tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52114569123624739602024-03-13T00:08:13.470-04:00Diet Snake OilThis blog marks my decision to give up on fad diets and do what actually works; eating right and exercising. During my journey, I will be trying out various diet plans to find what works best for me as well as sharing tips, recipes and some humorous news about the latest diet snake oil on the market.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-73128181962357267132008-03-22T23:31:00.002-04:002008-03-22T23:33:38.378-04:00Fruit Fads<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="pomegranate and mango" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/302660018/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/302660018_5e1013809f_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/302660018/">pomegranate and mango</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/avlxyz/">avlxyz</a> </span></div>Today I went to a local restaurant that serves your average alcoholic beverages like martinis and margaritas. While I was perusing the menu, I noticed that a number of their drink choices were now mango and pomegranate flavored. In fact, I've noticed a proliferation of these fruits lately. I recently had some mango ice cream and there's an episode of Good Eats about pomegranates. Where did these fruits come from and why have they only recently entered the collective vocabulary?<br /><br />According to an article on Slashfood, <a href="http://www.slashfood.com/2008/02/16/exotic-is-the-key-ingredient-in-upcoming-flavor-trends/">flavor creators are choosing "exotic" this year</a>. Half the list of the current trendy sweet flavors are things I have never heard of: acai, lychee, verbena, goji and noni. Mango and pomegranate are also on the list and I do know what they are, but I only found out about them in the last handful of years.<br /><blockquote>...to get our attention back on their products, flavor industry persons are going to throw us a bunch of super fruits which will be the answer to all our health problems.</blockquote>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-18475455925075937882008-02-27T20:22:00.002-05:002008-02-27T20:23:38.312-05:00I've Fallen Off the Wagon<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Americana (Little red wagon and white picket fence)" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/190354075/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/190354075_86925a1750_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/190354075/">Americana (Little red wagon and white picket fence)</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nicmcphee/">Unhindered by Talent</a> </span></div>You may have noticed that I haven't updated in awhile. The simple fact of the matter is that I haven't been doing well on an eating plan. I know it is an excuse, but our house is packed full of stuff that I shouldn't be eating. There are five half gallons of ice cream in the fridge, three half-gone cakes on the counter and mounds of chips in the cabinet. My family went shopping at a warehouse superstore while I was sick and apparently they don't sell healthy food!<br /><br />At the moment, I'm trying to decide what I can do to get back on track. I've been getting hungry in the after noon for no apparent reason -- I'm eating the same thing during the day that I was in January when I didn't have any hunger issues. I think that means I have to go through the induction phase again where I get my body back in to ketosis.<br /><br />March 1st is coming up and that seems like a good time to recommit to eating correctly. That certainly doesn't mean I'm going to go on a wild bender the rest of the week but it does give me time to get all that ice cream in to the hands of family members who don't live in my house. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-88051547325148712322008-02-21T21:04:00.002-05:002008-02-21T21:06:07.600-05:00My Fat Pants<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="what's different about these biege/khaki pants?" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewendyhouse/410707208/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/410707208_9b2c9993b9_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewendyhouse/410707208/">what's different about these biege/khaki pants?</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thewendyhouse/">:: Wendy ::</a> </span></div>I haven't update in awhile because of the cold I previously mentioned. I ended up going to the doctor and getting anti-biotics and a decongestant. All in all, thanks to not eating and dehydration, I lost ten pounds while sick! Thankfully with some fluids, my weight went back to a more reasonable level and I'm back on track to lose weight the right way.<br /><br />Today I stopped and picked up two new pair of pants. My current pants bunch up weird when I pull my belt tight enough to hold them up, so it was time for new ones. I took a pair of 56's and 58's to the dressing room and while both fit, the 56's were still a little snug. SO I'm only down one size, but now I officially have <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/04/trash-the-fat-pants/">my fat pants</a>.<br /><br />What are fat pants, you say? Well, those are the pants I can hold up proudly in front of myself once I've lost all the weight I'm aiming to lose. A giant pair of pants in front of a slender body is apparently the best way to show off just how far you've come. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-80708443402451260402008-02-15T20:24:00.002-05:002008-02-15T20:27:27.330-05:00Proposition 3-17<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="guiness shamrock" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdd/188371870/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/188371870_1ffe550d89_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdd/188371870/">guiness shamrock</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mdd/">mikedemers</a> </span></div>I ended up calling out sick today -- this cold just won out and I needed to sleep and let my body heal. Thankfully it is the weekend, and I can just veg out now. While I was tossing and turning through fever-induced dreams, it occurred to me that there aren't any holidays between New Years and Memorial Day. Sure, there is Valentine's Day and Fat Tuesday, but we don't get off of work for those. Even President's Day only benefits those who work at banks, post offices, etc.