June 2007 - Posts
10. Broken cookies have no calories - they all leak out.
9. Eating off your kid's plate doesn't count. After all, it was their meal, their calories, right?
8. Eating celery uses more calories than it contains (negative calories). Combine it with chocolate cake to balance the calories.
7. Alcohol evaporates when heated. Vanilla contains a high acohol content. Vanilla is used in cheesecake. Cheesecake is baked (heated), therefore, vanilla cheesecake has less calories than say, white raspberry chocolate. (I know, major stretch!)
6. Dark chocolate contains flavinols. Flavinols are healthy. More health is better than less. Eat more chocolate.
5. Whipping cream greatly increases its volume by introducing air into it. There are no calories in air, so...
4. They tell you to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. The reason is the extra calories you burn running to the bathroom every 15 minutes.
3. Movie-related foods do not add calories - they are part of the entertainment package!
2. Frozen food has no calories. Calories are a measure of heat, there is no heat in frozen food. (See alternate scientific explanation and formula below)
And now for #1 (drum roll please!)
1. You're not overweight, you're undertall!
Alternate scientific explanation for 2 (above): the natural processes which raise the consumed food to body temperature during the digestive cycle literally sucks the calories out of the only available source: your body fat.
For example, a dessert served and eaten at near 0 degrees C (32.2 deg. F) will in a short time be raised to the normal body temperature of 37 degrees C (98.6 deg. F). For each gram of dessert eaten, that process takes approximately 37 calories as stated above. The average dessert portion is 6 oz, or 168 grams. Therefore, by operation of thermodynamic law, 6,216 calories (1 cal/gm/deg. x 37 deg. x 168 gms) are extracted from body fat as the dessert's temperature is normalized. Allowing for the 1,200 latent calories in the dessert, the net calorie loss is approximately 5,000 calories.
Frozen desserts, e.g., ice cream, are even more beneficial, since it takes 83 cal./gm to melt them (i.e., raise them to 0 deg. C) and an additional 37 cal./gm to further raise them to body temperature. The results here are really remarkable, and it beats running/jogging hands down.
This example of thermodynamics also applies to beer in a frosted mug: Each ounce of beer contains approximately 16 calories, but uses 1,036 calories (6,216 cal. per 6 oz. portion) in the temperature normalizing process. Thus, the net calorie loss per ounce of beer is 1,020 calories. That means that there 12,240 calories (12 oz. x 1,020 cal./oz.) are extracted from the body in the process of drinking a can of beer.
For those of you who eat pizza with your beer, please keep in mind that pizza is loaded with caloires and served above body temperature (unless it's leftover and you're consuming it the next morning). Therefore, if you are going to eat pizza, you should drink lots of beer and follow it all with a large bowl of ice cream.
(The above information was found on the internet, so it must be true!)
One of the favorite places for our family to eat is Ponderosa; second on the list is probably The Golden Corral. For those of you not familiar with these places, they are "family buffets". You know, the "all you can stuff in your face" kind of restaurant. When you're a teenage boy it's a GREAT place for dinner. However, when you're a mom trying to keep things under control, they can be a dangerous place for dinner - unlimited everything, including dessert, and you don't have to cook!
But, if you're trying to eat right and you find yourself facing mountains of mashed potatoes, piles of perfectly prepared fried chicken, tons of tasty - oh, sorry, got carried away there - facing an huge choice of high calorie foods there is something you can do. Start with a salad. Big deal, you say? It is. Fill your plate with lettuce. I mean FILL it. Lettuce is mainly water, hardly any calories worth mentioning. Add some other veggies - carrot and celery sticks, mushrooms (a good source of potassium, by the way), cucumber slices, peas, green peppers - you get the idea. If you like, add a SMALL amount of cheese. How small? Just sprinkle about a tablespoon over the top. You can add about the same amount of hard boiled egg if you like.
Now comes the really hard part - the salad dressing. If you can stand low fat, great. Whether or not you choose that option, you don't want to bury your salad under a river of dressing. D-r-i-z-z-l-e a small amount over the top and down the sides. Better still, use one of the little paper cups they put out for butter or cocktail sauce. Don't take any more than that. Seriously. I'm not kidding. Okay, you can drizzle a TINY bit over the top, and take the cup, but nothing more. Salad actually tastes good even when it's not drowning in buttermilk ranch dressing. And hey, stay away from the croutons and bacon bits. If you really need something crunchy on top, try sunflower seeds or a bit of chow mein noodles. Starting with the salad and having your dressing on the side is a good idea no matter where you're eating.
