Sometimes I really hate grocery shopping. There’s so many food options that it’s hard to know that when you’re going through the checkout line that you’ve actually got some healthy choices.
Plus it doesn’t help that I’m easily swayed by the pictures of oh-so-tasty yet probably not good for me foods. I’m usually able to come out with half to 75 percent healthy choices, give or take. I think it actually depends on who I’m shopping with and whether I listen to their advice…
Friday I’m heading back to campus, so Saturday I’ll be hitting the local grocery store to stock up my cupboard and fridge again. I’m hoping to start the semester off right. I’m turning over a new leaf for fall. While I’ve done pretty well on the Eat Right Challenge, it’s by no means over for me. I’ve got more inspiration, motivation and support. I can’t give up now.
So in an attempt to actually buy the right foods, I’m going to make a list of healthy foods (although they will have minor sweet snacks, like Hershey’s kisses to give into my chocolate cravings now and again) and stick to it. It’s going to take a lot.
Part of my problem is that I don’t know what is actually healthy to buy. Do you buy a specific kind of pasta? But my biggest challenge is grains. How do you know what whole grains are? I’ve never understood that. There are probably hundreds of explanations online, but it’s still hard to apply when you’re staring bags of bread in the eye, trying to pick the one that actually qualifies as whole grain. So much deception in a supermarket!
Does anyone else have any grocery shopping tips? How do you make sure that what you're buying helps maintain your healthy lifestyle? Here are some I found on the ACS website. It’s definitely a start. Hopefully I can start applying some of those suggestions and examples. I'll let you know on Saturday.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
It's Not a Race
I was reading a brochure on the ACS website and ran across a few tips that might be helpful to my readers.
In my three years of college, I worked out and watched what I ate the most last semester because my roommates were so health conscious and we leaned on each other. Plus it helped that they were members of the same gym and we always encouraged the other person to hit the gym on a daily basis. At the beginning of the semester we made it our goal to hit the gym three or four times a week. Later on in the semester, it was almost on a daily basis, and we were working out for longer periods of time.
Building up that stamina at the gym allowed us to stick with our workout program, and it kept us motivated to keep going. Going to the gym and walking 5 miles your first day of dieting is great, but are you going to be able to do that tomorrow? What about in four days or in a week? You’ve got to take the right steps to make sure you’re no overdoing it or making it hard for you to stick with lifestyle changes.
Ultimately, it seems like weight loss is being more aware of your life and your body, about finding that balance. It’s about really seeing what you’re about to put into your mouth instead of letting your head tell you how hungry you are and eating the whole plate. It’s about listening to your body and knowing your limitations. You don’t want to starve yourself or gorge yourself, and you don’t want to kill yourself the first day at the gym. It’s about moderation.
Maybe this week your goal is to workout three times a week. Maybe the next week your goal is to not eat after 8 p.m. Maybe during another week you want to limit your pop consumption. Whatever it is, take your time. Make the changes stick and notice how your body feels. Chances are, it will appreciate the effort.
ACS is right. Start slowly. Small steps can add up to big changes.
What I’ve really noticed about embarking on a lifestyle chance is that it has to be gradual and you have to enlist support. You’ve got to have people who can turn to and people who are really willing to help you put forth your best effort. And you also have to realize that you’re human. While you may have all the inspiration and motivation in the world, you’ve got to slowly make the changes in your life or they won’t stick.1. Start slowly – small steps can add up to big changes
2. Promote healthy changes in your community, worksite or schools
3. Cutting back can be as
simple as watching your portion sizes. Share a restaurant entrée with a friend or just eat half and have the rest the next day
4. Low-fat and fat-free don’t always mean low-calorie. Low-fat foods that are high in calories from sugar and other refined carbohydrates won’t necessarily help control your weight
In my three years of college, I worked out and watched what I ate the most last semester because my roommates were so health conscious and we leaned on each other. Plus it helped that they were members of the same gym and we always encouraged the other person to hit the gym on a daily basis. At the beginning of the semester we made it our goal to hit the gym three or four times a week. Later on in the semester, it was almost on a daily basis, and we were working out for longer periods of time.
Building up that stamina at the gym allowed us to stick with our workout program, and it kept us motivated to keep going. Going to the gym and walking 5 miles your first day of dieting is great, but are you going to be able to do that tomorrow? What about in four days or in a week? You’ve got to take the right steps to make sure you’re no overdoing it or making it hard for you to stick with lifestyle changes.
Ultimately, it seems like weight loss is being more aware of your life and your body, about finding that balance. It’s about really seeing what you’re about to put into your mouth instead of letting your head tell you how hungry you are and eating the whole plate. It’s about listening to your body and knowing your limitations. You don’t want to starve yourself or gorge yourself, and you don’t want to kill yourself the first day at the gym. It’s about moderation.
