FITNESS: Cuckoo for coconut oil

BY LORNE OPLER

Spend enough time in the gym, as I'm sure many if not most readers of this blog do, and you'll likely get all kinds of advice about nutrition.  Some of what you'll hear is credible, some not.   Such is the case with coconut oil. Look for

and have a soft, distinct taste and te

You can’t go anywhere today without hearing about saturated fats. And what you hear from almost all dietitians is that saturated fats are bad for you. Truth is, not all are.  Coconut oil is a good example. Indeed, if exercise and healthy eating are part of your daily routine, coconut oil should be part of it too.   

While coconut oil is almost entirely made up of saturated fats (approx 90 percent), it is mostly medium triglycerides (triglycerides being the term for fat molecules found in the body). Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) have a shorter "chain length" than other saturated fats. This is what makes coconut oil easier to ingest and digest.  It does not require the use of bile salts for digestion. Therefore, MCTs are rapidly absorbed from the intestine and sent to the liver where they are oxidized (burned).  As a result, they are much less likely to be stored as fat. MCTs found in coconut oil help conserve lean body mass, because they prevent protein from being utilized as an energy source.

Auf Wiedersehen for now, Michael

"Project Runway" contestant Michael Costello came to the end of his run on the Lifetime series Thursday night.

Some friends (Jim, Arden, Gary) and I watched as Michael received his farewell from Heidi and hugged and cried with the three remaining finalists. An argument could be made that the Palm Springs designer was cheated, as Heidi only kissed one of his cheeks. What's with that?

During the episode we were trying to determine whether Andy or Michael would get the ax. Most of us said Andy. Local loyalty and wishful thinking, perhaps.

I must admit Michael's departure was more dramatic than any our group had seen. Hanging his head, he lingered on the stage a bit longer than we've seen any other contestant stand there. Then backstage in the "kiss and cry" room he turned to the wall as if to pound out his disappointment with his fist or his head -- thankfully he didn't go there.

Pop culture's new M & M?

The big news out of Michael Costello's "Project Runway" viewing party Thursday night was his announcement after the show that he plans to star in another reality show.

The show would follow the friendship, lives and career struggles of Michael and his "Project Runway" costar Mondo Guerra -- hence the M&M.

"It's sort of like 'My Life on the D List' meets 'The Surreal Life,'" Richard Galvin, Michael's partner of seven years, said.

The idea grew out of the friendship that developed between the designers this season and the way they interact, Richard said.

"The chemistry between those two is dynamic" he said. "Michael is inside how Mondo dresses on the outside."

Michael Costello celebrates 'Project Runway' experience

Michael Costello, center, surrounded by new friends. I'm on the far left.

Watching episodes of this season's "Project Runway," contestant Michael Costello sees more than the ambitious challenges, intense critiques and awe-inspiring creativity the show's fans have come to expect. He sees personality quirks and characteristics he wasn't sure he had.

"I didn't know I was such a strong person," Michael said Friday when we sat down for a chat at a coffee shop in Palm Springs, Ca. "It was painful being there without Richard (his life partner of seven years), without my son, without my mom."

He had limited communication with his family during the nearly eight weeks the reality TV series was taped in New York City.

Michael's strength was evident during a group design challenge when some teammates attempted to "throw him under the bus" -- an expression host Heidi Klum has used a lot this season. Michael remained calm, confident and positive. The experience seemed to galvanize him.

THE LIFE: Gay Days at Disneyland



Jose, Charles, Will (about to bite off Charles'
ear), Dan, Brazilian woman and son

 My life is missing whole chunks of pop culture influences.

Unlike my friends, I can't sing along to ABBA songs. You can take my gay membership card now.

I've never seen "Mame," "The Goonies" or any of the "Star Wars" franchise. I know, gasp!

How did I miss out on what was the rage for many of my peers? I certainly didn't miss the hype (These topics still come up during cocktail or dinner party chatter, and my contribution is usually to ask questions)? But during my childhood I simply wasn't interested or aware enough that paying attention would be socially useful as an adult.

But here's the kicker: I can't remember ever as a child wanting to visit Disneyland. Yes I was a Disney virgin (a moniker enthusiastically bestowed upon me Saturday).

