Article on food ingredients and chemicals
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
DEATH BY DOUGHNUTS
ENRICHED FLOUR, WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID, WATER, PALM OIL, MODIFIED PALM OIL, SUGAR, YEAST, DEXTROSE, SALT, DEFATTED SOYA FLOUR, SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, SOYBEAN OIL, DRIED WHEY, SOYA SUTHIN, SODIUM BICARBONATE, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SODIUM STEAROYL-2-LACTYLATE, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, DIACETYL TARTARIC ESTERS OF MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, WHEAT STARCH, DRIED HONEY, DEPROTEINIZED WHEY, NONFAT DRY MILK, CALCIUM CASEINATE, AMYLASE. ASCORBIC ACID, I-CYSTEINE HYDROCHLORIDE, ANNATTO AND TURMERIC EXTRACT, AZODICARBONAMIDE, EGG, CALCIUM CARBONATE, AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, CALCIUM SULFATE, SUGAR, WATER, MODIFIED PALM CARBOSHORTENING, MALTODEXTRIN, CORN STARCH, CALCIUM FLAVINATE, AGAR, SALT, MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, SORBITAN MONOSTEARATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Wanna take a guess what this long list of ingredients represents? It is the make-up of one glazed doughnut prepared by a grocery store bakery. Fifty-three ingredients! I didn't know that was even possible! I lost my place three times typing this outrageous list! Let me tell you something. If you are buying and eating baked goods from your groccery store bakery, you are well preserved by now! As in, better than a frog awaiting dissection in a seventh-grade science class!
It continues to get worse. I am a bit of a food additive expert, and there are some new things on this list that even I don't recognize. Grocery store bakeries are not your friend! They are in business to turn out cheap goods laced with chemical fillers and preservatives that they can sell at a profit. They do not care about your health. They don't even care about taste, as I can tell you that this was the worse doughnut I've ever eaten! They care only about convenience; a ready made product in a plastic container that you can quickly throw in your cart. There are plenty of signs in the bakery area promoting "hot and fresh, " but not a single claim of "natural and delicious!" Has anyone ever returned one of their baked goods due to lack of quality?? I was highly tempted to march this six-pack of doughnuts back to the bakery counter and sight, "horrible taste," as my reason for return with the synthetic list of ingredients as my proof!
The other popular bakeries that stock their snack cakes and muffins on supermarket shelves aren't much better. Pick-up a box of Tastykakes, Entenmann's, Little Debbie's and see if anything in the list of ingredients would be found in your pantry. If you want a dessert item you are best off to bake it yourself or buy from a reliable small business where gourmet still means flour, butter, and sugar. What is found in these products goes way past just fat and calories. These items contain things that will literally shorten your life.
I have and will continue to campaign for more natural foods, but other consumers must do their part by not buying these items. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Cheap food, means cheap ingredients. You get what you pay for! Everyone hates the cost of buying groceries these days, but I would sooner give a dollar more to a company producing products that have all-natural ingredients, than save myself the dollar but be giving my money to a giant corporation who is getting rich off of poisoning my family. That dollar or two you think you are saving is going to have a bigger cost to you at some point later in your health. If you don't think so, I want you to go back to the top of this post and re-read that list. Than ask yourself if there is any way feeding this to your family could be healthy?
I am very passionate about this and hope that everyone will begin to spend as much time reading the labels on their food products, as they do the price-tags. I promise this is the last grocery store produced baked good you will find in my shopping cart, and not because I am on a diet. It was a moment of weakness, but a great reminder of why I choose not to spend my dollars on tempting convenience items. Tomorrow I will share with you an article that will put you on alert for some of the ingredients you should be cautious of, and some of the common tricks food producers use to disguise your awareness.
-We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. ~Alfred E. Newman
Wanna take a guess what this long list of ingredients represents? It is the make-up of one glazed doughnut prepared by a grocery store bakery. Fifty-three ingredients! I didn't know that was even possible! I lost my place three times typing this outrageous list! Let me tell you something. If you are buying and eating baked goods from your groccery store bakery, you are well preserved by now! As in, better than a frog awaiting dissection in a seventh-grade science class!
It continues to get worse. I am a bit of a food additive expert, and there are some new things on this list that even I don't recognize. Grocery store bakeries are not your friend! They are in business to turn out cheap goods laced with chemical fillers and preservatives that they can sell at a profit. They do not care about your health. They don't even care about taste, as I can tell you that this was the worse doughnut I've ever eaten! They care only about convenience; a ready made product in a plastic container that you can quickly throw in your cart. There are plenty of signs in the bakery area promoting "hot and fresh, " but not a single claim of "natural and delicious!" Has anyone ever returned one of their baked goods due to lack of quality?? I was highly tempted to march this six-pack of doughnuts back to the bakery counter and sight, "horrible taste," as my reason for return with the synthetic list of ingredients as my proof!
The other popular bakeries that stock their snack cakes and muffins on supermarket shelves aren't much better. Pick-up a box of Tastykakes, Entenmann's, Little Debbie's and see if anything in the list of ingredients would be found in your pantry. If you want a dessert item you are best off to bake it yourself or buy from a reliable small business where gourmet still means flour, butter, and sugar. What is found in these products goes way past just fat and calories. These items contain things that will literally shorten your life.
I have and will continue to campaign for more natural foods, but other consumers must do their part by not buying these items. I have said it before, and I will say it again. Cheap food, means cheap ingredients. You get what you pay for! Everyone hates the cost of buying groceries these days, but I would sooner give a dollar more to a company producing products that have all-natural ingredients, than save myself the dollar but be giving my money to a giant corporation who is getting rich off of poisoning my family. That dollar or two you think you are saving is going to have a bigger cost to you at some point later in your health. If you don't think so, I want you to go back to the top of this post and re-read that list. Than ask yourself if there is any way feeding this to your family could be healthy?
I am very passionate about this and hope that everyone will begin to spend as much time reading the labels on their food products, as they do the price-tags. I promise this is the last grocery store produced baked good you will find in my shopping cart, and not because I am on a diet. It was a moment of weakness, but a great reminder of why I choose not to spend my dollars on tempting convenience items. Tomorrow I will share with you an article that will put you on alert for some of the ingredients you should be cautious of, and some of the common tricks food producers use to disguise your awareness.
-We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. ~Alfred E. Newman
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
THE BABY SLING!
Everyone should own a hammock. This is my message for the day. I am tempted to leave it at that...
but I guess I'll say a bit more.
There is no better way to relax than lying like a baby in a sling with a light breeze rushing just beneath you as you listen to the rustle of leaves above. Kick a leg over the side and you can give yourself a light push, swaying quietly in the shade. With no distractions but birds chirping and a stare at the clouds rolling by in the sky, I can fall asleep in a matter of seconds. It is the most peaceful moment in my day, especially if I add a cocktail and a good book. I put it right up there with taking a bubble bath or walking the beach, as far as my top 5 girly moments goes.
There is no better way to relax than lying like a baby in a sling with a light breeze rushing just beneath you as you listen to the rustle of leaves above. Kick a leg over the side and you can give yourself a light push, swaying quietly in the shade. With no distractions but birds chirping and a stare at the clouds rolling by in the sky, I can fall asleep in a matter of seconds. It is the most peaceful moment in my day, especially if I add a cocktail and a good book. I put it right up there with taking a bubble bath or walking the beach, as far as my top 5 girly moments goes.