Maybe this week your goal is to workout three times a week. Maybe the next week your goal is to not eat after 8 p.m. Maybe during another week you want to limit your pop consumption. Whatever it is, take your time. Make the changes stick and notice how your body feels. Chances are, it will appreciate the effort.
ACS is right. Start slowly. Small steps can add up to big changes.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Beyond the Classroom
This isn’t really something diet or ACS related, but I happened to think of it yesterday when I was driving past a middle school and saw kids outside on the track for gym class. Even thinking about gym class makes me shudder.
This month I’ve really been thinking about that it takes to get people to be healthy. How do we really encourage it and motivate people to adopt better lifestyle choices? Better yet, what can we do to start them off at an earlier age so they can carry it with them throughout their life? Is it something that needs to be taught in elementary school? Middle school? At home? There seems to be too many questions, but no real answers.
I know one of the ways schools try to get kids to be active is through gym class. There’s no denying it – I hated gym class. I dreaded it everyday and always tried to think of ways to get out of it. But, kids do need physical activity. I just wish it had catered to more students like myself.
One thing I never understood was the curriculum. You’d walk into gym and do your warm-up (5 laps, 150 forward jump rope, 100 backward jump rope, 25 pushups, 25 sit ups). Then you’d spend the next 35 minutes playing some competitive sport – crazy football, matball, basketball, track, dodgeball.
That’s great…if you’re an athlete or competitive and are actually good at that stuff. If you’re not, then it just feels like 45 minutes of pure torture.
I think that might be part of the reason I grew up disliking physical activity – I always associated it with gym class, which I hated. Running laps. Jumping rope. Sports. It didn’t make me want to try to maintain an active lifestyle outside of class. Forty-five minutes was enough.
For me, gym should really encourage students of all shapes and sizes to maintain an active lifestyle. So why not give them a variety of activities instead of the same sports and running year after year? That’s something I’ve never understood about gym class. Why force students to run? Why can’t you spend an entire class period just walking laps and letting friends catch up on their days? That’s physical activity. Why can’t you have a week of yoga, or callenetics, or golfing, or dancing (other than square dancing)? Why does gym have to focus on the hardcore side of working out?
What’s interesting is that I didn’t start to like walking until I was in high school, when I took a gym class called Walkasize (it was the easy way out of a gym credit, but I actually enjoyed it. I get crap for it, but who cares.) Anyway, it was through that class that I began to see the joy in walking – getting to be outside, talking about life with friends, seeing the progress you make on a daily basis. Why not apply that to all education levels? Why did I have to wait until high school to find a physical activity that didn’t make me want to skip out on it?
Like I said, this entry isn’t really diet or ACS related, but I still wanted to air it. While I’m no expert and am not looking to change the curriculum or start a revolution by any means, I think it’d be interesting to start looking at other options for gym. Definitely gives you something to think about. Or maybe that’s just me.
This month I’ve really been thinking about that it takes to get people to be healthy. How do we really encourage it and motivate people to adopt better lifestyle choices? Better yet, what can we do to start them off at an earlier age so they can carry it with them throughout their life? Is it something that needs to be taught in elementary school? Middle school? At home? There seems to be too many questions, but no real answers.
I know one of the ways schools try to get kids to be active is through gym class. There’s no denying it – I hated gym class. I dreaded it everyday and always tried to think of ways to get out of it. But, kids do need physical activity. I just wish it had catered to more students like myself.
One thing I never understood was the curriculum. You’d walk into gym and do your warm-up (5 laps, 150 forward jump rope, 100 backward jump rope, 25 pushups, 25 sit ups). Then you’d spend the next 35 minutes playing some competitive sport – crazy football, matball, basketball, track, dodgeball.
That’s great…if you’re an athlete or competitive and are actually good at that stuff. If you’re not, then it just feels like 45 minutes of pure torture.
I think that might be part of the reason I grew up disliking physical activity – I always associated it with gym class, which I hated. Running laps. Jumping rope. Sports. It didn’t make me want to try to maintain an active lifestyle outside of class. Forty-five minutes was enough.
For me, gym should really encourage students of all shapes and sizes to maintain an active lifestyle. So why not give them a variety of activities instead of the same sports and running year after year? That’s something I’ve never understood about gym class. Why force students to run? Why can’t you spend an entire class period just walking laps and letting friends catch up on their days? That’s physical activity. Why can’t you have a week of yoga, or callenetics, or golfing, or dancing (other than square dancing)? Why does gym have to focus on the hardcore side of working out?