So when a couple of friends, Charles and Jose, invited me to spend a Gay Day with them at Anaheim's international attraction, I didn't ask a lot of questions. I just said yes. It would be a new experience, probably a lot of fun and fill in a few cultural gaps, I thought. The three of us met up with another friend, Dan, and my deflowering began -- at "The Happiest Place on Earth."

SPIRITUALITY: Should gay men have a relationship with God?

THE WILL DEAN SHOW asked a few spiritual teachers and community leaders: Is it important for gay men to acknowledge spirituality as part of their lives and practice a faith/spiritual belief? 

Here are some of their answers (in no particular order):

"Spirituality is an important component of every person's life. … As gay men, it is a part of our reclaiming the role and gift that we have historically held as shaman, healer, teacher and twin-spirited person.

"A denial of our spirit is a denial of the integral humanity/spirit that we are and disables our full embodiment as co-creators in the world.

"A person's spirituality is something that has to be practiced in order to have its fullest effect.

"For many, this spirituality is exercised through some ‘organized’ practice or faith tradition. I am a practicing Christian in the progressive community and have come to a faith in Jesus who teaches values, not dogma.

"For me, the importance is to recognize our spiritual capacity and to spend time in building that practice. It is the inner work that connects us with our spirituality or spirit.

"We have allowed too many to rob us of our spirituality and it is time to reclaim our faith, our spirit and to see how the world begins to change when we do.”

Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, senior pastor at Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles, CA, http://www.mccla.org/

“I don't think there is anything beyond this life--no gods, spirits,  supernatural beings or forces, etc.--so I would not recommend acknowledging spirituality or practicing a faith to anyone, gay or straight, young, middle-aged, or old. I would strongly recommend thoughtful consideration of ethics, adopting moral principles and following them, treating your fellow human beings with care and respect, and reading and thinking widely. While there is no credible evidence of a life beyond this one or of any ultimate, externally created purpose for our lives,  this life (the only one any of us have) matters. Kindness and graciousness matter. Creating and then fulfilling our own human purposes are worthwhile for our own sakes. How we live and treat each other affects them and us, and life, though inevitably unbearable at times and sure to end, should be as rich, interesting, and satisfying as possible while we live.”

Dr. Ed Buckner, retiring president of American Atheists Inc. based in Cranford, NJ, http://www.atheists.org/

 “Lots of gay men have a strong spiritual connection and longing. But ‘spiritual’ is vague, it can mean anything. To me the vital question is: Is there a God? I can argue that this is the most important issue of all time, any time. And if there is a God, does that God have attributes, characteristics, a personality? The answer to these questions shapes everything. If there is no God, we’re all random products of the universe. If there is a God, has that God tried to reveal Him or Itself to us? Are we God’s creation, what does God want from us? It’s up to us, if we choose to, to explore this issue and try to separate our responses from all the stuff we’ve learned before. It has to be a personal discovery or it’s pretty meaningless. If there is a God and that God has tried to reach us, it’s profoundly meaningful.”

Dr. Nick Warner, counselor and pastor/co-founder of Desert Oasis Chapel in Palm Springs, CA, http://www.desertoasischapel.com/

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

Post a comment below.

ARTS & BOOKS: 'Blackbird' author dispels myths

One of the perks of living in Southern California is the opportunity to meet amazingly talented people whose work I’ve admired and enjoyed. After moving to Palm Springs about three years ago I looked up novelist Larry Duplechan.

I had read Larry’s novel “Blackbird” when I was in college.  The story of Johnnie Ray Rousseau, a black gay teen, was unlike any other I had read.  I was enthralled and devoured three of Larry’s other books: “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Captain Swing” and “Got ‘Til It’s Gone.” (Larry won a  2009 Lambda Literary Award in the Gay Romance category for the latter.)

I found Larry through Facebook last year.  It turns out, he lives in L.A. We e-mailed back and forth a couple of times, then he mentioned he planned to spend the Fourth of July in Palm Springs.

Our meeting in the desert city didn’t happen as expected. While dancing at a local hangout that holiday weekend, I noticed this attractive, energetic couple tearing up the dance floor only three feet away. One of the guys looked like Larry’s Facebook photo, so I introduced myself. That’s right, I finally met Larry Duplechan on the dance floor in Palm Springs – where else, right?

He definitely has some good moves, but like his characters, Larry isn’t one to dance around an issue or the point he wants to make. Here,  he tells THE WILL DEAN SHOW about the realities of being a published author, which writers inspire him and why the gay “community” just may be a myth.