A Sumo-Sized Lesson

While flipping channels the other night, I happened across a National Geographic Channel special on obesity. Most of the information wasn't new to me, until the reporter turned to the topic of sumo wrestlers, the famed oversized Japanese athletes. Make no mistake: these guys are athletes with grueling workout and competition schedules. But they are indeed oversized and they get that way on purpose.

To gain bulk, sumo wrestlers follow a prescribed regimine. They do not eat breakfast. They eat a tremendous amount of carbohydrates (white rice, noodles and beer). And they nap after eating so the calories can be stored as fat.

Doesn't sound so different than the way many of us have unintentionally gained weight. It was an eye-opening, sumo-sized lesson.