What’s interesting is that I didn’t start to like walking until I was in high school, when I took a gym class called Walkasize (it was the easy way out of a gym credit, but I actually enjoyed it. I get crap for it, but who cares.) Anyway, it was through that class that I began to see the joy in walking – getting to be outside, talking about life with friends, seeing the progress you make on a daily basis. Why not apply that to all education levels? Why did I have to wait until high school to find a physical activity that didn’t make me want to skip out on it?
Like I said, this entry isn’t really diet or ACS related, but I still wanted to air it. While I’m no expert and am not looking to change the curriculum or start a revolution by any means, I think it’d be interesting to start looking at other options for gym. Definitely gives you something to think about. Or maybe that’s just me.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Fads Aren't so Fad
You know, I’ve always wondered why people get into fad diets. From the Atkins diet to the grapefruit diet to the South Beach diet, there just seem to be too many out there to be safe and effective.
I’m lucky in that when I decide I want to lose weight, while I may have urges to try those fad diets, I never all into the trap. Most people talk about how they lose a lot of weight, gain it all back. Lose a lot of weight, gain it all back. That’s never been the case for me.
I think sometimes we forget the purpose of eating healthy. It’s not to lose that last 5 pounds or those first 20 pounds. It’s about learning to be healthy so you can have a better future.
I could go on a fad diet tomorrow for the next month and drop 10-20 pounds. But is that really what I want? At face value, yes. I do want to drop 20 pounds. Not that way, though. What good is losing the weight if it’s just going to come back because it was done unhealthily?
On the ACS website, they make a healthy diet seem managable:
I don’t know about you, but that seems so much easier than just eating all grapefruit or Special K or all meats to avoid carbs. It gives you variety, it gives you choices and it gives you a peace of mind. Nowhere does it say, “Eliminate this and this and this.”
I think that’s what the purpose of the Eat Right Challenge is. An ACS spokesperson was quoted as saying, “Our message is moderation, not deprivation.” People tend to find success when it’s a lifestyle change they can actually live with. Can you honestly tell me you’d be happy eating just red meats the rest of your life?
Next time you’re tempted to try a fad diet, take some time to really think about it. Lose weight for your health, not to fit into a size 4.
I’m lucky in that when I decide I want to lose weight, while I may have urges to try those fad diets, I never all into the trap. Most people talk about how they lose a lot of weight, gain it all back. Lose a lot of weight, gain it all back. That’s never been the case for me.
I think sometimes we forget the purpose of eating healthy. It’s not to lose that last 5 pounds or those first 20 pounds. It’s about learning to be healthy so you can have a better future.
I could go on a fad diet tomorrow for the next month and drop 10-20 pounds. But is that really what I want? At face value, yes. I do want to drop 20 pounds. Not that way, though. What good is losing the weight if it’s just going to come back because it was done unhealthily?
On the ACS website, they make a healthy diet seem managable:
· Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant sources.
· Choose foods and beverages in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
· Eat 5 or more servings of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day.
· Choose whole grains in preference to processed (refined) grains.
· Limit consumption of processed and red meats.
I don’t know about you, but that seems so much easier than just eating all grapefruit or Special K or all meats to avoid carbs. It gives you variety, it gives you choices and it gives you a peace of mind. Nowhere does it say, “Eliminate this and this and this.”
I think that’s what the purpose of the Eat Right Challenge is. An ACS spokesperson was quoted as saying, “Our message is moderation, not deprivation.” People tend to find success when it’s a lifestyle change they can actually live with. Can you honestly tell me you’d be happy eating just red meats the rest of your life?
Next time you’re tempted to try a fad diet, take some time to really think about it. Lose weight for your health, not to fit into a size 4.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
On My Way
Guess who lost two more pounds? Always great news.
I took this quiz on the ACS website and found that "Not bad! You're halfway there! You still have a way to go. Look at your NO answers to help you decide which areas of your diet need to be improved or whether your physical activity level should be increased."
That's always exciting. I know it's not a complete change, but I think I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances (not being able to get in physical activity thanks to my knee injury...). There are still many changes I can make in my diet - eating less red meat and processed foods (pasta seems to be my huge weakness), but at least I'm making the right track.
There's a co-worker at ACS who really stresses that unless you're really ready to lose weight, it's not going to happen. She's completely right. You've got to be committed and really want it for yourself - it's got to be your time and on your terms.
I think that's been the problem with me in the past, and even right now. I've never really made it a priority. It's always in the back of my mind, but I always assumed there was more time: "Oh, I'll lose weight during the summer when I have time to workout..." "Oh, I'll focus on it when I'm back at school and can start a new dieting plan..." Even right now, with only two weeks before I move down to school, I keep thinking that I can just eat whatever and then when I get back to school I can start fresh with my roommates keeping me in life.