After you eat the salad - the whole thing, folks - then think about what else you would really like to eat. While you think about it, give your body a chance to realize you're already pretty full. Now you can head through the buffet line. There's nothing wrong with trying a few things, but be sensible. I know it's hard when there is such a bounteous feast laid out in front of you. Don't deny yourself something you REALLY want, just have it in moderation.
Does this work? You betcha! Not only that, but when you bring a really nice looking salad back to the table, the kids and hubby all look at it and say "Wow, that looks really good! I think I'll have one too!"
If you haven't noticed by now, the Steeple Media Fit Club contestants have taken a break from everything here. This is to prepare for the FINAL Weigh-in on MONDAY! There will be a "Live" showing of the Weigh-In in the Chat room. Just click on the chat tab above. We should be starting during the evening around 5:45 PM EST. Whoever has lost the highest percentage of weight will win the $25 gift card to Amazon.com and a 1 Year subscription to a Magazine of their choice.
Please do come! I will be giving away a few prizes that were left from the last Live Weigh-in.
For those who cannot come, I will hopefully post the entire Chat transcript here after the weigh in.
The new weight loss pill Alli is now available at your local Walgreens and other pharmacies. Is it worth it? What are the side effects? How much does it cost?
This information is courtesy of Dr. Donald Hensrud at Mayoclinic.com
Is Alli the solution to your weight-loss woes? A Mayo
Clinic specialist discusses the effectiveness of Alli, an
over-the-counter weight-loss pill.
Donald Hensrud, M.D.
Another drug is available soon to aid your weight-loss efforts, but
this time you don't need a prescription. Alli (pronounced AL-eye) is
meant for overweight adults who are struggling to shed excess pounds.
With its easy access and weight-loss promises, is Alli your answer to
losing weight permanently?
Here, Donald Hensrud, M.D., a preventive medicine and nutrition
specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., answers common questions
about Alli.
What is Alli?
Alli is the reduced-strength version of orlistat (Xenical), a
prescription drug to treat obesity. It's approved for over-the-counter
sale to overweight adults 18 years and older. Alli is meant to be used
in conjunction with a low-calorie, low-fat diet and regular exercise.
How does Alli work?
Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines, which reduces the number of calories you absorb.
Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract, helps break down
dietary fat into smaller components, so it can be used or stored for
energy. Alli works by disabling lipase, which prevents the enzyme from
breaking down the fat while it's in your digestive tract. The
undigested fat continues through the intestines and is eliminated
through bowel movements.
Alli is taken with fat-containing meals, up to three times a day.
Because of how Alli works, it's recommended that you eat no more than
15 grams of fat with each meal. Eating higher amounts of fat can cause
unwanted effects, such as urgent bowel movements, diarrhea and gas with
oily spotting.
How much weight could I lose using Alli?
Alli can help you lose weight, but the weight loss likely won't be
great — perhaps just a few pounds more than you would lose with diet
and exercise alone. Only a small number of studies have evaluated the
effectiveness of Alli. And many of the weight-loss estimates are based
on studies conducted on its prescription-strength counterpart, Xenical.
The average weight loss for prescription-strength Xenical is modest
— about 6 pounds greater than diet and exercise alone after one year.
So at half the strength, Alli could conceivably result in an average of
3 pounds lost in a year in addition to the approximately 8 pounds you
could expect to lose from diet and exercise alone.
What are the side effects?
You may experience bowel changes when taking Alli. Ads and marketing
materials refer to these changes as "treatment effects." These side
effects can include:
- Gas with an oily anal discharge
- Loose stools or diarrhea
- More frequent bowel movements
- Hard-to-control bowel movements
These bowel changes result from the undigested fat going through
your digestive system. You can limit the side effects by eating a
low-fat diet.
When shouldn't I take Alli?
You shouldn't take Alli if you:
- Are at a healthy weight
- Are taking cyclosporine
- Have had an organ transplant
- Have problems absorbing food
The drug also may pose risks for anyone who takes blood-thinning medication or has diabetes or thyroid disease.
Orlistat decreases the absorption of certain fat-soluble vitamins —
for example, vitamins A, D and E. If you're taking Alli, you need to
take a daily vitamin supplement (at a time different from when you take
Alli) to prevent potential nutrient deficiencies.