<br /><br />Thankfully, the fine folks at Guiness have realized the same thing. They've started an online petition to <a href="http://www.proposition317.com/">make St. Patrick's Day an official holiday</a> in the United States. They hope to present congress with one million signatures by midnight on March 16th. I'm all for this idea because the last few years, I haven't braved the crowds to celebrate the holiday. If I could celebrate at any time during the day, then that would be perfect.<br /><br />Wait, what? Are you serious? Guiness mixed with Jamison and Bailey's Irish cream isn't a health food? Well, thankfully there are some <a href="http://www.carbwire.com/2004/03/17/stpatricksday">low carb St. Patrick's Day dishes</a>. Both the pub salad and cheese tart sound great and the Irish coffee will help you stay hip while everyone else is drinking their pints. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-28058779905481862008-02-14T20:46:00.002-05:002008-02-14T20:47:20.322-05:00A Spoonful of Sugar<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Anti-Cough." href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamspictures/363043497/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/363043497_788536d755_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamspictures/363043497/">Anti-Cough.</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/williamspictures/">William Wilkinson</a> </span></div>For the past few years, I've had a reoccurring problem during the winter where I get a sinus infection. This year I managed to avoid it and I thought I was going to make it to spring without getting sick. But today proved otherwise. I woke up with an earache that eventually progressed to a fever and sore throat. Thankfully, my co-workers had some Tylenol and cough drops, so I was able to make it through the day.<br /><br />Tonight I stopped to get my own supply of over-the-counter remedies and I came to a startling realization -- <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/08/we-are-a-corn-fed-nation/">there is sugar in medicine</a>. I was comparing the active ingredients in different medicines when I noticed they all had sugar in them. I ended up picking up a caplet cough suppressant instead of a liquid and cough drops made with aspartame instead of sugar.<br /><br />I suppose that these medicines would taste horrible without sugar in them, but still -- who enjoys taking medicine? I take it because I want to feel better and not because it is tasty. To make matters worse, drug labeling is vastly different than food labeling, so I really had to look to figure out which products were sugar-free. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-43973290910883446792008-02-13T21:11:00.002-05:002008-02-13T21:13:11.483-05:00Ten Years Thin<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Eat Fresh" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whartz/1470244687/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/1470244687_913b26f0ba_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whartz/1470244687/">Eat Fresh</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/whartz/">williamhartz</a> </span></div>Remember Jared from Subway? He's the guy who lost nearly 100 pounds in three months eating at Subway. I've read before that the diet he ate was dangerously low calorie, but Jared has been able to <a href="http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/Jareds_tenth/">keep the weight off for ten years</a>, so he must have found something that works for him. It probably doesn't hurt that he gets big paychecks from Subway as long as he stays their thin spokesman.<br /><br />I didn't change my eating plan at the beginning of February. I was planning to change to the one supposedly featured in the book <i>The Slow Burn Fitness Revolution </i>but it turns out that the book was only an advertisement for another, <i>The Protein Power Lifeplan</i>. Instead of rushing right out and buying a second book, I just stuck to Atkins. It has only been two extra weeks, but that decision is wearing on me. I miss the rush of starting something new and the motivation that naturally comes with it.<br /><br />As a result, I've decided to try Jared's plan for the next two weeks -- without forking over all that money to Subway. I picked up hoagie rolls, lunch meat and vegetables from the store tonight. Adding in some baked chips, the meal comes to about 400 calories. Three of those a day will put me at the recommended minimum. We'll see how it goes, and it is only for two weeks. That should be enough to jolt me out of my current plateau and then I'll start something new for March. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-6380243399864784202008-02-11T21:01:00.001-05:002008-02-11T21:05:15.174-05:00C8H10N4O2<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="No Monster, no WORK!" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasabidoobie/400822146/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/400822146_f389650cbc_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wasabidoobie/400822146/">No Monster, no WORK!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/wasabidoobie/">WasabiDoobie</a> </span></div>Those wacky scientists and the media are at it again (still). In one week, I'm reading two different opinions on caffeine. One says that it is the best thing you can do for your body and the other says it can make you fat.