And you know what? It never works. I can't have those back-up plans for when I'm going to take the extra weight off. I need to make it a here and now effort, and I've got to be ready to make those lifestyles changes that are necessary to not only get down to a healthy weight, but also ward off health problems in the future.
Let's hope this time I'm serious.
I took this quiz on the ACS website and found that "Not bad! You're halfway there! You still have a way to go. Look at your NO answers to help you decide which areas of your diet need to be improved or whether your physical activity level should be increased."
That's always exciting. I know it's not a complete change, but I think I'm doing the best I can under the circumstances (not being able to get in physical activity thanks to my knee injury...). There are still many changes I can make in my diet - eating less red meat and processed foods (pasta seems to be my huge weakness), but at least I'm making the right track.
There's a co-worker at ACS who really stresses that unless you're really ready to lose weight, it's not going to happen. She's completely right. You've got to be committed and really want it for yourself - it's got to be your time and on your terms.
I think that's been the problem with me in the past, and even right now. I've never really made it a priority. It's always in the back of my mind, but I always assumed there was more time: "Oh, I'll lose weight during the summer when I have time to workout..." "Oh, I'll focus on it when I'm back at school and can start a new dieting plan..." Even right now, with only two weeks before I move down to school, I keep thinking that I can just eat whatever and then when I get back to school I can start fresh with my roommates keeping me in life.
And you know what? It never works. I can't have those back-up plans for when I'm going to take the extra weight off. I need to make it a here and now effort, and I've got to be ready to make those lifestyles changes that are necessary to not only get down to a healthy weight, but also ward off health problems in the future.
Let's hope this time I'm serious.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Make the Change Today
I got an e-mail at work today highlighting the fact that 44 million Americans are over weight – and for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s lack of physical activity, larger portion sizes or genetics, millions of people are facing the same struggle with their weight. The message reinforced that you can take control of your health and it really is up to you and your lifestyle choices.
Isn’t it almost daunting to think about how much control you really have over your future? I think that’s the part that scares me the most being as young as I am. I’m 21, and the decisions I made this week could make or break my future.
One of the hardest parts about trying to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle is not being surrounded by people who are doing the same thing. It’s hard to make healthy food choices when you’re eating out with people who have no problem ordering anything on the menu.
My problem is I tend to eat like the people around me do. If friends are eating healthy, I do too. If not, then I’m in trouble. This should be the case. I need to really take control of my health, and in essence my future. Granted one indulgence now and then isn’t going to take years off my life. But I’m not doing myself any favors by indulging in the high-fat foods on a regular basis. I need to start doing what I know is best for me, not copying friends and family.
I always rolled my eyes when the older population said that the young generation always seems to act like their invincible – they take more risks and don’t really think about the long-term consequences. When I heard that I automatically thought about daredevils and people who did crazy, life-threatening stunts – and I certainly didn’t fall into that.
But you know what? We do tend to act like we’re invincible, and not in a daredevil way. We’ll put anything into our bodies – excess fast food, alcohol, sugary foods, high-calorie sodas and sports drink. You name it, we’ve probably tried it. We don’t make health a priority. And that’s dangerous – especially when you see how many health problems, including cancer, are tied to our lifestyle choices. We don’t seem to care about it until it’s too late, and I’m not sure why that is. Is the messaging not out there strong enough for kids? Are we supposed to be picking it up in school? Home? Friends? It is just my generation, or have generations before me had the same struggles? I’m not sure.
I just know that if I want to have a better future, I need to start making better choices today. It’s time to stop eating like everyone else and really make a conscious effort to get in those fruits and veggies, and start liming those high-calorie, high fat foods. And that’s what this challenge is about.
And today marks the official day of the Challenge. Take it on with me. Eat right today. If you screw up, don't beat yourself up over it. Just make sure to start fresh tomorrow.
Isn’t it almost daunting to think about how much control you really have over your future? I think that’s the part that scares me the most being as young as I am. I’m 21, and the decisions I made this week could make or break my future.
One of the hardest parts about trying to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle is not being surrounded by people who are doing the same thing. It’s hard to make healthy food choices when you’re eating out with people who have no problem ordering anything on the menu.
My problem is I tend to eat like the people around me do. If friends are eating healthy, I do too. If not, then I’m in trouble. This should be the case. I need to really take control of my health, and in essence my future. Granted one indulgence now and then isn’t going to take years off my life. But I’m not doing myself any favors by indulging in the high-fat foods on a regular basis. I need to start doing what I know is best for me, not copying friends and family.
I always rolled my eyes when the older population said that the young generation always seems to act like their invincible – they take more risks and don’t really think about the long-term consequences. When I heard that I automatically thought about daredevils and people who did crazy, life-threatening stunts – and I certainly didn’t fall into that.
