This week should be a great weight loss week for me! Listed below is what activities I have in store for myself…
Monday:
Couch 2 5K run in the AM (419 calories burned)
Very Brisk 20 minute walk (222 calories burned)
Softball Practice (831 calories burned)
Guitar Practice (83 calories burned)
Tuesday:
2 Very Brisk 20 minute walks (444 calories burned)
Softball Game(1029 calories burned))
Guitar lesson (96 calories burned)
Wednesday:
Couch 2 5K run in the AM (419 calories burned)
2 Very Brisk 20 minute walks (444 calories burned)
Lawn Mowing(1157 calories burned))
Guitar Practice (83 calories burned)
Thursday: (light day)
2 Very Brisk 20 minute walks (444 calories burned)
Friday:
Couch 2 5K run in the AM (419 calories burned)
Very Brisk 20 minute walk (222 calories burned)
Guitar Practice (83 calories burned)
Saturday:
Very Brisk 20 minute walk (222 calories burned)
Assisting with Wedding Reception setup (estimated 600 calories burned)
Sunday:
Couch 2 5K run in the AM (529 calories burned)
2 Very Brisk 20 minute walks (444 calories burned)
Guitar Practice (83 calories burned)
Holy crap; that’s 8273 calories burned in 7 days! I’m allowed to eat 15,561 (2,223 a day) calories during that span to lose 1-2lbs a week. I’m looking at or around a 5-7lb of total weight loss if I’m lucky with the extra activities.
As of this posting, I’m hovering between 346-348lbs. The weight all depends on the time of day, food consumed, etc. I’m hoping to reach my 1st goal of 330lbs by the end of July; thus far I’m ahead of schedule.
9 days left until veggie month reaches it’s conclusion. In my opinion, it’s just not for me. I feel as if I’m eating mostly carbs and dairy with some fruit mixed in. I do eat some vegetables and meatless products but in my case it feels as if I’m impeding my weight loss. Regardless, I’ve learned a lot about the lifestyle and what I can tolerate.
Until the next post,
Bill
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Eating Vegetarian (Kind Of)
Even though I’m succeeding at not eating meat, I’m not so certain I would be considered a solid vegetarian. I eat more fruit then I ever used to, a lot of dairy (which makes me a certain type of vegetarian by the way) and a ton of bread/carbs. I don’t eat enough veggies though. Brussels’ sprouts are ok. Some salads are ok, although I don’t like the vinegar dressings. Tomatoes and potatoes? Not an issue. I just don’t like the standard fare of veggies that are out there. I’m still working on it…
There are a few meatless “meat” products that aren’t so bad however. Max and Erma’s have a Black Bean Veggie burger that’s out of sight. Quorn has pretty decent Chick’N patties and that’s reviewed on this site. I’m still surprised at the amount of choice, as well as the amount of dollars needed to do this.
A few other interesting notes:
You have to be careful when eating out and requesting food; most soups have a beef or chicken stock base and that’s a no-no.
Vegetarian fare doesn’t necessarily mean lower calories. Some alternate forms of food for vegetarians hold more sodium and sugar to amp up flavors.
Many places still don’t have a decent vegetarian menu; clearly a sign of supply and demand.
On the dieting front:
I’m down to 349lbs! that’s 27lbs in 6 weeks folks!
Couch 2 5K is a bitch. But it’s working!
A Friend of mine and his Wife, Mike and Christina started a weekly conference call to help all of our friends to lose weight in 4 weeks. Kudos to them; the support really helps.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow morning, it's couch 2 5k time; otherwise I get to spend time with Mr. Elipticle!
More tomorrow!
Regards,
Bill
There are a few meatless “meat” products that aren’t so bad however. Max and Erma’s have a Black Bean Veggie burger that’s out of sight. Quorn has pretty decent Chick’N patties and that’s reviewed on this site. I’m still surprised at the amount of choice, as well as the amount of dollars needed to do this.
A few other interesting notes:
You have to be careful when eating out and requesting food; most soups have a beef or chicken stock base and that’s a no-no.
Vegetarian fare doesn’t necessarily mean lower calories. Some alternate forms of food for vegetarians hold more sodium and sugar to amp up flavors.