<br />According to this month's issue of Men's Health, scientists at Harvard found that drinking <a href="http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=nutrition&category=food.for.fitness&conitem=d40f53402a4e7110VgnVCM20000012281eac____">five cups of coffee a day cuts the risk of developing diabetes</a> in half. At the same time, researches at Duke University are reporting that consuming the caffeine in <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080128084449.htm">four cups of coffee can raise a diabetic's daily sugar level</a> by 8%. I suppose these two things don't really conflict, since one deals with non-diabetics and the other with diabetics, but it still could lead to consumer confusion.<br /><br />Well, personally, I know I'm addicted to the stuff. If I go a day or two without it, I get headaches and cranky. That is probably a bad thing, but I really don't have time to battle with the addiction. I'm thinking of doing some sort of caffeine detox on my vacation in May, but we'll see how that goes then.<br /><br />Thankfully, there are plenty of caffeine sources for me to rely on in the mean time. Snickers Charged is a new <a href="http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/snickers_charged/">candy bar that has 60 milligrams of caffeine</a>, taurine and other vitmains in it. I'm sure it has a ton of sugar in it, so I'll be sticking to my Monster Lo-Carb. In a recent <a href="http://kotaku.com/352207/pure-energy-a-critical-look-at-energy-drinks">comparison of energy drinks</a>, Monster was the all-around winner when considering both taste and energy delivered. While the ill-named Cocaine energy drink gave more energy, it apparently tasted like pure pain. Thanks, but no thanks.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-62469638328922681172008-02-07T20:04:00.000-05:002008-02-07T20:27:25.264-05:00I am Iron ManHave you seen the trailer for the new <a href="http://www.ironmanmovie.com/">Iron Man</a> movie? It looks wicked awesome and I can't wait to see it. My birthay is in May, so I'll probably drag my wife off to see it.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhgzIM-9lfA&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhgzIM-9lfA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />So what does that have to do with weight loss and fitness? Well, apparently a lot of men my age have a <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/02/06/men-when-was-your-last-doctors-appointment/">superhero complex </a>that keeps them from visiting the doctor regularly. I don't hesitate to go to the doctor when I'm sick, but I don't go when I'm healthy. The last time I was really sick, I had a leg infection and I ended up going to the doctor every few days for a month until we found the right antibiotic. After that, I think I had enough of going to the doctor for awhile.<br /><br />But, I do want to schedule a physical later this year. The guys who wrote <em>You: Staying Young</em> recommend a number of vaccines and tests and detail how often you should get them from your doctor. According to their list, I'm due for a tetanus shot and cholesterol tests. I plan to get the cholesterol tests done soon since I'm losing weight and eating a lot of fat, but I'll be honest -- I don't want to go to the doctor right now.<br /><br />Last time I was there, I was so sick I hadn't eaten for days and I was down to 405lbs. Once I got healthy, I shot back up in weight but now I feel like I haven't lost much in their eyes. If I go there and tell them I'm losing weight, they won't know just how serious I am. Apparently, I want some praise from my doctor and not another "talk" about my weight. I've heard it all from my doctors over the years -- from "it is just baby fat, don't worry" to "here, take this pill" to "you're hopeless, get bypass surgery."Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-5273423156036703342008-02-04T20:12:00.001-05:002008-02-04T20:16:35.950-05:00Sticking to Exercise<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Born To Run" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathyg/205849383/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/96/205849383_473bed3390_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathyg/205849383/">Born To Run</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/cathyg/">Cathy G</a> </span></div>I'll admit it -- last week, I only walked one day. To make it worse, the day that I did walk was only because I wanted to get out of the lunch room and didn't have anywhere to go before my lunch ended. I did find a neat abandoned road that leads to a dead end so it has seen more traffic from geese lately than from cars.<br /><br />I walked today and my plan is to keep at it since, according to a recent study, an <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204094505.htm">irregular exercise pattern may add pounds</a>. While the study focused on runners who move a lot more miles per week than I do, the advice can't hurt. Hopefully by walking more regularly, I'll build up to huge numbers like 30 miles per week.<br /><br />When commenting on the study, Paul Williams of Berkeley Lab’s Life Sciences Division said:<br /><blockquote>We are getting fat because we don’t exercise sufficiently and consistently. The real solution to the obesity epidemic is getting people to exercise before they think they need it, and to stick with it. The ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure.</blockquote>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-89789612927878910332008-02-03T17:08:00.001-05:002008-02-03T17:17:49.843-05:00Oh, really, that's today?<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Football fan" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpenalozan/199357013/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/199357013_829dea28e9_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpenalozan/199357013/">Football fan</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/rpenalozan/">Rafael Peñaloza</a> </span></div>I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big sports fan. It is awesome when my <a href="http://www.tshirthell.com/store/product.php?productid=476">local sports team</a> does well, but I can't stand watching the games. I was recently at a Flyers game and after the first thirty seconds, it was boring. If it wasn't for every food related blog I read mentioning party snacks this week, I would have had no idea that today was the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/superbowl">big game</a>.