But you know what? We do tend to act like we’re invincible, and not in a daredevil way. We’ll put anything into our bodies – excess fast food, alcohol, sugary foods, high-calorie sodas and sports drink. You name it, we’ve probably tried it. We don’t make health a priority. And that’s dangerous – especially when you see how many health problems, including cancer, are tied to our lifestyle choices. We don’t seem to care about it until it’s too late, and I’m not sure why that is. Is the messaging not out there strong enough for kids? Are we supposed to be picking it up in school? Home? Friends? It is just my generation, or have generations before me had the same struggles? I’m not sure.
I just know that if I want to have a better future, I need to start making better choices today. It’s time to stop eating like everyone else and really make a conscious effort to get in those fruits and veggies, and start liming those high-calorie, high fat foods. And that’s what this challenge is about.
And today marks the official day of the Challenge. Take it on with me. Eat right today. If you screw up, don't beat yourself up over it. Just make sure to start fresh tomorrow.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Woah...What?
You know what I think? I think that healthy lifestyle choices and portion control should be taught at a much, much younger age. That’s something I’m slowly learning through this Eat Right Challenge.
The first time I ever remember being exposed to proper portion sizes was in sixth grade home economics class. The teacher was going through the measuring cups, and when she got to the half-cup, she said, “Next time you get yourself some ice cream, keep in mind that this is one serving size.”
That absolutely blew my mind. The serving seemed so small to me!
Unfortunately, in this day and age, it seems our portions are getting larger and larger. The amount of food we’re being given at restaurants and are consuming even at home is getting out of control. You go out to dinner and half your plate is filled with fries and your cheeseburger is three times the size it once was. It's insane. And yet it's not uncommon for us to clean our plates. Even the kid’s serving is more than necessary, and they haven’t been educated about it. Has anyone really been educated on portion sizes? At what age and where should you be learning that stuff?
I think my problem comes with pasta. Did you know that a half-cup of pasta, the regular serving size, is only the size of a tennis ball? Ouch. My serving of pasta, whether I’m at home or eating out, is definitely not the size of a tennis ball.
The first time I ever remember being exposed to proper portion sizes was in sixth grade home economics class. The teacher was going through the measuring cups, and when she got to the half-cup, she said, “Next time you get yourself some ice cream, keep in mind that this is one serving size.”
That absolutely blew my mind. The serving seemed so small to me!
Unfortunately, in this day and age, it seems our portions are getting larger and larger. The amount of food we’re being given at restaurants and are consuming even at home is getting out of control. You go out to dinner and half your plate is filled with fries and your cheeseburger is three times the size it once was. It's insane. And yet it's not uncommon for us to clean our plates. Even the kid’s serving is more than necessary, and they haven’t been educated about it. Has anyone really been educated on portion sizes? At what age and where should you be learning that stuff?
I think my problem comes with pasta. Did you know that a half-cup of pasta, the regular serving size, is only the size of a tennis ball? Ouch. My serving of pasta, whether I’m at home or eating out, is definitely not the size of a tennis ball. Here’s a few tips from the ACS website to watch your portion sizes and a guide for how much you should be eating. Makes you think twice about doubling up or filling your plate…
Friday, August 10, 2007
Going Organic?
Does anyone know if a more natural way of eating is beneficial?
I ask because I was looking through a Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, and in it were 30 tips to lower your risk for breast cancer. Among some of the tips were…
I didn’t learn this until recently, but eating organic foods is amazing for trying to prevent cancer.
Last semester one of my roommates would only eat organic and natural foods. She said during her first year of college she put on some weight and just didn’t feel healthy. The following year, she cut red meat and milk out of her diet and went strictly to organic eating. After the switch, she felt two hundred times better (and looked amazing).
Is there really a chance that drastic? I mean, I know our society is really big on processed foods, but does organic food really make a huge difference in one’s life? And more importantly, how extreme do you have to be? Does everything you eat have to be organic – from cheese to bread to spaghetti sauce? Are some more beneficial then others, or are you just supposed to pick and chose based on your likes and preferences?
It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized how many people are really serious about eating only organic foods, saying they can taste a “huge difference” when they try to eat processed foods that you and I eat nearly everyday. I’ve always wondered how one gets into eating organic food. Is it a family thing? Is it something you grow up with or is it a choice you make later in life? And why hadn’t I really heard about it before college?
I admit I have slim to no knowledge on organic eating. On occasion I have been curious and tried a few products, and to be quite honest, I didn’t notice a difference. But some people swear by it. Perhaps someday this month as part of the challenge I’ll only eat organic foods. I realize it takes more than a day to really notice a difference, but it could be interesting just to see what can be put into my body. Maybe it would be a good "purifying" process.