How long do I need to take Alli?
According to the manufacturer, most weight loss occurs within the
first six months. Many people who take medications to lose weight
regain the weight they lost when they stop taking the medication.
Therefore, to keep the weight off, many people continue taking
medications indefinitely along with eating a low-calorie diet and
exercising regularly.
How much does Alli cost?
A starter pack, which includes reference guides, a daily journal and
one month's supply of medication, is about $60. A refill pack with a
40-day supply of capsules is about $75.
How does Alli fit into a healthy weight-loss plan?
As you consider Alli as a weight-loss aid, make sure that you make
every effort to exercise, change your eating habits and adjust any
other lifestyle factors that have contributed to your excess weight.
Alli isn't the easy answer to weight loss and is meant only to
supplement — not replace — a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Work with your doctor to evaluate the potential benefits and risks
of Alli or any other weight-loss drugs. As a team, you can create the
most effective weight-loss plan for you.
This is scoutmom now:
Just a note - in our area, the retail price is $59 for a 90-day supply. Will I take it? I don't know. I certainly qualify. And I do eat a lower fat diet. But is it right for me??? I think for now I will stick with the tried and true reduced calorie, reduced fat, increased exercise lifestyle I have.
Well, we're in the home stretch! However, I dont want to go any further without having you meet us! So this weeks weigh in will be live! I opened a Chatzy Chat room for you to join tomorrow evening at 5:45 PM EST. There will be some prizes and fun for everyone. Soon after the live weigh in, I will kick off the Pirates hunt over in the forums so it will be quick and short.
Go to the link below and type in your Steeple Media username. Keep your color green! We want to identify you as a "guest" that way. The Fit Clubbers will be another color.
Hope to see you there!!
Chatzy link: http://www.chatzy.com/211813596795
Password: steeplemedia
The School Lunch Dilemma
To Buy or To Pack?
-- By Liza Barnes, Health Educator
Its
lunchtime at the office and you’re hungry. Your morning has been
stressful, and your co-workers are pooling their money for some fried
take-out from the local burger joint. You decline their invitation
(even though comfort food sounds particularly comforting right now),
and instead sit down with the healthy lunch you brought from home,
complete with whole grains, lean proteins, raw vegetables, and lots of
water. You know you have an afternoon full of meetings, phone calls,
and errands, and the fiber
and vitamins will carry you through your to-do list
valiantly. Congratulations, you made a responsible adult decision,
which will benefit your energy levels and probably your long-term
health. Do you think you would have made the same decision in the lunch
line in the third grade?
Kids
in school face complicated lunchtime decisions on a daily basis. The
decision to buy or to pack is only the beginning. On the way to the
lunchroom, the hallways are lined with vending machines selling soda,
chips and candy. The kids in the lunchroom flock toward the a lá carte
counter, where they can buy French fries, hot dogs, and sugary
drinks. And don’t forget about self-consciousness and peer pressure,
which complicate this decision even more.
What a
child eats for lunch at school not only influences their energy levels
in math class but also sets the stage for adult eating habits. Too many
wrong decisions can be a recipe for a nutritional disaster. But if you
use lunchtime decision-making as a teachable moment, you can help your
child learn to make nutritionally sensible decisions. Whether your
child chooses to pack or to buy, here’s what you both need to know
about lunchtime nutrition.
Buying Lunch
Current
reports on the state of school lunches are disconcerting. According to
the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), “menus in
most school lunch programs are too high in saturated fat and cholesterol
and too low in fiber- and nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole
grains, and legumes”. PCRM states, “Major changes are needed to protect
the health of our nation’s youth and to reverse the growing trends of
obesity and chronic disease among children and teens.” To compound the
problem, many schools operate school stores, where the students can buy
fast food meals (shipped in daily from national fast-food chains),
instant soup-in-a-cup (with a day’s worth of sodium
at no extra charge), and of course, candy and chips. These stores act
as competitors to the school lunch programs, offering even less healthy
alternatives.
The
good news is that schools all over the country are modifying their
menus voluntarily to include healthier options. In Madison County,
Alabama, students returned from summer break to find many changes in
the cafeteria, including smaller portions, more whole grains, and low
fat milk options, all aimed at reducing the state’s growing obesity
epidemic. In Berkeley, California, cafeterias are sourcing their
ingredients from local organic farms, increasing the foods’ nutritional
content as well as boosting the local economy and supporting
sustainable agriculture. And in Crystal, Minnesota one school excluded
fast food vendors from the school store. While reports like this are
encouraging to parents, these trends vary state-by-state and
school-by-school.