<br /><br />Of all the articles I've read this week, the most interesting one wasn't about party food. Apparently, the number of <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/31/avoid-a-super-bowl-heart-attack/">cardiac emergencies doubles during big, important sporting events</a> and triples just when considering men. The article mentions reducing stress during the game to protect your heart but it also goes so far as to warn off fatty foods during the game.<br /><br />That point struck me as odd for two reasons. First of all, bad food choices can hurt your heart health, but that quickly? If you eat a bad meal right now, does it raise your risk of heart attack in the next two minutes? Secondly, I would rather recommend people eat healthy, low-carb snacks. How many people will enjoy cola and candy at the game and think they did something good for their health? "I avoided all that fatty <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/02/gametime-guacamole-goes-head-to-head.html">guacamole</a> and steak!" <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-414683969443962672008-02-01T20:48:00.001-05:002008-02-01T20:52:10.454-05:00He Shoots, He Scores!<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Soccer goal" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiemann/1521876735/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/1521876735_44bd0cc556_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiemann/1521876735/">Soccer goal</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/wiemann/">ewiemann</a> </span></div>So while I normally don't like to toot my own horn or boast, I would like to announce that for the first time in my weight loss journey, I've met one of my goals! I wanted to lose ten pounds in January and I did it! I weight from 400.8lbs to 390.4lbs, even with a few bad weekends. I could lose more if I stuck to my eating plan 100%, but I know myself and I know that my weight loss chart will always look more like a series of hills than a water slide.<br /><br />I'm sure that one of my sources of motivation this past month has been this blog. Even if only a few people are reading it, I know that someone is keeping tabs on me. <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/22/daily-fit-tip-share-your-goals-with-someone-else/">Sharing your goals</a> means that if you fail, you have to tell someone!<br /><br />Here we go again! February is a little shorter than January, so it will be a little harder, but I'm aiming for 380lbs by the end of the month. I've also added a Flickr photo album to my blog with the charts of my weight loss since I started. I use the tools over at the <a href="http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/online/hdo.html">Hacker's Diet Online</a> to track my weight because I really like the trend line. Even if I have one bad day, it lets me know that over all, I'm still losing.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-21635149357580144442008-01-30T20:07:00.001-05:002008-01-30T20:10:15.888-05:00Best to Be Skinny to Exercise<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="life's dirty little secret" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debaird/139994517/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/139994517_c1fa7c27eb_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/debaird/139994517/">life's dirty little secret</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/debaird/">debaird</a> </span></div>A few of my coworkers went to a pick up game of basketball last night and their tales made for a very humorous lunch hour. Aside from the one guy who plays regularly, everyone else quickly found out just how out of shape they are. They said that by the end of the night, they were just wandering from one end of the court to the other, trying to keep up with the ball. I proudly was able to say that I saved myself from humiliation by not going -- that I know that I am out of shape.<br /><br />And thus, the <a href="http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080128/health/health_healthmatters_exercise_motivation">weight loss paradox</a>. I know good and well that if I went and played basketball for a few hours, I would have burned more calories. But besides humiliation, I also risked injury and utter exhaustion. Apparently, fat rats have the same outlook on exercise that I do -- they phone it in every once in awhile, but they leave the real work to the skinny mice. Recent research found that as weight goes down, the motivation to run goes up, as does the rewards of running.<br /><br />But still, I know I have to exercise. I haven't tried jumping rope again because the only real place to do it is outside and people might see. The same excuse has explained why I'm not doing the <a href="http://www.shovelglove.com/">shovelglove</a> or <a href="http://www.hooping.org/">hula hooping</a>. I guess for the time being, I'm regulated to walking and the treadmill -- hopefully my motivation will go up as my diet takes care of some of my extra baggage.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-26377314757682414462008-01-27T13:10:00.001-05:002008-01-27T13:13:01.749-05:00Crispy Pepperoni Chips<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="fried pepperoni?!" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkbrilliance/287371462/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/287371462_4f9f868e83_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkbrilliance/287371462/">fried pepperoni?!</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/darkbrilliance/">misfitgirl</a> </span></div>Since eating better, I've noticed that I've been missing textures. I know that probably sounds weird, but there's just something about the light fluffy texture of fresh bread or the crunch of a potato chip. At the same time, chips are a good scoop too -- dips, chili, etc.