The hammock is newly installed. It was a clearance item at my local hardware store. It came with the hanging hardware and a big pillow (not shown.) There are better quality hammocks available if you're willing to search, but I took advantage of a deal. I would venture to guess that most seasonal inventories are starting to go on sale now. I just finished staining the pole to match our deck, and hope to plant a climbing vine at the base of it when the weather cools. I was thinking some red Clematis Niobe, like the one pictured below, will brighten things up a bit!
The installation is really quite easy. Find a nice shady spot with a tree that is large and strong. Measure approximately thirteen to fifteen feet from base of tree. Dig a hole about a foot deep, reserving half the dirt. Place a 6x6 pressure-treated post in the ground. Fill halfway with cement and let cure for 3 days. Fill in hole with left over dirt and cover top with sod. Drill a hole in the post and tree for the hooks, about six feet off the ground. Twist hooks deep into wood. Hang hammock. Adjust chain so the hammock hangs low enough that you can easily climb in, but doesn't sag on the ground when you do. Re-adjust until height is perfect and the hammock hangs straight and evenly from its chain. You want to leave some chain slack, as the hammock will stretch over time and need to be raised up. Stain post and add a cap to the top or a decorative birdhouse. If you are lucky enough to have two trees spaced thirteen to fifteen feet apart, skip the post and start process with drilling the holes in each tree. If you have no good trees, plant some! Then purchase a hammock hanger for your hammock until they have grown into mature trees.
This is phase one on the list of many overdue landscape projects. I will keep you apprised of my progress. I hope everyone considers installing a backyard hammock. The entire project cost me less than a $100 and took only a few hours across two days to complete. It truly is worth the investment. Best thing about a hammock, most hold between four hundred and five hundred pounds and some are even designed to hold two people! A special thanks to my husband and father-in-law for helping me with this project!
"I like to sit in my backyard. I go out on the hammock and sit in silence and kind of meditate. Nature is calming, and it's nice to go out there and clear my head." -Devon Werkheiser
The installation is really quite easy. Find a nice shady spot with a tree that is large and strong. Measure approximately thirteen to fifteen feet from base of tree. Dig a hole about a foot deep, reserving half the dirt. Place a 6x6 pressure-treated post in the ground. Fill halfway with cement and let cure for 3 days. Fill in hole with left over dirt and cover top with sod. Drill a hole in the post and tree for the hooks, about six feet off the ground. Twist hooks deep into wood. Hang hammock. Adjust chain so the hammock hangs low enough that you can easily climb in, but doesn't sag on the ground when you do. Re-adjust until height is perfect and the hammock hangs straight and evenly from its chain. You want to leave some chain slack, as the hammock will stretch over time and need to be raised up. Stain post and add a cap to the top or a decorative birdhouse. If you are lucky enough to have two trees spaced thirteen to fifteen feet apart, skip the post and start process with drilling the holes in each tree. If you have no good trees, plant some! Then purchase a hammock hanger for your hammock until they have grown into mature trees.
This is phase one on the list of many overdue landscape projects. I will keep you apprised of my progress. I hope everyone considers installing a backyard hammock. The entire project cost me less than a $100 and took only a few hours across two days to complete. It truly is worth the investment. Best thing about a hammock, most hold between four hundred and five hundred pounds and some are even designed to hold two people! A special thanks to my husband and father-in-law for helping me with this project!
"I like to sit in my backyard. I go out on the hammock and sit in silence and kind of meditate. Nature is calming, and it's nice to go out there and clear my head." -Devon Werkheiser
Monday, July 25, 2011
RETRACTION
I would like to take a moment to right a wrong in my post entitled, Games, Games, Games! While Weaver's in Fivepointville is often referred to as The Amish Wal-Mart, it is owned and operated by Mennonites. It is where the Amish shop and it is located in the heart of Amish country, but is a Mennonite operated business. I just wanted to make that clarification out of respect to both sects, and to those who both shop and live there.
-City Girl ;-)
-City Girl ;-)
Friday, July 22, 2011
GAMES, GAMES, GAMES!
You may recall me mentioning something about a trip to an Amish general store in my post, VITARRHEA. What I failed to mention is why...?? Living in southeastern Pennsylvania, I am a short drive to lots of places. One of them is Amish country. The Amish often get a bad rap from those who criticize everything from their belief system to their simple mode of travel (horse and buggy). I, however, have come to respect and appreciate their simpler way of life. The Amish are known for everything from their homemade baked goodies to their incredible woodworking skills.
East of Lancaster and southwest of Reading is a town called Fivepointville. There you will find what is often referred to as the Amish Wal-Mart, though I feel this cute, little bit of everything, store is deserving of a better comparison. (Can you get hot, fresh, deep-fried, cinnamon-sugar doughnuts while browsing the isles of Wal-mart??) Weaver's is best known for their huge selection of leather work boots, sporting goods, and hardware, but my family and I head there for the huge selection of board games and other classic toys.
I was blown away that a small family-run store would have such a wide selection of classic games to choose from. Old Maid, Parcheesi, Rook, Canasta, Kismet, Mousetrap, Shoots and Ladders, Apples to Apples, Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Risk, Sorry, Life, not to mention new German classics like Settlers of Catan (including all the variations and extender kits) and Powergrid. We especially love their hand-carved Croquet set, selection of wooden trains and blocks, and their model car sets. On the rare occasion I stumble into a chain toy store or department store, I am often exhausted by the fact that all the classics (if you can even find them) have been converted into water-downed TV versions like Toy Story 3 Yahtzee and Hannah Montana Monopoly! I guess that's fine if you are eight, but it doesn't work so well when you are THIRTY-eight! LOL.
At first I was perplexed as to why the Amish would have a more impressive selection of games than a game store?? But then it hit me, because that's what they do. They don't play video games or go to the movies. They spend their time working outside and participating in social gatherings that can include games. What good would it do to stock the board game version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire if your customer base doesn't watch TV!? I'm guessing most of the Amish have never even heard of the show.
Living close to the Amish has taught me that sometimes we put too high a premium on television and other forms of technology. Family time has become individual time with most children locked up in their rooms playing video games while the parents cling to their Blackberry. When is the last time the entire family took a break together and went outside in the yard for a game of Twister? I may sound old-fashioned in saying so, but I think we have abandoned some of the best things in life in order to waste time on complicated gadgets.
I recently saw a documentary on a group of Amish teens who went to stay with a group of London kids and experience city life. Having never before ridden the subway, you expected the reactions from the Amish kids to be something along the lines of, "Wow, that was neat, fast, exciting, fun!" Instead they couldn't get over that seventy-five percent of the riders were wearing earbuds listening to music, books, etc. "How is it that you can be surrounded by so many people yet be so socially isolated from one another," one girl asked. "We would never pass by one of our community members without saying hello?!" I thought that was a really interesting observation.
When the economy gets tough we often need to revert back to simpler decisions. Not every day can be a night at the U2 concert! My family and I have elected to battle things out through a good game of Chess and Chinese Checkers. Besides, it's a lot easier to find yourself stuffing food in your mouth when watching television than when playing Twister!
If you'd like to start a Family Game Night and need some supplies, may I recommend you visit Weaver's in Denver. And unless you're dieting like me, don't forget the doughnuts!