Here’s what you can do to help your child choose a healthy lunch when they’re buying:
- Feed them breakfast. If
their stomach is growling in homeroom, they’ll be more likely to load
up at the vending machines. If you don’t have time to feed them a home
cooked breakfast, try natural peanut butter on a whole wheat bagel and
an apple, or a smoothie with soymilk, frozen bananas and peanut butter.
- Talk to your child
about vending machine, a lá carte, and school store choices. Help them
to realize that it’s ok to like candy and fast food, but that doesn’t
mean they should be an everyday treat.
- Lead by example. This
may be the most effective way to teach anyone anything, albeit the most
difficult. The next time you’re out to eat with your child, explain why
you choose to order the garden burger instead of the hamburger with
cheese, or the chicken salad instead of the fried chicken. Kids are
sponges—use it to your (and their) advantage.
- Discuss the cafeteria menu with your child,
preferably before you’re rushing out the door in the morning. You can
help them learn which options are healthier, and talk about the
importance of fruits and vegetables. If they don’t like what’s on the
menu, then they’ll have time to pack instead.
- If you are unhappy with your child’s school menu options, talk to the school lunch coordinator. Many
cafeteria menu makeovers started with just one parent. If you’d like
more information about healthy lunch activism, visit PCRM’s school
lunch website at www.HealthySchoolLunches.org
courtesy of SparkPeople.com
Want a good workout? Do some yard work! Mow the lawn, weed the garden, trim some bushes. Not only are you burning tons of calories, you are out in the fresh air and sunshine. And when you're finished what do you have? A nice looking yard and the satisfaction that your workout actually accomplished something. How's that for a bonus?
Now, I don't have acreage - my yard is 42' x 210', but it involves not only mowing, but lots of trimming. Gotta love that Weed Whacker! And we've had some really good growing weather so not only the plants, but the weeds have shot up like crazy. When I was done with that, I planted a few perennials and spread some mulch.
The great thing about owning a piece of property when you're trying to get yourself in shape is that it provides LOTS of opportunity for you to do so. If you're not mowing, you're raking or shoveling - or cleaning, painting, repairing....you get the picture.
What if you AREN'T doing this as a workout? Bummer!
Well, its getting down to the last few weeks. Everyone seems to be working hard and not posting I see. Sorry everything's getting lighter... that shoud change soon... Here is this week's weigh in results!
gplash1958 has been leading this competition all along. She started out at 279 and is worked her way down from there. She is now at 260 which is a 19 pound loss! That comes out to 6.8%!!!
scoutmom has had major goals of fitting into some scout shorts and being able to sit down in them again. She started at 209, and is now at 202, a 7 pound loss! Thats about a 3.3% loss!!!
miketoc has had lots of work issues and has had trouble finding the time to work out. However, he has managed to shed some pounds off. He started at 215 and is now at 205, a 10 pound loss. Thats about 4.6%!!!
I have worked really hard trying to lose the weight. Wednesday, yesterday and today, I have had TONS of protein. Thats all I eat. Breakfast, chicken; lunch, chicken; dinner, turkey. I mow the lawn in the heat which provides lots of loss due to sweat and I still occasionally do Tae Bo. I started out at 280 and this week I weigh 265. A 15 pound loss! A 5.4% loss!!!
At the start of Fit Club, the four of us weighed a tremendous amount of weight. 983 pounds to be exact. Since then, we have dropped our weight a total of 51 pounds! Thats a total of a 5.2% loss overall. We have a few weeks to go and hope to hit the 100 pound mark!!
Cardio Tunes!
Get Your Body Movin'
-- By Liz Noelcke, Staff Writer
“My uptown girl! You know I’m in love with an uptown girl!” As these lyrics pump through your headphones, it’s easy to forget that while Billy Joel sings to you, you’re actually running on the treadmill. This is the power of music during a workout. While Billy’s girl is looking for a “downtown man,” you’re busy burning calories as the minutes just fly by…
Music can be an important addition to your workout routine, something that can make a good workout great. Often, if you are concentrating on music, you can workout at a higher intensity than normal. Tunes can distract you from mild pain and muscle fatigue, allowing you to push your body harder. Just like it is important to customize your workout routine, it is also beneficial to tailor your musical choices to fit your tastes. If you are lucky enough to enjoy the music played in your gym, then it isn’t any extra effort to enjoy this source of motivation. If, however, your gym’s choices leave much to be desired, simply create your own mix and tote your headset to your workout.