<br /><br />I decided to look around for low carb chip substitutes and I stumbled up <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_29877,00.html">Crispy Pepperoni Chips</a> over at the Food Network. Honestly, the recipe couldn't be more straight forward -- take sliced pepperoni and put it in the oven until crispy. They definitely were crispy and worked well as a chip and a cracker. I ate them with cream cheese but next time I might find a low carb dip to add a little more flavor.<br /><br />Through this recipe hunt, I found out that the Food Network used to have a low carb show, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ll/0,1976,FOOD_16177,00.html">Low Carb and Lovin' It</a>. Apparently it was on during the height of the low carb craze when every food related company was trying to cash in.<br /><blockquote>For all those who have struggled to lose weight and failed: Meet George Stella, the low carb chef. Once weighing in at 465 pounds, George transformed his life with controlled carbohydrate eating. Now he shares his secrets to successful weight loss, proving that the low carb lifestyle doesn’t have to be boring.</blockquote>It is a shame the Food Network doesn't have the old episodes of the show available on their website, I'd love to watch them. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-5304431425062023122008-01-26T10:18:00.001-05:002008-01-26T10:21:19.189-05:00Jaguars are Obligate Carnivores<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Jaguar" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavo/169129723/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/69/169129723_9a08bb8cf9_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gustavo/169129723/">Jaguar</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gustavo/">_guu_</a> </span></div>On almost every weightloss forum I visit, there are challenges. Most of them seem to center around the Biggest Loser but I have seen others like <i>25 Pounds by Christmas</i> and things like that. The basic idea is the same -- everyone signs up, weighs in weekly and the winner is whoever loses the most pounds/percentage of pounds. The prize? Well, the praise at the end is nice, but the real prize is better health through team-based motivation.<br /><br />For the last six weeks, I've been participating in a challenge over on <a href="http://www.fatsecret.com/">fatsecret</a> called <b>Ride 'em</b> which was cowboy themed. I didn't get into the theme as much as the energetic women on my team, but let me just say that I've never been called "partner" more in my life. All in all, the challenge went really well -- I lost 16 pounds in six weeks, which was short of the challenge goal of 1% per week, but I still did well. Overall, my team came in third place!<br /><br />Well, the new challenge starts today. Same rules, but the theme is racing or <b>Are you born to be wild?</b>. This time, I'm not only the member of a team, but I'm the leader of one! I volunteered to lead and let me just say that the Green Jaguars are going to kick butts and take names. Every few days, I'm supposed to send motivational notes and articles to my team while commenting on their journals to help them along.<br /><br />How can I lose motivation when I'm responsible for motivating other people? I can do this, it will be awesome. 6% in six weeks wound leave me roughly twenty-four pounds lighter by St. Patrick's Day. That seems like the perfect reason to celebrate with an <a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink7774.html">Irish Carbomb</a>.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-6952263085571125372008-01-24T20:27:00.001-05:002008-01-24T20:29:24.635-05:00Tracking with a Pedometer<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="1963" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/310260973/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/310260973_605a7aa080_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasmic/310260973/">1963</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/jasmic/">Jasmic</a> </span></div>I got a pedometer for Christmas and since then, I've kept it tucked in my pants to see how far I walk every day. On days that I get outside for a twenty minute walk, I average about 4,500 steps and on other days about 2,000. As you can tell, I lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle - my daily routine is bed, car, desk, car, desk, bed.<br /><br />According to a recent study, to get on par with people who are of normal weight, I need to walk about <a href="http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/01/23/walking_off_the_pounds_did_it_just_get_harder.php">12,000 steps per day</a>. Effectively, that means that I need to take 4 twenty minute walks per day. I could also walk faster, which is what I'll probably end up doing.<br /><br />My first goal will be a specific number of walks per week. At the moment, I typically only walk when my stress levels dictate it. I'll start off aiming for 4 twenty minute walks per week. Only a seventh of the end goal, but it is a definite start! <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-73310100953396399932008-01-23T20:14:00.001-05:002008-01-23T20:18:49.628-05:00Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/woggle-bug/305360596/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/305360596_ca9752972d_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/woggle-bug/305360596/">Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/woggle-bug/">Ozma of Oz and the Wogglebug</a> </span></div>Lately for dinner, I've been having the same dinner: two cans of tuna, mayo, cheese and lettuce. While that's good and satiating, I noticed that I was slowly growing bored of it. To add some variety, I tried salmon but that didn't work out too well. Last night I had a bit of an eureka moment when I saw that sliced steaks are 0 carbs. I don't know why it was surprising -- I was just expecting lots of sugary additives.