Rather than end with a quote today, I thought I'd end my post with something that sums up my lessons from the Amish...Life Lessons From The Amish
East of Lancaster and southwest of Reading is a town called Fivepointville. There you will find what is often referred to as the Amish Wal-Mart, though I feel this cute, little bit of everything, store is deserving of a better comparison. (Can you get hot, fresh, deep-fried, cinnamon-sugar doughnuts while browsing the isles of Wal-mart??) Weaver's is best known for their huge selection of leather work boots, sporting goods, and hardware, but my family and I head there for the huge selection of board games and other classic toys.
 |
| Simple on the outside, but a lot of games on the inside! |
I was blown away that a small family-run store would have such a wide selection of classic games to choose from. Old Maid, Parcheesi, Rook, Canasta, Kismet, Mousetrap, Shoots and Ladders, Apples to Apples, Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Risk, Sorry, Life, not to mention new German classics like Settlers of Catan (including all the variations and extender kits) and Powergrid. We especially love their hand-carved Croquet set, selection of wooden trains and blocks, and their model car sets. On the rare occasion I stumble into a chain toy store or department store, I am often exhausted by the fact that all the classics (if you can even find them) have been converted into water-downed TV versions like Toy Story 3 Yahtzee and Hannah Montana Monopoly! I guess that's fine if you are eight, but it doesn't work so well when you are THIRTY-eight! LOL.
 |
| The games go on for the whole isle... |
 |
| They even have the Amish card game "Dutch Blitz!" |
At first I was perplexed as to why the Amish would have a more impressive selection of games than a game store?? But then it hit me, because that's what they do. They don't play video games or go to the movies. They spend their time working outside and participating in social gatherings that can include games. What good would it do to stock the board game version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire if your customer base doesn't watch TV!? I'm guessing most of the Amish have never even heard of the show.
Living close to the Amish has taught me that sometimes we put too high a premium on television and other forms of technology. Family time has become individual time with most children locked up in their rooms playing video games while the parents cling to their Blackberry. When is the last time the entire family took a break together and went outside in the yard for a game of Twister? I may sound old-fashioned in saying so, but I think we have abandoned some of the best things in life in order to waste time on complicated gadgets.
I recently saw a documentary on a group of Amish teens who went to stay with a group of London kids and experience city life. Having never before ridden the subway, you expected the reactions from the Amish kids to be something along the lines of, "Wow, that was neat, fast, exciting, fun!" Instead they couldn't get over that seventy-five percent of the riders were wearing earbuds listening to music, books, etc. "How is it that you can be surrounded by so many people yet be so socially isolated from one another," one girl asked. "We would never pass by one of our community members without saying hello?!" I thought that was a really interesting observation.
When the economy gets tough we often need to revert back to simpler decisions. Not every day can be a night at the U2 concert! My family and I have elected to battle things out through a good game of Chess and Chinese Checkers. Besides, it's a lot easier to find yourself stuffing food in your mouth when watching television than when playing Twister!
If you'd like to start a Family Game Night and need some supplies, may I recommend you visit Weaver's in Denver. And unless you're dieting like me, don't forget the doughnuts!
Rather than end with a quote today, I thought I'd end my post with something that sums up my lessons from the Amish...Life Lessons From The Amish
Thursday, July 21, 2011
NO MORE MRS. NICE GIRL
I want to thank my good friend Wendy for sharing this article with me. Please give it a read. I think most of you chubby people pleasers will appreciate it!
Could Being Meaner Make You Leaner?
Could Being Meaner Make You Leaner?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
OPEN SEASON ON FAT PEOPLE
"If you're tired of being a doormat, get up off the floor!" Truer words have never been spoken. I recently came across an article that perfectly captures how putting others ahead of yourself leads to weight gain and damaging self-esteem. I have never been afraid to defend myself (against strangers) but when it comes to the people I hold close in my life, I become a big softie (pun intended). The problem is, rarely is it the stranger who is taking advantage. It is often family and friends who think they've earned the right to discuss my size or other shortcomings in any way they see fit. If I wouldn't tolerate a total stranger making comments about my weight, why is it okay for family to point out observations about my size??
There's this strange green light that exists when it comes to heavy people. Talking about dieting, losing weight, or being too fat is an open forum, but do you hear such boldness or frequency with other personal habit discussions?? Does the smoker get attacked as boldly as the fat person? Can you imagine how well that discussion would go? (the following is merely an example, I have nothing against smokers)
ME: "Wow! Shhesh, you really need to do something. I can't believe how much more you smoke since last time I saw you?! Don't you care about how you look?! No man is gonna want you if you don't get rid of that disgusting habit!"
SMOKER: "Get the heck out of here, why don't you mind your own business, don't worry about me, I'm just fine!"
I have personally witnessed how quick discussions about other people's shortcomings get shut down, but when it comes to discussing a weight problem, that convo can go on forever. Here's another unique feature. I love when half the people commenting on my weight could use a diet themselves! Can you imagine if I had the same conversation as above, but hypocritically did so as a man while smoking a cigarette...?!"
ME: "Wow! Shhesh, you really need to do something. (puffing on my cig) I can't believe how much you smoke since last time I saw you?! (exhale of smoke) Don't you care about how you look?!
SMOKER: "What the hell, you're smoking too!?!"
Me: "Yeah, but I'm a man, it's different. Men are supposed to smoke. No guy is gonna want a woman that smokes!"
This example may be a bit over the top, but I think you get my point about the double standards and how it's always open season on fat people.
What is it about larger people and their inability to maintain boundaries?! It isn't just the way we allow our weight to be front and center, but it is also the way we overextend ourselves. We put ourselves last on the list and at the end of a tough day we overeat for comfort. I have recently discovered that I need to worry less about feeding myself physically, and more about feeding myself emotionally. I also need to stop delivering benefits to those that neither deserve nor appreciate, simply because it's what they've come to expect.
People will naturally take advantage when you let them. Some large people are so worn down by their size and feeling inferior to others, that they compensate by overextending themselves. Their low self-esteem forces them to be liked and get attention through means outside of their looks. What do most ladies do when being sexy and flirting to get what you want is not an option?!? Why do beautiful women get away with being a b*tch, but heavy people have to be extra nice!? I'm not saying this is society's fault, quite the contrary, but it is a commonality amongst women.
I recently put my foot down and started to say no to certain people and certain situations. It's funny how upset people get. "What's up your ass this week?" and "Why are you being so nasty?!" When did saying no become synonymous with being nasty??! I began to let people know that certain behavior was not okay with me and was no longer going to be tolerated. I also stopped swallowing comments that didn't sit well with me.
When I began taking personal inventory, I realized there was a whole bunch of people that had come to expect things from me without once returning the favor. I had friends who expected me to be available 24/7 for their meltdowns, but when I needed a shoulder to cry on, it would often take them days to get back to me. It especially became uncomfortable when I started to tell people I would only help if I got something in return. In tallying up a lifetime of debts, I was shocked at how many people I had helped repeatedly with a certain task for no compensation. Some had even benefited financially from my help, but now that it was time for me to benefit, they scurried like rats.