If you don’t have a workout buddy, use your “mix tape” to psych yourself up and get the energy flowing. You might try listening to fast-paced music on the way to the gym just to get into a better mindset. Once you are there, that beat can help you ease into a comfortable rhythm while running, walking, or biking. For some extra variety, switch-up the pace (or even machine!) every time the song changes. Do this for 30 minutes, and you’ll have completed a great cardio workout.
There is a lot of technology that makes listening to custom music choices much easier. From portable radios to CD players, you can bring an entire music library with you to the gym. Perhaps the ultimate, however, is a personal MP3 player, which can often hold thousands of songs that you pick and legally download. All you need to do is put on the earphones and hit play.
There are countless CDs available that are specifically mixed for working out. Some are specific for different workouts, from syncopated songs for kickboxing to disco-themed melodies for step aerobics. Try one that fits both your musical and workout tastes. 80’s music might motivate you, while hip-hop is better for your workout buddy. Expect to pay anywhere from $15-25 for any given CD, available online or even at your local music store.
Perhaps the best option is creating your own custom CD or MP3 playlist. Start with a slower song, work up to several more up-tempo songs, and then include one or two tunes to cool down at the end. Coordinate your workout intensity with each song, picking up pace as the beat speeds up. Depending on the length of each song, expect to listen to around 10 different songs during a 30-minute cardio workout.
The Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale will help you move through the following playlist, created by SparkPeople for approximately a 30-minute cardio workout. As the RPE moves with each song, you should adjust the intensity of your workout accordingly. Feel free to create your own mixes to make your workout tunes truly your own. Enjoy!
Click here to learn more about exercise intensity, including how to use the RPE scale.
| Title |
Artist |
Duration |
RPE |
| The Sign |
Ace of Base |
3:12 |
4 |
| Caught Up |
Usher |
3:44 |
6 |
| Uptown Girl |
Billy Joel |
3:16 |
7 |
| Ain't Too Proud to Beg |
The Temptations |
2:33 |
8 |
| Lose My Breath |
Destiny's Child |
4:02 |
8 |
| Take Me Out |
Franz Ferdinand |
3:57 |
7 |
| Rock Your Body |
Justin Timberlake |
4:27 |
6 |
| Respect |
Aretha Franklin |
2:25 |
6 |
| When It's Over |
Sugar Ray |
3:40 |
4 |
courtesy of SparkPeople.com
Ok, I know, you’ve been missing your Created to Move blog reposts. So here is about a two week montage of his posts.
Fun Post Friday....Make mine an extra medium please!
It use to be that size mattered. Growing up we had three sizes…small, medium, large. Back in the day large meant something. You never ordered a large coke, large shake, or large pizza unless you had three friends (or were supporting a small guerilla force) to share it with. Today everything is about choice. We have more options, more decisions, more avenues than ever to explore so much so that we often become paralyzed, afraid to choose, afraid to make the wrong choice. All things that were once seen as universal and unchanging are being re-written, re-created without much concern, fanfare, or hoopla. The three categories of size have been reshaped into a myriad of sizes. What once was small is now, petite, extra small, or short, along with small. You have large, economy and extra large. Starbuck’s has added to the confusion with their use of Venti and Grande. Medium is still medium except in some cases where it is a regular. The last time I ordered a regular drink from one of the fast food places the lady looked at me in amazement, “Sir, are you sure you want a regular? Hey Gladys, this guy out here wants to order a regular! Sir, I need you to sign this waiver along with an emergency contact name and number” Of course you can imagine my surprise when the lady handed me a 72 once diet coke in a self cooling container. When did 72 ounces become regular and by who’s standards? What makes a small or a large or a Venti or a regular anyway? Is there a size board, a panel of experts, an academy that votes on these items? This epidemic seems to stem from any lack of standards in the size community. I have seen this crossover into clothing as well. Why is it I wear a 10.5 in Adiddas yet a 15 in Nike’s? Or a 34 in Levi’s and a 33 in Old Navy? Maybe this is all a result of our failed school systems or some weird conspiracy by the government. Gotta run, I still have 44 ounces of Diet Coke to get through. Now go outside and play! Your body and mind will thank you for it. Have a great weekend.