<br /><br />What goes with steak? Potatoes! But those are strictly out on the low-carb eating plan. I googled around a bit and stumbled upon a recipe for <a href="http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1659,143186-244199,00.html">Creamy Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes</a>.<br /><blockquote>1 bag frozen cauliflower florets<br />4-6 oz of cream cheese (to taste)<br />1/4 cup heavy cream<br />2-4 oz of butter, softened (to taste)</blockquote>I made these tonight and they certainly look like mashed potatoes, but thats where the similarities ended. The first batch had too much cream cheese and both batches were really watery, so I didn't have to add any cream. I'd recommend trying them, but don't try to pass them off as potatoes at your next dinner party. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-76947602706096612872008-01-22T21:32:00.001-05:002008-01-22T21:37:31.939-05:00Protein Power<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="My whey protein drink" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowtech/194406010/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/194406010_6259135f86_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shadowtech/194406010/">My whey protein drink</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/shadowtech/">shadowtech</a> </span></div>Today I tried something new for breakfast: a protein shake. I've been getting a lot of complaints at work that my eggs stink up the place, which I don't really understand -- egg beaters in the microwave just smell like eggs to me. I did find that hard boiled eggs mixed with Tabasco sauce smell pretty bad, but taste darn good. Regardless, I decided to be considerate and try something else. I couldn't think of something quite as easy and suggestions like cereal and oatmeal were obviously out. So I picked up a small bag of protein powder and mixed it with heavy cream to add in some fat, and sure enough, I was full until lunch time.<br /><br />As it turns out, protein is an excellent tool for <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN1726777420080118">keeping hunger at bay</a>. A study, which is set to appear in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, compared the different macro-nutrients and their effect on ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone secreted by the stomach that stimulates appetite. The study only tested sixteen people, so it doesn't seem very conclusive but I did find this bite about carbohydrates really interesting:<br /><blockquote>Basically, the carbohydrates eventually made people even hungrier than before they had eaten.</blockquote>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-19831189895772075872008-01-21T00:01:00.000-05:002008-01-21T19:37:15.224-05:00I'm Not on a Diet, I'm Living!<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Diet" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyohara/5457980/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/5457980_e75e69fe45_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyohara/5457980/">Diet</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/toyohara/">toyohara</a> </span></div>The best weightloss advice has always been to make permanent dietary changes as opposed to making radical changes to lose weight quickly. The guys over at Fat 2 Fit Radio recommend eating like the person you want to become -- if you want to weigh 185lbs., eat like a person who weighs 185lbs. If your diet requires you to only eat apples, then the first time friends want to have a birthday party at the local dive, you won't be able to go -- or you'll eat something that isn't an apple.<br /><br />It seems like the big diet brands have gotten the memo -- people need a lifestyle, not a diet. Well, sort of. I haven't seen that they've made any changes to their programs, other than to the name. Both the<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue_dietdec18,0,4704862.story?track=rss"> South Beach products</a> made by Kraft and <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/business/lazare/714331,CST-FIN-lew27.article">Weight Watchers</a> changed from diets to a lifestyle in 2008.<br /><br />Personally, I don't think either of those programs are a real lifestyle changes but if they work for someone and they can stick to them, then more power to them. It really just seems that the big companies are trying to pick up the language of the people to remain hip and trendy. After all, they have to compete with the deluge of new diets that come out each year just in time for New Years resolutions.<br /><div style="CLEAR: both"></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-6621657589213580442008-01-20T03:05:00.001-05:002008-01-20T03:09:48.192-05:00Reverse Anal Leakage<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="NINJA'S FAVORITE" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/103955596/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/103955596_08c5d7433c_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/103955596/">NINJA'S FAVORITE</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/roboppy/">roboppy</a> </span></div>Anal leakage seems to be the popular way to lose weight, doesn't it? Both olestra and alli have that as one of the possible side effects, with the alli instruction manual going as far as to suggest that you wear dark pants and keep an extra pair in your car. I've had some weird stomach troubles when changing my diet dramatically (i.e. lots of junk food to lots of vegetables) but never to the point where I feared I might spring a leak.<br /><br />Now it seems that the opposite problem may be an excellent way to lose weight as well! <a href="http://fitsugar.com/962120">Glucomannan</a>, a water-soluble dietary fiber made from the konjac plant, apparently helps in the battle of the bulge. It does this in two ways; the first is by slowing down the absorption of sugar in the intestines and the second is swelling up in the stomach to give you a full feeling. Fiber, better regulated blood sugar and satiety? Sounds perfect, right?