I personally find it appalling that after years of taking from me, I would have to be the one to bring up getting something in return. I love how quickly people pointed out that they didn't have the time or money to give back, but never once worried about what helping them was costing me. The free ride ends today. I guess I'll just have to be meaner, to make myself leaner...LOL ;-)
Often we hear about people who lose a ton of weight and how others describe them as having changed. "She really got an attitude since she lost weight, she really thinks her sh*t doesn't stink now!" "I think she was nicer before, she's really changed since having gotten thin!"
Tomorrow I will share the article that prompted this discussion. I have a funny feeling you will relate to it as I did.
"You teach people how to treat you." -Dr. Phil
There's this strange green light that exists when it comes to heavy people. Talking about dieting, losing weight, or being too fat is an open forum, but do you hear such boldness or frequency with other personal habit discussions?? Does the smoker get attacked as boldly as the fat person? Can you imagine how well that discussion would go? (the following is merely an example, I have nothing against smokers)
ME: "Wow! Shhesh, you really need to do something. I can't believe how much more you smoke since last time I saw you?! Don't you care about how you look?! No man is gonna want you if you don't get rid of that disgusting habit!"
SMOKER: "Get the heck out of here, why don't you mind your own business, don't worry about me, I'm just fine!"
I have personally witnessed how quick discussions about other people's shortcomings get shut down, but when it comes to discussing a weight problem, that convo can go on forever. Here's another unique feature. I love when half the people commenting on my weight could use a diet themselves! Can you imagine if I had the same conversation as above, but hypocritically did so as a man while smoking a cigarette...?!"
ME: "Wow! Shhesh, you really need to do something. (puffing on my cig) I can't believe how much you smoke since last time I saw you?! (exhale of smoke) Don't you care about how you look?!
SMOKER: "What the hell, you're smoking too!?!"
Me: "Yeah, but I'm a man, it's different. Men are supposed to smoke. No guy is gonna want a woman that smokes!"
What is it about larger people and their inability to maintain boundaries?! It isn't just the way we allow our weight to be front and center, but it is also the way we overextend ourselves. We put ourselves last on the list and at the end of a tough day we overeat for comfort. I have recently discovered that I need to worry less about feeding myself physically, and more about feeding myself emotionally. I also need to stop delivering benefits to those that neither deserve nor appreciate, simply because it's what they've come to expect.
People will naturally take advantage when you let them. Some large people are so worn down by their size and feeling inferior to others, that they compensate by overextending themselves. Their low self-esteem forces them to be liked and get attention through means outside of their looks. What do most ladies do when being sexy and flirting to get what you want is not an option?!? Why do beautiful women get away with being a b*tch, but heavy people have to be extra nice!? I'm not saying this is society's fault, quite the contrary, but it is a commonality amongst women.
I recently put my foot down and started to say no to certain people and certain situations. It's funny how upset people get. "What's up your ass this week?" and "Why are you being so nasty?!" When did saying no become synonymous with being nasty??! I began to let people know that certain behavior was not okay with me and was no longer going to be tolerated. I also stopped swallowing comments that didn't sit well with me.
When I began taking personal inventory, I realized there was a whole bunch of people that had come to expect things from me without once returning the favor. I had friends who expected me to be available 24/7 for their meltdowns, but when I needed a shoulder to cry on, it would often take them days to get back to me. It especially became uncomfortable when I started to tell people I would only help if I got something in return. In tallying up a lifetime of debts, I was shocked at how many people I had helped repeatedly with a certain task for no compensation. Some had even benefited financially from my help, but now that it was time for me to benefit, they scurried like rats.
I personally find it appalling that after years of taking from me, I would have to be the one to bring up getting something in return. I love how quickly people pointed out that they didn't have the time or money to give back, but never once worried about what helping them was costing me. The free ride ends today. I guess I'll just have to be meaner, to make myself leaner...LOL ;-)
Often we hear about people who lose a ton of weight and how others describe them as having changed. "She really got an attitude since she lost weight, she really thinks her sh*t doesn't stink now!" "I think she was nicer before, she's really changed since having gotten thin!"
Tomorrow I will share the article that prompted this discussion. I have a funny feeling you will relate to it as I did.
"You teach people how to treat you." -Dr. Phil
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
LET ME IN THE SOUND!
"I have never tried to write this thing called a song that's played on radios all around the world, that window-cleaners hum, that people listen to in traffic jams. I was never interested in song: U2 came about through a sound..." -Bono on his songwriting style (or the lack of it).
The show contained a lot of exciting moments. They showed a video broadcast from outter space where Commander Mark Kelly introduces the song Beautiful Day! International Space Station Intro
The following best moments video gives you not only an idea of the size of the arena and crowd, but also highlights, including the infamous crowd sing-along's where the audience carries the tunes just about drowning out the band.
I think what has always made U2 a favorite of mine, outside of the stellar music and performance quality, is their attitude. Never have I attended a show where the band didn't give their all. In a day and age where artists are lip-syncing performances and cranking out sampled re-do's of previous hits, it's nice to know that one band is still tirelessly writing and performing their own songs with one hundred percent commitment. The level of connection and gratitude they share with their audience is never absent from a show. Bono's kind words for Philadelphia...
The show concluded with Happy Birthday sung to Nelson Mandela who turned 93 the day of the concert. The crowd left the arena sad and exhausted that the show had come to an end. After nearly three hours of standing and sweating through the intensity of what is U2 360°, I am happy to report an unusual side affect aside from euphoria. I lost 2 pounds.
Philies Game = 2 pound weight gain
U2 Concert = 2 pound weight loss
LOL ;-)
I hope everyone will head the advice of our gal Oprah Winfrey and see a U2 concert sometime in their lifetime. It truly is a rewarding experience.
"The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt." -Bono
**To see the first part of my U2 review, please see the previous post Ground Control To Major Tom.
**To see the first part of my U2 review, please see the previous post Ground Control To Major Tom.
Monday, July 18, 2011
GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM
I had an extraordinary experience last week; a high that I still haven't come down from. I saw the U2 360° show in Philadelphia. The tour has shattered records in every city around the globe. After Oprah's public declaration that every human being should add seeing a U2 concert to their bucket list, few people are unaware of the magnificent quality of this band.
I have been a die-hard U2 fan since the late eighties and have been present for every tour since the early nineties. My love affair with U2 began in the ninth grade. I used to sit at a cafeteria table every morning that included upperclassmen. There was a senior who sat aside of me everyday with a pair of headphones on. His name was Mike. It used to bug me that he never made conversation with me, nor acknowledged the fact that however unplanned our arrivals were, we always seemed to land side by side on the same bench every morning. One day I asked him, what is it you are always listening to that's more interesting than me?? He looked at me like I was crazy. I must have been the last soul at school who wasn't aware of his devotion to U2. I had never even heard of them, a fact that seemed to make him want to change the seating arrangements.
He loaned me an early U2 album on cassette and said, "listen to this through headphones, you can have it for the rest of the week, but if you don't return it, I WILL hunt you down!" Given the rarity that a senior will even look in the direction of a freshman, I thought I should probably do what he said. I can remember how powerful that first listen was. It didn't take long for before I started showing up for school with U2 albums it my cassette player. The rest is history. I started following the band, buying their albums, and attending their shows. I even flew overseas to see them perform after my disappointment in losing a radio contest that promised two front row seats to the ZooTV show in Dublin, Ireland.