Many places still don’t have a decent vegetarian menu; clearly a sign of supply and demand.
On the dieting front:
I’m down to 349lbs! that’s 27lbs in 6 weeks folks!
Couch 2 5K is a bitch. But it’s working!
A Friend of mine and his Wife, Mike and Christina started a weekly conference call to help all of our friends to lose weight in 4 weeks. Kudos to them; the support really helps.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow morning, it's couch 2 5k time; otherwise I get to spend time with Mr. Elipticle!
More tomorrow!
Regards,
Bill
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Dick Genthe Service Center Debacle
Sometimes stories can transcend genres. Even though this is a blog entry about dieting, I felt a need to share this experience, during which I lost about 50 IQ points as well as 6 hours I’ll never get back.
Last week, my wife Angela called me on Wednesday during the monsoon that briefly passed. Her front passenger side tire was flat and she wasn’t sure what course to take. We lease a 2008 Saturn outlook and the tires are about as tall as she is so changing it by herself was not an option. Also, since no flotation devices were handy, she didn’t want to chance the flash flood that Pelham road was becoming so she called Onstar and found out we have free roadside assistance (thank God). The serviceman came out and tossed the spare on the vehicle and Angela started to make some phone calls, the first of which was to our new service center at Dick Genthe in Southgate.
I need to provide some background info here:
Our previous issue with the vehicle was handled by Saturn dealerships. About 3 months ago, Angela was driving to work after an overnight rainstorm. As she turned a corner, about a foot of water gushed out of the airbag slots dousing my wife. This did wonders for my wife’s state of mind and I was treated with a profanity laced call about the leak. I researched the issue while she was at work and discovered that there are sunroof water egress tubes that channel any excess water from the sunroof channel to the frame and out of the bottom of the car. These tubes were prone to get out of position and cause the water to flow in the cabin ceiling cavity, often flowing to the airbag placements and dome lights.
Armed with this info and the knowledge that Saturn was fixing these at no cost I took the car to Saturn of Southgate. After acting as if they knew nothing about it, they “found” the issue I was reporting and agreed to fix it. I had to go back again upon repair to have them fix some items they knocked out of place.
Saturn recently went belly-up and notified us that if service was needed on our leased vehicle, we were to take it to an “authorized Saturn Service Center” the closest of which was a GM dealership called Dick Genthe. Since this new dealership was closer than the Saturn one was, we were happy with choosing them. Saturn also provided us with 4 free oil changes, which for our vehicle was for the remainder of the lease. Pretty nice eh?
Once we transitioned to Genthe, I took the vehicle in for the first oil change and was told that they had not heard of the promotion from Saturn. Luckily, I had brought the e-mail along and after some lip chewing and brow furrowing they agreed to do it. I sat in the waiting room for 2 hours waiting for them to change the oil. Not a good start.
I also want to mention that the Hertz rental car place that is located there is a complete joke. They rarely have cars available and the ones they do have look like wind-up toy cars. My wife had arranged for a larger vehicle for work (she totes 3 children around at times) and was told that “all of the big cars are being used; it’s spring break you know…”.
Then, a few weeks later, we noticed a terrible grinding noise coming from our power steering area. We took it in and were told that the repairs could be extensive. We at first were given an impala to drive, and then a LaCrosse. The reason for this was we were told to come back and grab the vehicle but then were told that it wasn’t ready.
Anywho, that leads us back to the newest form of lunacy.
Angela called Genthe and inquired about getting in for repairs. They informed her that they could fit her in, but the cost for a new tire would be over $330 with labor. They never mentioned that they would look into fixing the tire. Angela called Belle tire and they said “bring it in, we’ll look at it”. Ang took it there and they claimed a rim leak was likely causing the issue and that it would cost about 250 for a new tire if she wanted one. They felt it was in good enough shape to drive and last awhile. This took about 30 minutes and cost us nothing. Way to go Belle Tire!
We decided to hold off on going to Genthe; we were assured that the tire was ok and would probably need very minor repairs.