I ask because I was looking through a Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, and in it were 30 tips to lower your risk for breast cancer. Among some of the tips were…
#1 – Eat fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables everyday
#2 – Eat organic whole grains everyday
#5 – Eat soy-based whole-food products several times a week
#15 – Nix red meat (Women who eat the most red meat have an 88 to 330 percent higher risk of breast cancer)
I didn’t learn this until recently, but eating organic foods is amazing for trying to prevent cancer.
Last semester one of my roommates would only eat organic and natural foods. She said during her first year of college she put on some weight and just didn’t feel healthy. The following year, she cut red meat and milk out of her diet and went strictly to organic eating. After the switch, she felt two hundred times better (and looked amazing).
Is there really a chance that drastic? I mean, I know our society is really big on processed foods, but does organic food really make a huge difference in one’s life? And more importantly, how extreme do you have to be? Does everything you eat have to be organic – from cheese to bread to spaghetti sauce? Are some more beneficial then others, or are you just supposed to pick and chose based on your likes and preferences?
It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized how many people are really serious about eating only organic foods, saying they can taste a “huge difference” when they try to eat processed foods that you and I eat nearly everyday. I’ve always wondered how one gets into eating organic food. Is it a family thing? Is it something you grow up with or is it a choice you make later in life? And why hadn’t I really heard about it before college?
I admit I have slim to no knowledge on organic eating. On occasion I have been curious and tried a few products, and to be quite honest, I didn’t notice a difference. But some people swear by it. Perhaps someday this month as part of the challenge I’ll only eat organic foods. I realize it takes more than a day to really notice a difference, but it could be interesting just to see what can be put into my body. Maybe it would be a good "purifying" process.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Only 12 days...
What is it that draws people to pop, especially diet sodas? Is there something in it that we just can’t get enough of? Is it the caffeine? The taste? The happiness that there are no extra calories when we drink diet soda?
I’ve gone without pop for 12 days now, and I’m not sure if I miss it. Sometimes I really do wish I could go out and get a liter of Diet Coke – but what is it that makes me want it? The carbination? Does it really make me feel full?
I think part of the appeal, at least for diet sodas, is that they don’t have any calories, so in some respects we look at it as an alternative to water. I don’t know about you, but I get sick of drinking plain water. There’s no real flavor, and unless it’s really cold, it doesn’t really quench my thirst.
It’s so common now-a-days to see people reach into a fridge and walk away with a soda. Lately I see more people grabbing a bottle of coke instead of a water bottle. In college, I see more people grabbing a can of coke in the morning instead of fresh juice. Going out to dinner, I’d say 80 percent of the people there are drinking pop instead of water or milk. How has our society become so dependent on pop?
What’s interesting is that last summer my roommate decided to give up pop. She, like me, was used to having a couple cans a day. There was no happy medium. So one day, she just gave it up. After that, though, she noticed she was sleeping much better. Another friend of mine recently gave up pop too, and he said he can already tell the positive affects it’s had on his life.
Like I said, it’s been 12 days since I’ve had my Diet Coke fix (and believe me, it’s been a struggle) but looking back, it almost seems easy to do without. I’ve been drinking much more water. When I go out to eat or even when I’m thirsty in the evenings, I reach for water. (I actually think it’s the Crystal Light packets that are saving me…) At times it was hard to make the switch, but I highly recommend it.
Or, you could do what a co-worker suggested. Before she has a diet coke, she drinks 20 ounces of water. That way you’re getting the best of both worlds. You’re getting your water requirement while still allowing yourself to indulge in a pop.
For now, though, I think I’ll just stick with water. When I head back to school, that’s when I’ll need the caffeine again…
I’ve gone without pop for 12 days now, and I’m not sure if I miss it. Sometimes I really do wish I could go out and get a liter of Diet Coke – but what is it that makes me want it? The carbination? Does it really make me feel full?
I think part of the appeal, at least for diet sodas, is that they don’t have any calories, so in some respects we look at it as an alternative to water. I don’t know about you, but I get sick of drinking plain water. There’s no real flavor, and unless it’s really cold, it doesn’t really quench my thirst.
It’s so common now-a-days to see people reach into a fridge and walk away with a soda. Lately I see more people grabbing a bottle of coke instead of a water bottle. In college, I see more people grabbing a can of coke in the morning instead of fresh juice. Going out to dinner, I’d say 80 percent of the people there are drinking pop instead of water or milk. How has our society become so dependent on pop?
What’s interesting is that last summer my roommate decided to give up pop. She, like me, was used to having a couple cans a day. There was no happy medium. So one day, she just gave it up. After that, though, she noticed she was sleeping much better. Another friend of mine recently gave up pop too, and he said he can already tell the positive affects it’s had on his life.