I purchased tickets for the 360° tour in '09, but when front man Bono injured his back, the Philadelphia show got cancelled. After two years of waiting for the band to return, I finally got the experience of a lifetime on Thursday night. More than 76,000 attended, breaking a record for the venue which is reported to only hold around 68,000 people.
The set included a giant claw which housed an enormous viewing screen and moving ladders connecting the inner stage platform to the outer catwalks which circled the entire stage creating a 360 degree viewing experience.
The band took the stage with David Bowie's Space Oddity playing in the background. Check out this video of U2 taking the stage in Philadelphia.
There were screams galore as they played through an incredible set of nearly 30 songs which included:
-Even Better Than The Real Thing
-I Will Follow
-Mysterious Ways
-Until the End of the World
-Get On Your Boots
-Magnificent
-I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
-Stay
-Beautiful Day
-Elevation
-Pride (in the name of love)
-Miss Sarajevo
-Zooropa
-City of Blinding Lights
-Vertigo
-I'll Go Crazy
Discotheque
-Sunday Bloody Sunday
-Scarlet
-Walk On
-One
-Where the Streets Have No Name
-Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
-With or Without You
-Moment of Surrender
...and blurbs of everything from Bowie to The Talking Heads with Space Oddity, It's Only Rock and Roll, Life During Wartime, Psycho Killer, and Hallelujah.
I have never seen a crowd this responsive before. People were screaming, crying, singing, clapping, jumping, and swaying through the entire show. Grown, adult, men were screaming "I love yous" to an all male band like little girls at a Justin Bieber concert!
When I took my seat the woman aside of me expressed concern that some people may stand while others sit and how this may cause conflict during the show. She had seen Kenney Chesney in this stadium just a month prior and had witnessed a fight break out when the audience, who was almost entirely seated, grew impatient with two people standing during the show. I didn't know how to break it to her that this wasn't Kenny Chesney, other than to say, "I hope you wore your Keds, because I will give you a $100 if every single person as far as your eye can see is not standing through this entire show with absolutely no sit breaks!" Almost two and a half hours later she glanced my way as if to say, "WOW! You were right, what an experience!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
I have been a die-hard U2 fan since the late eighties and have been present for every tour since the early nineties. My love affair with U2 began in the ninth grade. I used to sit at a cafeteria table every morning that included upperclassmen. There was a senior who sat aside of me everyday with a pair of headphones on. His name was Mike. It used to bug me that he never made conversation with me, nor acknowledged the fact that however unplanned our arrivals were, we always seemed to land side by side on the same bench every morning. One day I asked him, what is it you are always listening to that's more interesting than me?? He looked at me like I was crazy. I must have been the last soul at school who wasn't aware of his devotion to U2. I had never even heard of them, a fact that seemed to make him want to change the seating arrangements.
He loaned me an early U2 album on cassette and said, "listen to this through headphones, you can have it for the rest of the week, but if you don't return it, I WILL hunt you down!" Given the rarity that a senior will even look in the direction of a freshman, I thought I should probably do what he said. I can remember how powerful that first listen was. It didn't take long for before I started showing up for school with U2 albums it my cassette player. The rest is history. I started following the band, buying their albums, and attending their shows. I even flew overseas to see them perform after my disappointment in losing a radio contest that promised two front row seats to the ZooTV show in Dublin, Ireland.
I purchased tickets for the 360° tour in '09, but when front man Bono injured his back, the Philadelphia show got cancelled. After two years of waiting for the band to return, I finally got the experience of a lifetime on Thursday night. More than 76,000 attended, breaking a record for the venue which is reported to only hold around 68,000 people.
The set included a giant claw which housed an enormous viewing screen and moving ladders connecting the inner stage platform to the outer catwalks which circled the entire stage creating a 360 degree viewing experience.
The band took the stage with David Bowie's Space Oddity playing in the background. Check out this video of U2 taking the stage in Philadelphia.
There were screams galore as they played through an incredible set of nearly 30 songs which included:
-Even Better Than The Real Thing
-I Will Follow
-Mysterious Ways
-Until the End of the World
-Get On Your Boots
-Magnificent
-I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
-Stay
-Beautiful Day
-Elevation
-Pride (in the name of love)
-Miss Sarajevo
-Zooropa
-City of Blinding Lights
-Vertigo
-I'll Go Crazy
Discotheque
-Sunday Bloody Sunday
-Scarlet
-Walk On
-One
-Where the Streets Have No Name
-Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
-With or Without You
-Moment of Surrender
...and blurbs of everything from Bowie to The Talking Heads with Space Oddity, It's Only Rock and Roll, Life During Wartime, Psycho Killer, and Hallelujah.
I have never seen a crowd this responsive before. People were screaming, crying, singing, clapping, jumping, and swaying through the entire show. Grown, adult, men were screaming "I love yous" to an all male band like little girls at a Justin Bieber concert!
When I took my seat the woman aside of me expressed concern that some people may stand while others sit and how this may cause conflict during the show. She had seen Kenney Chesney in this stadium just a month prior and had witnessed a fight break out when the audience, who was almost entirely seated, grew impatient with two people standing during the show. I didn't know how to break it to her that this wasn't Kenny Chesney, other than to say, "I hope you wore your Keds, because I will give you a $100 if every single person as far as your eye can see is not standing through this entire show with absolutely no sit breaks!" Almost two and a half hours later she glanced my way as if to say, "WOW! You were right, what an experience!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
"People say we take ourselves too seriously and I might have to plead guilty to that. But I don't take myself seriously, we don't take ourselves seriously - but we do take the music seriously." -Bono
"He's a poet. He's a philosopher. And last night, I think I saw him walking on water." -Mick Jagger on Bono following a U2 concert
Friday, July 15, 2011
SUPPLEMENT CITY
So here's what I take daily:
-Solgar Female multiple. (Solgar - Female Multiple, 120 tablets
)
-Baby Aspirin.
-Cinnamon supplements. (NOW Foods Cinnamon Bark 600mg, 240 Capsules)
-Fish oil capsules
-Vitamin D
I know what you must be thinking, no wonder! But everything I take is the recommended dose with the exception of the vitamin D because the amount contained in my multiple is insufficient. I live in the Northeast and certainly do not see enough of the sun, especially when suffering from winter depression. For this reason I have increased the dosage, but again, not to the degree where it would be considered harmful.
I take a lot of things (though I know plenty of people who take much more) because I care about my health and recognize that the average American diet and lifestyle is void of things that produce good health. And I probably live a healthier lifestyle than the majority.
I take the female multiple for obvious reasons. I take the baby aspirin for my heart which is recommended of all adults post age 35. I take the cinnamon to help regulate my insulin and I believe it has helped keep me off a higher dose of Metformin. I take fish oil because with Metabolic Syndrome (obesity/insulin problem) comes high triglycerides.
The truth is even if I took only an average daily vitamin and skipped everything else I would most likely still have trouble. It takes as little as 1/2 a dose to trigger changes in my bathroom habits (I know because I experimented when I was trying to determine if vitamins were the cause.) That is just the way my body seems to work these days.
I am not ruling out other causes and when I see my physician in a few months I am gong to mention my difficulties to make sure there isn't something bigger going on like Chrohn's disease. Vitamins are a common cause of diarrhea and it just wouldn't stand to reason that the sympotms would stop if there was another cause.