Everything was hunky-dorey until Monday morning when Angela was about to go to work. The same tire was flat, so she contacted Onstar again and they replaced the flat, again. I was then marshaled to leave work early and go to Dick Genthe in the hopes of avoiding another day off of work. I arrived at the dealership at 6pm. I was assisted by Dave Lozon, a service rep. The service area was slow and I had hopes of a quick resolution. Fat chance. Dave asked about the problem and I informed him that it was a flat tire in need of investigation. Dave got into the cabin of the car and was initially unable to read the mileage due to the tire sensor error message. He claimed he was new and wasn’t used to the cars. I explained that I felt that the leak was likely coming from the rim or a screw hole that I pointed out. They had me remove and then replace the tire from the back of the vehicle and then they pulled it into the service bay. After a while, I walked out to see what the delay was and was told that they were just getting to it. This was at 7pm. At 7:45pm, I was told that the issue was a leaking Valve stem/tire sensor and that the part was not at the location; they’d get it tomorrow. As dave was telling me this, the tech ran out and said that they did have the part and he could put it on “real quick”. Dave told him that they were close to closing and that he had other cars to handle. He then asked if we could come in first thing the next day to finish the repairs. I informed him that my wife would be there and that she had to leave no later than 9:30am for work. I was assured that this would not be an issue. I then limped the car home to an unhappy wife who now had to get up at the crack of dawn.
Angela got there at 6:45am and didn’t leave until 9:15am. The car sat in the receiving bay until 8am or so; it appears that the techs don’t arrive until 7:30am or “around there”. They fixed the tire, explained that the tire sensors would likely never work properly again and sent her on her way. Angela immediately noticed a hard pull to the right of the car and the spare tire still in the back seat; they never replaced it. Angela called Dave back and he said that he didn’t know what the issue could be. When Angela mentioned that the donut was still in the back seat and not replaced, he said “well isn’t that funny…”. Angela had had it at this point and was ready to go postal on them so she called me instead.
I decided to take the direct approach and call the service manager, Dennis. Dennis answered and was very contrite. He explained that this was not the first time the donut was not replaced by this tech and that it should never happen. He was also apologetic about Dave’s lackadaisical attitude and after some work scheduled me to head back there a third time for repairs. He also promised to hold a Malibu at the rental place for me just in case.
On Thursday, I arrived at 6:50am. I was assisted by a service rep named Micheal who had no idea about why I was there. After spending some time investigating the account and interrogating me, he was able to get the car into the service bay. This occurred between 7am-7:40am. Dave touched base with me a few times, explaining the delays and what they thought the issue was. They basically had to re-align my car. The Hertz guy came by and was actually cool enough to hold the car Dennis promised until it was deemed that I’d need it.
At 9:30 my car was ready. I filled out the paperwork (everything was covered because of the lease) and they also corrected a wiper fluid recall while onsite. I was optimistic when the car pulled up, but also wanted to check things out. I asked the driver to wait and I checked the back seat. Lo and behold; the damn spare was still sitting there. I asked them (again) to place it back on the car and paced in disgust until they pulled it back around. That was at 9:50am. At no time did Dennis speak to me personally about the issues I was having. He did a decent job of trying to fix the issues that occurred, but at no time did I feel that this was an escalated issue.
No one should ever have to spend almost 10 hours at a service center for what essentially was a flat tire issue. The fact that we had to go back 3 times and explain 3 times what the issue was is ridiculous. I am currently looking for a new service center. I don’t think I’ll be buying a GM now either because of this. My Ford Dealership service center has never had these issues. I’ve also discovered that Dick Genthe has a history of these issues.
What a mess…
Last week, my wife Angela called me on Wednesday during the monsoon that briefly passed. Her front passenger side tire was flat and she wasn’t sure what course to take. We lease a 2008 Saturn outlook and the tires are about as tall as she is so changing it by herself was not an option. Also, since no flotation devices were handy, she didn’t want to chance the flash flood that Pelham road was becoming so she called Onstar and found out we have free roadside assistance (thank God). The serviceman came out and tossed the spare on the vehicle and Angela started to make some phone calls, the first of which was to our new service center at Dick Genthe in Southgate.
