It’s the holiday season and time for the obligatory “pep talk” to get you through without a lot of weight gain. But I just can’t bring myself to bore you with another “holiday tips and tricks” article. Frankly, we all know pie is a lot of calories, getting drunk usually leads to regret, and no one “deserves” cheese balls on tooth picks.

I like to think I’m reasonably intelligent, not rocket-scientist smart, but I do OK. I can usually figure stuff out if I think on it long enough and do enough research (thank you Internet). Occasionally I’m stumped — flat out puzzled and left scratching my head — and not over anything as complicated as beating SpaceX to Mars.

If you aren’t in the mood for a big, fat rant — skip this article. If you are (most find my ire humorous), sit back and enjoy. Because “obesogens” have me riled up.

A recently released study on human energy expenditure (“Hunter-Gatherer Energetics and Human Obesity,” Herman Pontzer et al.) has garnered some attention in the media. The reason for all the attention? The study debunks a commonly held belief that our obesity epidemic is in large part due to our decreased physical activity.

I just read an article published in the International Journal of Obesity that discussed the impact of doctors’ words on patients when talking about obesity.

A recently released study on human energy expenditure (“Hunter-Gatherer Energetics and Human Obesity,” Herman Pontzer et al.) has garnered some attention in the media. The reason for all the attention? The study debunks a commonly held belief that our obesity epidemic is in large part due to our decreased physical activity.

The news is packed with headlines aghast at the recent report that Americans waste 40 percent of their food. Many are springing into action to connect food banks and shelters with restaurants, or find creative ways to compost or biofuel the leftovers. I’ve also seen reminders to “eat what you purchased.” Consumers are feeling guilty and to blame.

To most who know or have been trained by Shannon Sorrels, you know she isn’t a “pat-on-the-head” kind of trainer.

After years of complaints that buses don’t go east of Power Road in Mesa, the city will test a new route starting in October to gauge whether residents really will use transit in the area.

It’s August. Schools are gearing up for the return of students, and mothers everywhere are exhaling a huge sigh of exhaustion. Finally, a few hours in the day free from “I’m bored,” “I’m hungry,” and “He hit me.” Now you can focus on you.

It’s August. Schools are gearing up for the return of students, and mothers everywhere are exhaling a huge sigh of exhaustion. Finally, a few hours in the day free from “I’m bored,” “I’m hungry,” and “He hit me.” Now you can focus on you.

On behalf of all fitness professionals, registered dietitians, nutritionists, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and anyone else in the world who tries day in and day out to motivate, encourage, cajole, threaten, scare, and beg us to get healthy and fit, this one’s for you.

We’ve all gotten the finger-wagging lecture about protein from fitness trainers. Their demands for more of it leave us picturing a Henry VIII turkey leg in one hand and a dumbbell in the other. We eat meat — we’re no bunch of Birkenstock-wearing vegans (not that there’s anything wrong with that). So what the heck are they talking about?

Mesa Councilman Dennis Kavanaugh will host a Coffee with the Councilmember on July 20, with a focus on transportation. Kavanaugh’s guest speaker is Jodi Sorrell, a transit public involvement coordinator for the city. Sorrell will talk about changes in light rail, bus and dial-a-ride services, as well as provide an update on the light rail extension into downtown. The event is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the United Food Bank, 245 S. Nina Drive. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.

Mesa is launching an effort to bring Metro light rail as far east as Gilbert Road, just weeks after construction began to extend the transit system downtown.

It’s the Fourth of July. Independence Day. The holiday always brings to mind summer, playing in the pool, grilling, homemade ice cream and fireworks (My brother had a love-affair with bottle rockets; I’m jumpy to this day.).

Commitment. A word we hear often in many contexts — relationships, war efforts, diets, and even insane asylums (we all know a couple of people we think ought to be committed). According to Dictionary.com, “commit” comes from the Latin “com + mittere” meaning “to send, give over.”

It’s official. I’m old. The MeeMaw train has left the station and I’m riding in first class. I fought the passing birthdays like a champ. I’d shave off a few years when asked my age. I’d try to keep up with ever-changing cultural things — music, hair (luckily I passed through the Flock of Seagulls phase quickly), hip words (cool became rad became sick). I stayed abreast of new technologies — all my cassettes are gone, CDs are a thing of my past, and my TV is flat. But, I’ve finally given up. And the weirdest thing made me throw in the towel: an ad for yoga clothes.

It’s official. I’m old. The MeeMaw train has left the station and I’m riding in first class. I fought the passing birthdays like a champ. I’d shave off a few years when asked my age. I’d try to keep up with ever-changing cultural things — music, hair (luckily I passed through the Flock of Seagulls phase quickly), hip words (cool became rad became sick). I stayed abreast of new technologies — all my cassettes are gone, CDs are a thing of my past, and my TV is flat. But, I’ve finally given up. And the weirdest thing made me throw in the towel: an ad for yoga clothes.

We’ve all gotten the finger-wagging lecture about protein from fitness trainers. Their demands for more of it leave us picturing a Henry VIII turkey leg in one hand and a dumbbell in the other. Many of us already eat meat, so what are they talking about?

Apparently we’ve found a gluttony gene (published online in the journal Nature Medicine). For those that have compulsive needs to eat non-stop, some scientists believe this gene, and its role in signaling fullness, is implicated. A genetic role of the dice could be to blame for our poundage.