If any of you have had similar problems and know of a solution, please share! I would love to continue to take my vitamins without aggravating my digestive system. While my goal is always to eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables, it is often still not enough.
-Solgar Female multiple. (Solgar - Female Multiple, 120 tablets
)-Baby Aspirin.
-Cinnamon supplements. (NOW Foods Cinnamon Bark 600mg, 240 Capsules)
-Fish oil capsules
-Vitamin D
I know what you must be thinking, no wonder! But everything I take is the recommended dose with the exception of the vitamin D because the amount contained in my multiple is insufficient. I live in the Northeast and certainly do not see enough of the sun, especially when suffering from winter depression. For this reason I have increased the dosage, but again, not to the degree where it would be considered harmful.
I take a lot of things (though I know plenty of people who take much more) because I care about my health and recognize that the average American diet and lifestyle is void of things that produce good health. And I probably live a healthier lifestyle than the majority.
I take the female multiple for obvious reasons. I take the baby aspirin for my heart which is recommended of all adults post age 35. I take the cinnamon to help regulate my insulin and I believe it has helped keep me off a higher dose of Metformin. I take fish oil because with Metabolic Syndrome (obesity/insulin problem) comes high triglycerides.
The truth is even if I took only an average daily vitamin and skipped everything else I would most likely still have trouble. It takes as little as 1/2 a dose to trigger changes in my bathroom habits (I know because I experimented when I was trying to determine if vitamins were the cause.) That is just the way my body seems to work these days.
I am not ruling out other causes and when I see my physician in a few months I am gong to mention my difficulties to make sure there isn't something bigger going on like Chrohn's disease. Vitamins are a common cause of diarrhea and it just wouldn't stand to reason that the sympotms would stop if there was another cause.
If any of you have had similar problems and know of a solution, please share! I would love to continue to take my vitamins without aggravating my digestive system. While my goal is always to eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables, it is often still not enough.
"All those vitamins aren't to keep death at bay, they're to keep deterioration at bay."
-Jeanne Moreau
Thursday, July 14, 2011
VITARRHEA
VI·TAR·RHEA- The frequent passage of loose or liquid stools resulting in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances due to the malabsorption of vitamins.
My husband has some curiosities this week:
1.) Why is his wife and brother-in-law feverishly embarking on a trip to an Amish general store??
2.) Why is his mother-in-law sleeping on the downstairs sofa??
3.) And why do all three bathroom toilets currently look like something you might find in Calcutta!?
The answers to these questions sums up my week, but I'll spare you the details of 1 and 2 and jump right to the question who's explanation is best characterized by the definition above.
I have chronic bouts of diarrhea. I realize this sentence alone is making you wish I had chosen to talk about questions 1 and 2, but believe me, the answers to those questions are no more pleasant. At least we are on topic in talking about a health problem that you too may be experiencing.
There are lots of causes for the occasional bout of diarrhea which can make isolating a cause near impossible. Most cases of gastrointestinal discomfort can be attributed to a mild form of food poisoning, but when symptoms persist, one must investigate further. I struggled to understand why my body would react this way to healthy food?? It would stand to reason that high-fat foods and rich desserts should cause a bigger problem than lean meats and fresh fruit and vegetables. Yet, I could pig out on pizza and cheesecake and barley have distress, while a salad and a piece of fish would send me running to the little girl's room.
The episodes were beginning to come so fierce and frequent that I had begun to wonder. Is my body literally rejecting the notion of a healthier lifestyle...!?! Had I developed a condition like Irritable Bowel Syndrome? It still didn't make sense that the condition would come and go. I was beginning to look to each and every food group as a possible cause. Am I lactose intolerant? Do I have Celiac Disease? Am I allergic to certain fruits and vegetables??
I eventually made a correlation between my vitamin supplements and my bathroom habits. When I was eating healthy or dieting, I was diligent about taking my supplements. When I was on a binge or simply not focused, I was also less regular with my vitamins. Ironically, when I would run out of vitamins the diarrhea would stop. It seemed odd that something designed to be beneficial to my health would reek such havoc on my digestive system, but repeatedly the bouts would come when ever I included them in my regimen.
I take one of the best women's multi's which contains a long list of vitamins and herbs. Perhaps I was allergic to one of the many ingredients?? After conducting some research I found that Vitarrhea is quite commonly caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin C and magnesium. Duh! I guess that's why Milk Of Magnesium gets prescribed for constipation!
Making this discovery has been a challenge because I believe very strongly in the supplements that I take. I have wrestled with the pros and cons of continuing them. I am not convinced that healthy eating alone provides enough vitamins and nutrients to repair environmental damage. I also believe they are assisting me in the management of my insulin and weight loss. Yet, obviously, living in a constant state of bowel discomfort, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance is not a healthy compromise to make.
I had momentarily found a compromise. Spreading my vitamins across three meals instead of taking all of them with my morning meal seemed to temporarily solve the problem. But last week the symptoms returned. Being too stubborn to just give up the pills, I continued to take them hoping the symptoms would subside again. I ended up feeling pretty sick on Sunday and Monday like I was one hundred and two years old; lethargic, dehydrated, tired and unenergetic from a long bout of diarrhea. Hence, the Caluctta inspired toilets and a not so great workout week :-(
To be continued...
My husband has some curiosities this week:
1.) Why is his wife and brother-in-law feverishly embarking on a trip to an Amish general store??
2.) Why is his mother-in-law sleeping on the downstairs sofa??
3.) And why do all three bathroom toilets currently look like something you might find in Calcutta!?
The answers to these questions sums up my week, but I'll spare you the details of 1 and 2 and jump right to the question who's explanation is best characterized by the definition above.
I have chronic bouts of diarrhea. I realize this sentence alone is making you wish I had chosen to talk about questions 1 and 2, but believe me, the answers to those questions are no more pleasant. At least we are on topic in talking about a health problem that you too may be experiencing.
There are lots of causes for the occasional bout of diarrhea which can make isolating a cause near impossible. Most cases of gastrointestinal discomfort can be attributed to a mild form of food poisoning, but when symptoms persist, one must investigate further. I struggled to understand why my body would react this way to healthy food?? It would stand to reason that high-fat foods and rich desserts should cause a bigger problem than lean meats and fresh fruit and vegetables. Yet, I could pig out on pizza and cheesecake and barley have distress, while a salad and a piece of fish would send me running to the little girl's room.
The episodes were beginning to come so fierce and frequent that I had begun to wonder. Is my body literally rejecting the notion of a healthier lifestyle...!?! Had I developed a condition like Irritable Bowel Syndrome? It still didn't make sense that the condition would come and go. I was beginning to look to each and every food group as a possible cause. Am I lactose intolerant? Do I have Celiac Disease? Am I allergic to certain fruits and vegetables??
I eventually made a correlation between my vitamin supplements and my bathroom habits. When I was eating healthy or dieting, I was diligent about taking my supplements. When I was on a binge or simply not focused, I was also less regular with my vitamins. Ironically, when I would run out of vitamins the diarrhea would stop. It seemed odd that something designed to be beneficial to my health would reek such havoc on my digestive system, but repeatedly the bouts would come when ever I included them in my regimen.
I take one of the best women's multi's which contains a long list of vitamins and herbs. Perhaps I was allergic to one of the many ingredients?? After conducting some research I found that Vitarrhea is quite commonly caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin C and magnesium. Duh! I guess that's why Milk Of Magnesium gets prescribed for constipation!