Like I said, it’s been 12 days since I’ve had my Diet Coke fix (and believe me, it’s been a struggle) but looking back, it almost seems easy to do without. I’ve been drinking much more water. When I go out to eat or even when I’m thirsty in the evenings, I reach for water. (I actually think it’s the Crystal Light packets that are saving me…) At times it was hard to make the switch, but I highly recommend it.
Or, you could do what a co-worker suggested. Before she has a diet coke, she drinks 20 ounces of water. That way you’re getting the best of both worlds. You’re getting your water requirement while still allowing yourself to indulge in a pop.
For now, though, I think I’ll just stick with water. When I head back to school, that’s when I’ll need the caffeine again…
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Another Item for the "Do Not Eat" List
Last semester I was reading yet another diet book trying to find the solution to my weight problem. This one, however, I found to be a lot more informational than I anticipated, and since then I’d been trying to incorporate some of the recommendations into my life.
One of the major issues was the consumption of high fructose corn syrup. Basically the book said to avoid it like the plague. It wasn’t until I read about it and did more research on it that I realized just how popular it is – and how bad it can be for you. From breakfast bars to diet drinks to snacks, high fructose corn syrup is everywhere, which is not good news for dieters.
The tricky thing about this ingredient is that studies linking it to weight problems have not been proven yet, so it’s tough to really sell the fact that we shouldn’t be consuming it – especially since it tastes so good and shows up in almost everything.
A nutritionist for the Mayo Clinic writes that “Some nutrition experts blame increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup for the growing obesity problem. One theory is that fructose is more readily converted to fat by your liver than is sucrose, increasing the levels of fat in your bloodstream. But this hasn't been proved.”
While it’s tough, I’m trying my best to limit my high fructose corn syrup intake. The book I read last semester recommends that when looking at the first five ingredients in foods, you do not want to see high fructose corn syrup. If you do, don’t eat it. Sometimes that’s easier said than done… But you know me – I’ll try anything once, especially when it means I can better my health.
One of the major issues was the consumption of high fructose corn syrup. Basically the book said to avoid it like the plague. It wasn’t until I read about it and did more research on it that I realized just how popular it is – and how bad it can be for you. From breakfast bars to diet drinks to snacks, high fructose corn syrup is everywhere, which is not good news for dieters.
The tricky thing about this ingredient is that studies linking it to weight problems have not been proven yet, so it’s tough to really sell the fact that we shouldn’t be consuming it – especially since it tastes so good and shows up in almost everything.
A nutritionist for the Mayo Clinic writes that “Some nutrition experts blame increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup for the growing obesity problem. One theory is that fructose is more readily converted to fat by your liver than is sucrose, increasing the levels of fat in your bloodstream. But this hasn't been proved.”
While it’s tough, I’m trying my best to limit my high fructose corn syrup intake. The book I read last semester recommends that when looking at the first five ingredients in foods, you do not want to see high fructose corn syrup. If you do, don’t eat it. Sometimes that’s easier said than done… But you know me – I’ll try anything once, especially when it means I can better my health.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Success!
I have some slightly exciting news to report – I’ve lost 2.5 pounds!
This is not a joke (I even stepped on the scale four times to make sure it wasn’t just pulling my leg.)
Since my injury I’ve only weighed myself twice. Once was about a week and a half ago, fearing that I’d put on some weight due to inactivity because of my MCL. While the scale had gone up a bit, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.
Then, Saturday morning, I held my breath as I stepped on the scale – and saw that it went down. I couldn’t have been more excited!
What’s great is that it means what I’m doing is working. For the last 8 days, there have only been 2 days where I’ve eaten past 8 p.m., I haven’t had any pop and I’ve only had seconds twice. Although I am slightly disgruntled that I can’t continue with my walks yet (although the physical therapist did change my leg brace so that I can start bending when I walk), at least I’m compensating by really taking a hard look at my eating habits and changing them for the better.
Just wanted to share in my excitement. : ) Isn’t it crazy how a simple number on the scale can either make or break your day?
This is not a joke (I even stepped on the scale four times to make sure it wasn’t just pulling my leg.)
Since my injury I’ve only weighed myself twice. Once was about a week and a half ago, fearing that I’d put on some weight due to inactivity because of my MCL. While the scale had gone up a bit, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.
Then, Saturday morning, I held my breath as I stepped on the scale – and saw that it went down. I couldn’t have been more excited!
What’s great is that it means what I’m doing is working. For the last 8 days, there have only been 2 days where I’ve eaten past 8 p.m., I haven’t had any pop and I’ve only had seconds twice. Although I am slightly disgruntled that I can’t continue with my walks yet (although the physical therapist did change my leg brace so that I can start bending when I walk), at least I’m compensating by really taking a hard look at my eating habits and changing them for the better.