Movies to motivate you. What are the greatest of all time? Here are my top picks.
Warning: The following post is dripping with testosterone. Moving from the couch to the trail, road, gym, court is not always easy. There are often days when I don’t feel like working out, getting out, or moving. Breathing seems difficult in these times, my blood fills like maple syrup running through my veins, why in the world would I want to run, bike, hike, lift weights, do yoga, or exert any more energy than I have to. These are the times when I need that extra motivation. Movies have the ability to give me back drive, desire, and ambition. There are certain movies that regardless of how many times I watch always speak to me in a different yet moving way. I am talking about man movies. Movies that pour blood through the screen, epic battles, good versus evil, man against nature, the David conquering the Goliath. As one Neanderthal to another you know that which I speak of. Inside of each man there is a heartbeat that has been subdued by what I call the “wussification” process, a heartbeat that has been silenced yet not killed. When Maximus rides among his men in Gladiator and states, “What we do now will echo in the eternal.” You know exactly where I am coming from. It is in these media moments that the heart begins to beat again, our minds begin to dream again, and thoughts of adventure, danger, risk, all come alive again just like we were created to be. The movies I reach for, that wake me up from the 9 to 5, that motivate me to move, that get me off the couch are as follows (in no particular order): GladiatorBrave HeartRob RoyRocky I, II, IIIThe Terry Fox StoryThe Shawshank RedemptionThe MatrixConan the BarbarianEnter the DragonMad Max/The Road WarriorThe PatriotFirst Blood Honorable Mention: Joe Dirt….for making me want to be a better man. Did I leave off a flick that speaks to your heart? Disagree with me? I dare you. By the way…give yourself 10 man points for reading this post. Now go outside and play! Your body and mind will thank you for it. Or, go watch a movie? World Wide Web Wednesday - One man, one world, two years, and 16,000 miles Why doesn't the news highlight the unbelievable accomplishments of man anymore? When was the last time you saw or read a story from the traditional news outlets, CNN, FOX News, the local paper that highlighted one positive milestone, one great achievement? Is it because there are no more great feats to achieve, no more milestones to reach, no new frontiers to explore?
Remember when reaching the moon was a feat or running a 4 minute mile captured history and held the world captive?
Here is a great story with a great ending that you won't hear about anywhere else anytime soon.
On Sunday, October 23rd at approximately 2:21, Jesper Olsen reached the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and became the first man to run around the world.
If you have the time visit his site
www.worldrun.orgJesper logged runs each day anywhere from 6 to 30 plus miles. He even ran through a long stretch in Siberia pushing a cart with his supplies!
You can view the route he ran, see his postings, pictures, etc.
What an incredible feat!
Hitler's Dream Realized? Embryo Screening
I dare say that everyone would agree that Hitler was not a very nice boy. The funny mustache, the horse ridding outfits, the way too tall boots, all signs of poor fashion choice and the markings of a classic, sadistic dictator. All joking aside Hitler's twisted dream, fueled by a hefty dose of social Darwinism and Nietzsche, of creating a super human race through genocide, mating, and biological experimentation almost became the world’s reality.
Where Hitler was constrained by time, technology, and the allied victory modern science has none of these to compete with. What once was Hitler’s dream may very well be our and our children’s reality. What am I talking about? Embryo screening.
This morning I read an article on the growing trend of would be parents who approach having children in much the same way you would choose a car or a new digital camera. Science, once pursued for the betterment of mankind, has given way to the lure of financial pressures. Clinics that were established to assist infertile couples now offer a menu of choices. No longer is having a child enough. Parents are given options to choose the sex of the baby, screen for genetic defects, diseases, hair color. I ask you what is next?
You can read the article in its entirety here embryo screening.
Am I the only one who has a problem with this? Is this mad science along the same lines of the “master plan” or is this good use of technology?