I need to provide some background info here:
Our previous issue with the vehicle was handled by Saturn dealerships. About 3 months ago, Angela was driving to work after an overnight rainstorm. As she turned a corner, about a foot of water gushed out of the airbag slots dousing my wife. This did wonders for my wife’s state of mind and I was treated with a profanity laced call about the leak. I researched the issue while she was at work and discovered that there are sunroof water egress tubes that channel any excess water from the sunroof channel to the frame and out of the bottom of the car. These tubes were prone to get out of position and cause the water to flow in the cabin ceiling cavity, often flowing to the airbag placements and dome lights.
Armed with this info and the knowledge that Saturn was fixing these at no cost I took the car to Saturn of Southgate. After acting as if they knew nothing about it, they “found” the issue I was reporting and agreed to fix it. I had to go back again upon repair to have them fix some items they knocked out of place.
Saturn recently went belly-up and notified us that if service was needed on our leased vehicle, we were to take it to an “authorized Saturn Service Center” the closest of which was a GM dealership called Dick Genthe. Since this new dealership was closer than the Saturn one was, we were happy with choosing them. Saturn also provided us with 4 free oil changes, which for our vehicle was for the remainder of the lease. Pretty nice eh?
Once we transitioned to Genthe, I took the vehicle in for the first oil change and was told that they had not heard of the promotion from Saturn. Luckily, I had brought the e-mail along and after some lip chewing and brow furrowing they agreed to do it. I sat in the waiting room for 2 hours waiting for them to change the oil. Not a good start.
I also want to mention that the Hertz rental car place that is located there is a complete joke. They rarely have cars available and the ones they do have look like wind-up toy cars. My wife had arranged for a larger vehicle for work (she totes 3 children around at times) and was told that “all of the big cars are being used; it’s spring break you know…”.
Then, a few weeks later, we noticed a terrible grinding noise coming from our power steering area. We took it in and were told that the repairs could be extensive. We at first were given an impala to drive, and then a LaCrosse. The reason for this was we were told to come back and grab the vehicle but then were told that it wasn’t ready.
Anywho, that leads us back to the newest form of lunacy.
Angela called Genthe and inquired about getting in for repairs. They informed her that they could fit her in, but the cost for a new tire would be over $330 with labor. They never mentioned that they would look into fixing the tire. Angela called Belle tire and they said “bring it in, we’ll look at it”. Ang took it there and they claimed a rim leak was likely causing the issue and that it would cost about 250 for a new tire if she wanted one. They felt it was in good enough shape to drive and last awhile. This took about 30 minutes and cost us nothing. Way to go Belle Tire!
We decided to hold off on going to Genthe; we were assured that the tire was ok and would probably need very minor repairs.
Everything was hunky-dorey until Monday morning when Angela was about to go to work. The same tire was flat, so she contacted Onstar again and they replaced the flat, again. I was then marshaled to leave work early and go to Dick Genthe in the hopes of avoiding another day off of work. I arrived at the dealership at 6pm. I was assisted by Dave Lozon, a service rep. The service area was slow and I had hopes of a quick resolution. Fat chance. Dave asked about the problem and I informed him that it was a flat tire in need of investigation. Dave got into the cabin of the car and was initially unable to read the mileage due to the tire sensor error message. He claimed he was new and wasn’t used to the cars. I explained that I felt that the leak was likely coming from the rim or a screw hole that I pointed out. They had me remove and then replace the tire from the back of the vehicle and then they pulled it into the service bay. After a while, I walked out to see what the delay was and was told that they were just getting to it. This was at 7pm. At 7:45pm, I was told that the issue was a leaking Valve stem/tire sensor and that the part was not at the location; they’d get it tomorrow. As dave was telling me this, the tech ran out and said that they did have the part and he could put it on “real quick”. Dave told him that they were close to closing and that he had other cars to handle. He then asked if we could come in first thing the next day to finish the repairs. I informed him that my wife would be there and that she had to leave no later than 9:30am for work. I was assured that this would not be an issue. I then limped the car home to an unhappy wife who now had to get up at the crack of dawn.
Angela got there at 6:45am and didn’t leave until 9:15am. The car sat in the receiving bay until 8am or so; it appears that the techs don’t arrive until 7:30am or “around there”. They fixed the tire, explained that the tire sensors would likely never work properly again and sent her on her way. Angela immediately noticed a hard pull to the right of the car and the spare tire still in the back seat; they never replaced it. Angela called Dave back and he said that he didn’t know what the issue could be. When Angela mentioned that the donut was still in the back seat and not replaced, he said “well isn’t that funny…”. Angela had had it at this point and was ready to go postal on them so she called me instead.