Just wanted to share in my excitement. : ) Isn’t it crazy how a simple number on the scale can either make or break your day?
Friday, August 3, 2007
Growing Portions and Waistlines
In doing some research for the Eat Right Challenge, we came across this slide show on portion distortion. There's also a second slide show if you're interested. It's put out by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
If you've got a few minutes, you should just skim through it. It's amazing just how much portion sizes have changed in the last 20 years. Even when you order a salad at dinner, you're still eating much more than you would have 20 years ago (about 400 calories more, actually).
Makes you think twice about filling up your plate.
If you've got a few minutes, you should just skim through it. It's amazing just how much portion sizes have changed in the last 20 years. Even when you order a salad at dinner, you're still eating much more than you would have 20 years ago (about 400 calories more, actually).
Makes you think twice about filling up your plate.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
One More Thing
I forgot to mention this in my last post. It's incredibily difficult to eat healthy when you're going to out to eat anymore!
I told you that last night I ordered a side of fruit. Originally, though, I wanted to order a vegetable. Unfortunately, there were no healthy options. I wanted corn, but that was soaked in butter. I wanted green beans, but that was served with bacon (why??). The broccoli was "butter-steamed" and the carrots were "glazed." Why can I just get regular vegetables without the extra fat added to it?
Very interesting....
I told you that last night I ordered a side of fruit. Originally, though, I wanted to order a vegetable. Unfortunately, there were no healthy options. I wanted corn, but that was soaked in butter. I wanted green beans, but that was served with bacon (why??). The broccoli was "butter-steamed" and the carrots were "glazed." Why can I just get regular vegetables without the extra fat added to it?
Very interesting....
The Little Things in Life
Today marks day two of the Eat Right Challenge, and I’m doing surprisingly well. Although I shouldn’t say surprisingly. When I put my mind to it, of course I can find success. I just found that I need to make a more conscious effort of it and really try to keep a balance. And I really have to keep in mind that it's a slow and steady process. One day of eating right doesn't mean I'm going to automatically drop 2 pounds overnight.
Last night I went out for dinner, and I should preface this by saying that when I go out to eat, rarely do I order salads. I figure, I’m out to eat, why not splurge and have something that the restaurant is known for – like ribs, steak or what have you. Why waste the trip on just a salad? (This is probably a major flaw in my dieting…)
But last night, you know what I ordered? A salad and a side of fruit. For the first time in quite awhile, I left a restaurant not feeling like I completely blew my day, so that made me happy. It’s funny how the little accomplishments during the day (turning down a fattening dessert, not diving into the fridge after 8 p.m., etc) can really improve your mood and give you a more positive outlook on dieting.
Tomorrow marks my first full week of not drinking any pop. I haven’t decided if I notice a difference or not. I do know that I fall asleep much faster and earlier at night without all that caffeine in my system, so I’m getting a bit more sleep, which in turn makes me miss my morning Diet Coke less. I’ll admit that sometimes I do crave it (okay, I crave it a lot), but I’ve actually replaced it with these little Crystal Light on-the-go packets. They’re doing wonders! I’m drinking so much more water than I normally would, but it doesn’t taste like bland water.
I do wish I could get a bit more physical activity into my day. Physical therapy is definitely starting to take its toll on me, but I can feel my right leg getting stronger. And I know if I keep it up, by the end I’ll be ready to shape up my legs since my right thigh is already getting a killer workout through therapy.
Last night I went out for dinner, and I should preface this by saying that when I go out to eat, rarely do I order salads. I figure, I’m out to eat, why not splurge and have something that the restaurant is known for – like ribs, steak or what have you. Why waste the trip on just a salad? (This is probably a major flaw in my dieting…)
But last night, you know what I ordered? A salad and a side of fruit. For the first time in quite awhile, I left a restaurant not feeling like I completely blew my day, so that made me happy. It’s funny how the little accomplishments during the day (turning down a fattening dessert, not diving into the fridge after 8 p.m., etc) can really improve your mood and give you a more positive outlook on dieting.
Tomorrow marks my first full week of not drinking any pop. I haven’t decided if I notice a difference or not. I do know that I fall asleep much faster and earlier at night without all that caffeine in my system, so I’m getting a bit more sleep, which in turn makes me miss my morning Diet Coke less. I’ll admit that sometimes I do crave it (okay, I crave it a lot), but I’ve actually replaced it with these little Crystal Light on-the-go packets. They’re doing wonders! I’m drinking so much more water than I normally would, but it doesn’t taste like bland water.
I do wish I could get a bit more physical activity into my day. Physical therapy is definitely starting to take its toll on me, but I can feel my right leg getting stronger. And I know if I keep it up, by the end I’ll be ready to shape up my legs since my right thigh is already getting a killer workout through therapy.
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