<br /><br />The only problem is that people taking this natural supplement have suffered from intestinal and esophageal obstruction. For that reason, several countries have already banned it. I'm not sure if intestinal obstruction is worse than constipation, but not being able to swallow food or water because your esophagus is blocked can't be good. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-6115562178324398302008-01-19T00:31:00.001-05:002008-01-19T00:36:21.241-05:00One Down, Twenty Three to Go<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Wide leather belt" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leatherartstudio/324149758/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/324149758_e19610290b_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/leatherartstudio/324149758/">Wide leather belt</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/leatherartstudio/">Leather Art Studio</a> </span></div>I don't know if this is normal for over weight men, but my belt has two "modes" as I like to call them. One is where I normally wear it and the other is "super carrying mode" which is tighter than regular and helps hold my pants up when I have to carry something. My wife often teases me about this, but the simple truth is that if I tighten my belt to the point where it can hold my pants up, it is uncomfortable while sitting. Just the way my stomach folds when I'm sitting makes it uncomfortable.<br /><br />When I bought my current belt, I had to get the biggest one the Big-and-Tall store had and, at first, I wore it on the very last hole. Now after losing 25 pounds, I can comfortably wear it on the second to last hole instead. The holes seem about an inch apart, so I figure that means my waist is 59 inches now -- 26 inches from my goal. I do have a real <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/14/tale-of-the-tape/">tape measure </a>somewhere, but I can't seem to find it.<br /><br />The bad news is that when I need to carry something, I now pull the belt tight enough that I'm using the very last hole. Because of the style of belt, I won't be able to punch my own holes in it. More weight loss means I'll need a new, smaller belt. Oh, I guess that really isn't bad news at all. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-19595115101025859252008-01-17T22:23:00.001-05:002008-01-17T22:25:07.593-05:00Obesity and the Regulation of Weight<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="red meat in our kitchen (for the first time?) - _MG_4181" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/474751797/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/474751797_138b1a81da_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seandreilinger/474751797/">red meat in our kitchen (for the first time?) - _MG_4181</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/seandreilinger/">sean dreilinger</a> </span></div>I finally powered through and finished <i>Good Calories, Bad Calories</i> by Gary Taubes. After two long parts discussing high-fat/low-carb vs. low-fat/high-carb, this part got down to the nuts and bolts of dieting and losing weight. It takes aim at busting two of the common mantras of weight loss: "Calories In, Calories Out" and "A Calories is a Calories is a Calories." The late, great Dr. Atkins is also discussed in length including the tragic story of how he was ostricized by the medical community for daring to preach anything but low-fat/high-carb.<br /><br />What I found most interesting was the story of Vilhjalmur Stefansson, who ate nothing but meat for one year and emerged perfectly healthy. He did it to prove to scientists what he learned from the Inuit (indigenous people living in the arctic regions of Alaska, Greenland, and Canada) -- you can live perfectly well on nothing but meat.<br /><blockquote>The Inuit considered vegetables and fruit "not proper human food," Stefansson wrote, but they occasionnally ate the roots of the knotweed plant in times of dire necessity."</blockquote>In the end, I was disappointed by the lack of conclusions drawn by the book, but that wasn't the author's fault. He points out that no research has been done to positively prove whether or not a low-carb diet is the best way to eat and he hopes that his book will inspire that research to be done. Personally, I've been doing amazingly well on Atkins Introduction and the information in this book has only affirmed that what I'm doing is not only safe, but good for me. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-59025212573803163602008-01-16T20:39:00.001-05:002008-01-16T20:43:06.265-05:00Canned Salmon Sucks<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Soy Salmon Donburi" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seadam/1958574512/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/1958574512_54708e0ac6_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/seadam/1958574512/">Soy Salmon Donburi</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/seadam/">^-^liz</a> </span></div>One thing that I learned from my <a href="http://dietsnakeoil.blogspot.com/2007/12/eating-plan-for-december-2007.html">original eating plan </a>is that eating the same meals over and over again makes it easy to stick to my diet. Eggs for breakfast, meat and broccoli for lunch and a big salad with tuna and cheese for dinner. It isn't hard to stick to and it isn't hard to prepare. But I did want to change it up a little, just.. well, just because.<br /><br />Remembering that <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/02/pack-these-five-foods-into-2008/">salmon is one of the foods that is recommended for good health</a>, I stopped at the store and picked up a can of it tonight. I was expecting it to be just like a can of tuna but pinker. What I got was two hunks of fish, complete with skin and spine. Before you wonder, I didn't get a store brand -- I got the same brand as I do tuna.<br /><br />I powered through though and removed the undesirable bits before adding it to my salad. I ate it but I've firmly decided that I'd rather get my omega-3 fatty acids from olive oil instead of canned salmon. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-30273600904328423152008-01-15T20:30:00.001-05:002008-01-15T20:31:22.870-05:00Drink Coffee to Lose Weight!<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="Coffee Break" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitzcelt/399136360/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/399136360_8bafbd7958_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitzcelt/399136360/">Coffee Break</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/bitzcelt/">bitzcelt</a> </span></div>Despite the fact that they apparently advertised everywhere, I some how missed the amazing Slim Coffee. If I had known that I could lose weight just by drinking coffee infused with hoodia, I would have been all over that. I mean come on people! Who doesn't want to lose weight without changing their eating habits?<br /><br />Oh wait, that sounds like a scam, doesn't it?<br /><br />Thankfully, the <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/01/dietcoffee.shtm">Federal Trade Commission</a> thought so as well. Under a proposed settlement with Diet Coffee, Inc., the makers of Slim Coffee, the company is forbidden "from claiming that any product enables users to lose substantial weight without reducing caloric intake or increasing physical activity." The settlement also contains nearly a million dollars in monetary damages, but those have been suspended because the defendant is unable to pay.<br /><br />The company advertised their snake oil on popular television networks, radio stations and in newspapers. That just serves as a reminder that some ad-supported businesses care more about their revenue than the well-being of their customers. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-24464280013765458762008-01-14T20:04:00.001-05:002008-01-14T20:07:47.205-05:00Fitness Tunes to Get You Going<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="music" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hi-phi/32360213/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/32360213_e24a0a2854_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hi-phi/32360213/">music</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/hi-phi/">phil h</a> </span></div>If they ever make a movie about my weightloss journey, I have to admit that <i>Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger</i> by Daft Punk will be part of the soundtrack. I was first exposed to the song by <a href="http://fitsugar.com/883145">Kanye West's remix, <i>Stronger</i></a>, but I like the original better. It and <i>Technologic</i> by the same group are staples in my workout mixes, but lately I've been looking to expand that playlist.<br /><br />Today I stumbled upon <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-01-06-skinnysongs_N.htm">SkinnySongs</a>, an album of music written by Heidi Rozen, a successful business woman who one day decided to slim down before turning 50. She sampled the diet music that was available at the time, but didn't like what she heard since most of it focused on the dreary aspects of dieting.<br /><br />Taking it upon herself and building on her creative-writing degree, she worked with two established music producers to make ten songs, including <em>Use It to Lose It</em>, <em>The Incredible Shrinking Woman</em>, and <em>I'm a Hottie Now. </em>Some critics of the album have pointed out that the songs focus on the vanity of losing weight instead of the health benefits. Keith Ayoob, a nutritionist in New York City made one such comment.<br /><blockquote>The tunes are catchy and short, but they are focused on superficiality and cosmetics instead of managing weight for health. From a useful standpoint, I don't know how much they are going to help anybody.</blockquote>I'll have to disagree. While my main focus of losing weight is to be around a lot longer for my family, I can't help but want to look better too. Even if my only motivation for losing weight was to fit into a specific pair of jeans, that wouldn't mean that I wouldn't also achieve better health at the same time. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5211456912362473960.post-41587651137849680232008-01-12T16:41:00.001-05:002008-01-12T16:43:17.710-05:00I Can't Jump Rope<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MAX-WIDTH: 250px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="BIG Ball Of Rope" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/128131839/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/128131839_363154fdc6_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:x-small;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/128131839/">BIG Ball Of Rope</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/big-e-mr-g/">Big-E-Mr-G</a> </span></div>Today I was out for lunch and saw that there was a sporting goods store in the same strip mall, so I stopped in and picked up a jump rope. I got the cheapest one to start off with since I didn't know if I could actually jump rope. As it turns out, I can't. That doesn't mean I'll give up, but it is going to take some practice.<br /><br />I decided to look around for some <a href="http://www.thatsfit.com/2008/01/08/jump-around/">tips on jumping rope</a> and the most common one seems to be regarding the height of the jump.<br /><blockquote><b>Don't jump too high off of the ground.</b> I find this to be the single-most problematic part for people who try jumping rope for the first time. The key is to get a nice bounce off the balls of your feet, probably no more than a few inches off the ground.</blockquote>I have to find a good place to jump at since it seems like <a href="http://health.discovery.com/centers/nutritionfitness/nutrition/foodfit/jumprope.html">concrete and asphalt aren't good surfaces</a> for jumping rope. We have low-nap carpetting but the ceilings definately aren't high enough for me to do it inside. <div style="CLEAR: both"> </div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14394090387301997928noreply@blogger.com0