Making this discovery has been a challenge because I believe very strongly in the supplements that I take. I have wrestled with the pros and cons of continuing them. I am not convinced that healthy eating alone provides enough vitamins and nutrients to repair environmental damage. I also believe they are assisting me in the management of my insulin and weight loss. Yet, obviously, living in a constant state of bowel discomfort, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance is not a healthy compromise to make.
I had momentarily found a compromise. Spreading my vitamins across three meals instead of taking all of them with my morning meal seemed to temporarily solve the problem. But last week the symptoms returned. Being too stubborn to just give up the pills, I continued to take them hoping the symptoms would subside again. I ended up feeling pretty sick on Sunday and Monday like I was one hundred and two years old; lethargic, dehydrated, tired and unenergetic from a long bout of diarrhea. Hence, the Caluctta inspired toilets and a not so great workout week :-(
To be continued...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
STAY TUNED!
I apologize for the delay in programming. It barely occurred to me that I hadn't done a post since Friday! I am working on some updates for you. Thanks for your patience and for standing by me.
Friday, July 8, 2011
A WEALTH OF WORTHLESSNESS
For those of you who have followed my blog since its beginning, a familiarity has developed with regard to my style of expression. You have suffered through my rants on everything from the credit card companies to transgender supermodels. I have curtailed these arguments as of late, fearing that off-topic discussions were an unwelcome interruption in the saga of my weight-loss journey. I assume most of you tune in to check on my progress, not endure my sometimes heavy arguments for or against something. But this is my blog, my truth, my forum, and while I enjoy sharing it with the world and making others happy...to thine own self be true!
So ladies and gentlemen without further adieu, I present to you my beef of the week! My disgust with television continues to grow. We've covered how sedentary activities negatively affect your physicality in KILL YOUR TELEVISION but have we spoken of the mental damage it can do?? There is a disturbing trend among reality TV shows these days, and it represents an even more disturbing mindset. It is a preoccupation with wealth, and I don't mean the spiritual kind. As if we all haven't suffered enough through the mindless drama of The Kardashians and the Housewives of every sector from Atlanta to Orange County, now we have a new show on the Style Network called Big Rich Texas!
What!?! Seriously, how much more flaunting from the affluent society can our citizens take before waking up and changing the channel?!? Do we need a show called, I Have Everything, You Have Nothing?? Or how about, I Waste More Money In Five Minutes Than You'll Earn In Your Lifetime, or how about just, Nah Nah, Nah Nah Nah!
Let me tell you something, in my current financial position I have zero desire to watch a bunch of no-talent, backstabbing, ladies continue to increase the size of their wealth by sharing their excessive lifestyles on camera. What I can't understand, is why there aren't more people out there who feel like I do?
With the state of our economy, the joblessness, the thousands of Americans that lost their homes this year, and the continually broadening gap that exists between the haves and the have-nots, do we really need another program showcasing how the rich spend $286,000 on diamond-studded dog collars!? It was easy to chalk this sensation up to America's fascination with celebrity status when the people being followed were in deed celebrities. But now that we are talking about groups of people unknown outside of their circle of socialite friends, it's time to call it what it is- America's obsession with wealth! These folks aren't actors or singers or even British Royalty. They are people with one central talent, the ability to cut a check in any amount desired.
I have nothing against money or the many hardworking Americans that have been fortunate enough to come by it, but the celebrity status we've awarded them is just mind blowing. The arrogance that now accompanies these "celebrities" as they publicly brag about filing bankruptcy in one sentence, and introduce a new cookbook in another, is appalling. Who do you think pays for such atrocities?? We do. We pay when they don't pay their creditors, and we pay again when we reward their bad behavior with cookbook sales!
Why a nation jam-packed with struggling families would waste their time calling this fool-hearted display of wealth, entertainment, is beyond me. It is so sad that we are raising a generation to prize wealth more than decency; that we will rear our children to look up to the very people that are stealing from them. I think everyone dreams of having more money. Me, I think I'd settle right now for just getting close to the American Dream. But at the end of the day, I guess I'm just someone looking to enrich my life in a different way.
“This is an impressive crowd: the Have's and Have-more's. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.” -George W. Bush
So ladies and gentlemen without further adieu, I present to you my beef of the week! My disgust with television continues to grow. We've covered how sedentary activities negatively affect your physicality in KILL YOUR TELEVISION but have we spoken of the mental damage it can do?? There is a disturbing trend among reality TV shows these days, and it represents an even more disturbing mindset. It is a preoccupation with wealth, and I don't mean the spiritual kind. As if we all haven't suffered enough through the mindless drama of The Kardashians and the Housewives of every sector from Atlanta to Orange County, now we have a new show on the Style Network called Big Rich Texas!
What!?! Seriously, how much more flaunting from the affluent society can our citizens take before waking up and changing the channel?!? Do we need a show called, I Have Everything, You Have Nothing?? Or how about, I Waste More Money In Five Minutes Than You'll Earn In Your Lifetime, or how about just, Nah Nah, Nah Nah Nah!
Let me tell you something, in my current financial position I have zero desire to watch a bunch of no-talent, backstabbing, ladies continue to increase the size of their wealth by sharing their excessive lifestyles on camera. What I can't understand, is why there aren't more people out there who feel like I do?
With the state of our economy, the joblessness, the thousands of Americans that lost their homes this year, and the continually broadening gap that exists between the haves and the have-nots, do we really need another program showcasing how the rich spend $286,000 on diamond-studded dog collars!? It was easy to chalk this sensation up to America's fascination with celebrity status when the people being followed were in deed celebrities. But now that we are talking about groups of people unknown outside of their circle of socialite friends, it's time to call it what it is- America's obsession with wealth! These folks aren't actors or singers or even British Royalty. They are people with one central talent, the ability to cut a check in any amount desired.
I have nothing against money or the many hardworking Americans that have been fortunate enough to come by it, but the celebrity status we've awarded them is just mind blowing. The arrogance that now accompanies these "celebrities" as they publicly brag about filing bankruptcy in one sentence, and introduce a new cookbook in another, is appalling. Who do you think pays for such atrocities?? We do. We pay when they don't pay their creditors, and we pay again when we reward their bad behavior with cookbook sales!
Why a nation jam-packed with struggling families would waste their time calling this fool-hearted display of wealth, entertainment, is beyond me. It is so sad that we are raising a generation to prize wealth more than decency; that we will rear our children to look up to the very people that are stealing from them. I think everyone dreams of having more money. Me, I think I'd settle right now for just getting close to the American Dream. But at the end of the day, I guess I'm just someone looking to enrich my life in a different way.
“This is an impressive crowd: the Have's and Have-more's. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.” -George W. Bush
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A FAMILY OF GOOD COOKS
I'm guessing you are wondering how I held up over the Fourth of July holiday? The answer, superbly! I had a very good week leading up to the weekend which allowed me a little leeway on the holiday itself. I stuck to my fruit breakfast, vegetable lunch, and meat dinner, as well as, my double trips to the gym. I took a break from working-out just about every other day, giving me 4.5 days total at the gym last week. Again, baring in mind, that I did double work-outs on the days I was there, and took walks on the days I wasn't.
