Happy Groundhog Day

If you diden't hear the good news from Punxsutawney, PA that the Groundhog did come out of its hole. We are all so gracious.

Did you know that groundhogs and other animals that hibernate disproves the "Calories in minus calories out = weight change".

To think change in weight (a unit measured in mass) has anything to do with calories in-calories out (an energy measurement) is wrong. I took an intro Chemical Engineering class: Thermodynamics and although it was a blur to me I do know how to call BS and I am throwing my BS flag. The only place this theory holds true is a bomb calorimeter and this is where Mr Atwater came out with the 4 calories per ingested protein, 9 for fat, 4 for carbs. If Atwater stepped outside of a lab went for a sprint and felt the heat dissapation on the bottom of his shoes he would understand how bogus his numbers were.

Going back to the groundhog...the groundhog's ability to survive without food demonstrates that it is not calories in calories out but a bigger power at play... Hormones...Insulin. As the groundhog is in pre-winter-feasting, hormones are putting the groundhog in insulin sensitivity and when the food supply is cut the groundhog demonstrates insulin resistance. Its too big of topic to talk in detail tonight.

BTW due to the ice-ages in this world Humans had this hibernating trait but today it is a fraction of that of a groundhog.