city

I'd appreciate it if you'd check this out for yourself and give me

your opinion as to what is happening here.

My exercise trainer speculates that in cold climates the human body

will retain body fat for insulation and draw down on muscles for

energy instead. How does this explanation sound to you?

S.M. Albers

stephen@...