Fun Post Friday....Hairy Situation
What's all the fuss with hair anyway? I mean, why do we spend so much time on it? Men try to grow it, women try to cut it. Men worry about loosing it, women worry about curling it. The products for hair are numerous. The potions and lotions, tonics, and mixtures. You got the hair gel, the hair spray, paste, wax, glitter, mudd, spritzer, I mean come on people were talking about hair here not a cocktail! We've got more types of hair products and more research going into curing dandruff than we had resources to put the first man on the moon. And the appliances used to curl the hair...don't get me started here. The curling iron, hair dryer, crimping iron, flat iron, rollers and on and on with the brushes and the combs, the picks, and the scrunchy thingy things and the bows, the headbands all meant to control this really very useless stuff called hair. And what about the plucking? The tweezing, the waxing, the shaving...all in an effort to rid ourselves of the hair but not the hair on the head. Why is it that hair will grow out of my nose and out of my ears but not on my head? This is a valid argument against evolution. What being would want to survive with a uni-brow? And what about the mystery hair? You know, the one that grows out of your arm, is white, and is about 24 inches long. Where in the Sam Hill did that thing come from and how come I never noticed it before? I mean did it grow 24 inches overnight? It definitely wasn't there yesterday or the day before. I think all of this obsession with the hair has put our society into one hairy situation that we may not be able to cut, clip, shave, pluck, or tweeze our way out of.
- Thou shalt not force, bribe or coerce thy child to eat.
- Thou
shalt set a good example by eating at least five fruits and vegetables,
three whole grain products, and three dairy servings per day thyself.
- Thou shalt make mealtimes pleasant.
- Thou shalt encourage thy child to help in meal planning, preparation, and cleanup.
- Thou shalt back off when mealtime becomes a power struggle.
- Thou shalt accept food "binges" as phases that will eventually pass.
- Thou shalt accept the fact that thy child is an individual and thus will dislike certain foods (and there may be many!).
- Thou
shalt not give up on introducing thy child to new foods. Thou shalt
realize it sometimes takes ten tries to get a child to accept a food.
- Thou
shalt use this division of responsibility for eating: As the parent,
thou art responsible for deciding when and what to serve. Thy child is
responsible for deciding how much (if any) will be eaten.
- Thou shalt give thy child a multivitamin-mineral supplement if he is a picky eater.
I tried on a pair of shorts (size 42, same size as those pants from a week ago) this morning and I needed a belt. Pretty cool! Just wish the scale would show the same results!
I also eat tons less than before. For instance, I was starving 20 minutes ago. So I grabbed a few chicken (boneless, skinless) tenders, a slice of cheese and some whole wheat bread and made a sandwich. It was very good but made me very full! Just a little sandwich fills me up now?!?! Wooo, whats wrong with that lol. I stopped eating even though I wanted to have some of these chips...
How are things goin with everyone else?
Sorry this post was delayed... I was waiting on a "Fit Clubber" to send in their weight. To say things in a short, almost no one lost weight this week. I was the only one weighing in at 268 which is a 4 pound loss from two weeks ago...
Thursday, I will have a more detailed weigh in post along with information about Fit Club 2!!
Most experts recommend that you exercise up to 90 minutes most days of the week, emphasizing that you gradually work your way up to that duration. However, a recent study conducted at Boston Sports Clubs found that participants who exercised for 20-30 minutes did so more consistently than those involved in 45-60 minute workout sessions. This study shows that you're more likely to stick to a shorter duration workout than a longer one.
Action Sparked: If you and your family members are having trouble staying consistent with exercise, try a shorter workout session. Tell yourself that you'll exercise for 10 or 15 minutes, and follow through with it. Of course 10 minutes of exercise is better than totally skipping a workout. But, once you've hit that small goal (whether it's 5, 10, or 20 minutes), ask yourself if you could keep going. You may find that planning on a short workout is enough to get everyone to the gym (or park, trail, etc.), and once you're there, you can do a lot more than you thought.
A new study published by the University of California at Berkeley shows that women who practice yoga have better body images and less disordered eating patterns than women who take part in traditional aerobic exercises. Study participants filled out surveys about the type of exercise they performed, how often, and their feelings about their bodies.
Action Sparked: This particular study didn't put women into different exercise groups, so researchers can't be sure whether women who already felt good about their bodies tended to steer towards yoga, or if the yoga itself helped improve body image. However, yoga, a mind-body exercise, allows practitioners to tune into their bodies, emphasizing their strengths and abilities, not their size or appearance.
This focused practice is also a great stress-reliever. Yoga could help many individuals (not exclusively women) focus on the positives of their bodies, thus improving how you feel about your body, while helping improve flexibility, strength, and mental focus in the process.
Exercise Extra: Yoga is a great addition to a well-rounded fitness program. Yoga can help increase flexibility, reduce stress, and build endurance.
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