I saved my carb eating for Sunday when my mother-in-law had a pool party for the family. There were only ten of us present, but enough food for fifty. Now I know all family gatherings include a cornucopia of temptations, but this is no ordinary family of cooks. Most people would barbecue; throw some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill; toss a few two-litters of soda on the table and call it a day. Not my family! We broke with tradition and took full advantage of my husband's Italian heritage by making Italian sandwiches. I want you to envision me slicing two-foot long, fresh-baked, baguettes of bread, stuffing them with a variety of imported meats and cheeses, and then toping them with roasted red peppers and a homemade olive tapenade. I could smell the carbs infiltrating my nostrils as I sliced open each loaf.
Paired with the sandwiches was a three bean and rice salad with avocado and cilantro. I made pasta salad with feta cheese, marinated asparagus, and yellow tomatoes which was soaked in lemon zest and olive oil. I also contributed a homemade chip dip of caramelized shallots and blue cheese and some cumin and tomato infused deviled eggs. I could name the other twenty items on the picnic table, but we'd be here all here day so I'll jump right to the dessert.
My mother-in-law was wafflling, that is, churning out hot waffles which were dusted with powdered sugar and stuffed with vanilla ice cream. Say your not a waffles and ice cream person, not sure why anyone wouldn't be, but for arguments sake let's say your not. As a back-up, she baked peanut butter cookies which she stuffed with her own peanut butter ripple ice cream to create homemade peanut butter ice cream sandwiches. No dried out Chipwiches for this family! The cookies were buttery, and the marriage of flavors, salty-sweet.
As I attempted to soak up what little bit of exercise I could in the pool, the hostess came around with trays of frozen margaritas. Now this is how a pool party was meant to be! A few sips of the alcoholic beverage and calorie counting became a distant memory as we dunked gourmet strawberries in a fruit dip of vanilla and marshmallow.
As the day grew long and we called it a night, I escaped home having had a sandwich, some chips and dip, a little bit of bean salad, and an ice cream sandwich. I skipped a lot of the side dishes and managed to duck the waffles. I had a refill on the margaritas, but drank water the rest of the day. It could have been a lot worse! I yielded no damage from the Sunday picnic. Weigh-In Tuesday showed I shedded the extra pounds from my husband's vacation week, plus two more, putting me on track for my twenty-five pound goal. I hope everyone had as fun and tasty a holiday as I did!
“The biggest seller is cookbooks and the second is diet books - how not to eat what you've just learned how to cook.” ~Andy Roone
I saved my carb eating for Sunday when my mother-in-law had a pool party for the family. There were only ten of us present, but enough food for fifty. Now I know all family gatherings include a cornucopia of temptations, but this is no ordinary family of cooks. Most people would barbecue; throw some hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill; toss a few two-litters of soda on the table and call it a day. Not my family! We broke with tradition and took full advantage of my husband's Italian heritage by making Italian sandwiches. I want you to envision me slicing two-foot long, fresh-baked, baguettes of bread, stuffing them with a variety of imported meats and cheeses, and then toping them with roasted red peppers and a homemade olive tapenade. I could smell the carbs infiltrating my nostrils as I sliced open each loaf.
Paired with the sandwiches was a three bean and rice salad with avocado and cilantro. I made pasta salad with feta cheese, marinated asparagus, and yellow tomatoes which was soaked in lemon zest and olive oil. I also contributed a homemade chip dip of caramelized shallots and blue cheese and some cumin and tomato infused deviled eggs. I could name the other twenty items on the picnic table, but we'd be here all here day so I'll jump right to the dessert.
My mother-in-law was wafflling, that is, churning out hot waffles which were dusted with powdered sugar and stuffed with vanilla ice cream. Say your not a waffles and ice cream person, not sure why anyone wouldn't be, but for arguments sake let's say your not. As a back-up, she baked peanut butter cookies which she stuffed with her own peanut butter ripple ice cream to create homemade peanut butter ice cream sandwiches. No dried out Chipwiches for this family! The cookies were buttery, and the marriage of flavors, salty-sweet.
As I attempted to soak up what little bit of exercise I could in the pool, the hostess came around with trays of frozen margaritas. Now this is how a pool party was meant to be! A few sips of the alcoholic beverage and calorie counting became a distant memory as we dunked gourmet strawberries in a fruit dip of vanilla and marshmallow.
As the day grew long and we called it a night, I escaped home having had a sandwich, some chips and dip, a little bit of bean salad, and an ice cream sandwich. I skipped a lot of the side dishes and managed to duck the waffles. I had a refill on the margaritas, but drank water the rest of the day. It could have been a lot worse! I yielded no damage from the Sunday picnic. Weigh-In Tuesday showed I shedded the extra pounds from my husband's vacation week, plus two more, putting me on track for my twenty-five pound goal. I hope everyone had as fun and tasty a holiday as I did!
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| Leftover Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches that made it home to my freezer! |
Sunday, July 3, 2011
CALLING ALL FATTIES
At the insistence of a good friend, I recently joined an on-line weight-loss group called Sparkspeople. Having had good experiences thus far, I wanted to introduce you to this resource. Sparks is an on-line community that is devoted to losing weight. Members may have a lot of weight to lose, only a few pounds to lose, or may have already reached a goal, but everyone shares one thing in common, they are devoted to healthier living.
It is a very supportive community with several teams you can join. I belong to the Done Being The Fat Girl team, the Living Healthy In Your Thirties team, the Keystone team (for residents of PA) and the Shutterbug team (photo enthusiasts). There are dozens more to chose from. There are a variety of blogs and discussion boards for which you can subscribe. A wealth of information is available on diet, nutrition, and exercise, as well as, tools you can use to track fitness goals, count calories and develop eating plans, and chart changes in weight and measurements. There are also incentive programs where you achieve points and trophies for good behavior. Joining Sparks gives you access to the Sparks diet plan and lots of low-calorie recipes.
The most important benefit is the sense of compassion and support from others. You can add friends and email other members with questions or concerns without fear of humiliation. I have met quite a few nice people who have welcomed me with open arms. For those of you who have shown your support by following my blog or responding to my posts on the discussion boards, I would like to take this moment to say thanks Sparkspeople! I'd also like to say thank-you to Becky for introducing me to this forum ;-)
I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. Happy July 4th! I'll be checking in after the holiday.
“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” -Mark Twain
It is a very supportive community with several teams you can join. I belong to the Done Being The Fat Girl team, the Living Healthy In Your Thirties team, the Keystone team (for residents of PA) and the Shutterbug team (photo enthusiasts). There are dozens more to chose from. There are a variety of blogs and discussion boards for which you can subscribe. A wealth of information is available on diet, nutrition, and exercise, as well as, tools you can use to track fitness goals, count calories and develop eating plans, and chart changes in weight and measurements. There are also incentive programs where you achieve points and trophies for good behavior. Joining Sparks gives you access to the Sparks diet plan and lots of low-calorie recipes.
The most important benefit is the sense of compassion and support from others. You can add friends and email other members with questions or concerns without fear of humiliation. I have met quite a few nice people who have welcomed me with open arms. For those of you who have shown your support by following my blog or responding to my posts on the discussion boards, I would like to take this moment to say thanks Sparkspeople! I'd also like to say thank-you to Becky for introducing me to this forum ;-)
I hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. Happy July 4th! I'll be checking in after the holiday.
“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” -Mark Twain
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