I decided to take the direct approach and call the service manager, Dennis. Dennis answered and was very contrite. He explained that this was not the first time the donut was not replaced by this tech and that it should never happen. He was also apologetic about Dave’s lackadaisical attitude and after some work scheduled me to head back there a third time for repairs. He also promised to hold a Malibu at the rental place for me just in case.
On Thursday, I arrived at 6:50am. I was assisted by a service rep named Micheal who had no idea about why I was there. After spending some time investigating the account and interrogating me, he was able to get the car into the service bay. This occurred between 7am-7:40am. Dave touched base with me a few times, explaining the delays and what they thought the issue was. They basically had to re-align my car. The Hertz guy came by and was actually cool enough to hold the car Dennis promised until it was deemed that I’d need it.
At 9:30 my car was ready. I filled out the paperwork (everything was covered because of the lease) and they also corrected a wiper fluid recall while onsite. I was optimistic when the car pulled up, but also wanted to check things out. I asked the driver to wait and I checked the back seat. Lo and behold; the damn spare was still sitting there. I asked them (again) to place it back on the car and paced in disgust until they pulled it back around. That was at 9:50am. At no time did Dennis speak to me personally about the issues I was having. He did a decent job of trying to fix the issues that occurred, but at no time did I feel that this was an escalated issue.
No one should ever have to spend almost 10 hours at a service center for what essentially was a flat tire issue. The fact that we had to go back 3 times and explain 3 times what the issue was is ridiculous. I am currently looking for a new service center. I don’t think I’ll be buying a GM now either because of this. My Ford Dealership service center has never had these issues. I’ve also discovered that Dick Genthe has a history of these issues.
What a mess…
Thursday, June 10, 2010
It’s been awhile so let’s catch up:
Almost 2 weeks ago I posted a few articles about weight loss and tips that could help. Now that I’m vegetarian until 6/30/2010, I’m trying to utilize that to the fullest.
I’ve boosted my water intake by 50%. I now drink about 6 glasses of water daily to offset hunger pangs.
I’ve tried to eat bigger breakfasts as well to pump up the metabolism that’s been mothballed for 4 years.
I’ve increased my workout regiment as well.
So…
I’m currently at 359lbs on the GNC scale and 351lbs on the home scale (with no clothes). Clearly, my clothing has a significant impact on my weigh-ins so I’ll be using the home scale now instead and taking photos for proof. Since I started in May, I’ve gone from 376lbs to 351lbs. That’s 25lbs in 6 weeks folks; not to shabby. Now with my current dietary intake I should be dropping faster yes? Not so fast. Last week’s weight loss was a measly 1lb. Looks like I hit that darn plateau.
To break through, I’m consistently using Couch 2 5K and Fitness USA. Couch 2 5K has been amazing for me from an endurance point of view. Also, once I swat away the annoying Gym rats at Fitness USA, I get a decent workout as well. Every time I go in there though, I keep getting asked if I want a personal trainer. Or a personal one on one with the people who monitor the gym. Or a pet monkey. It’s always something. VERY annoying. I will say that it’s been very hard to make time to work out; something always seems to come up. A flat tire on Angela’s car; more on that tomorrow, work, fatigue and personal events. It’s starting to die down so I’ll be back on track this weekend.
Going veggie has been a challenge. I’ve pulled into a few fast food places, only to skulk away in shame. I haven’t had any meat at all but the very fact I pulled into them was bad enough.
I’ve also only tried a few veggies since I started. I’ve realized that I’m still not a big fan. Yet the interesting thing is that I can tolerate eating less meat, which I never thought I’d say. I’m eating a whole lot better and seem to feel better overall except for one thing. I really feel very fatigued at night or of I only get 6-7 hours of sleep. That never was a problem before but now it is. It may be due to the lack of consistent protein. I’ll be looking into that.
My clothes fit very loose now and I’ve also reached the tweener stage of sizes. Right now I’m between 4xlt and 3xlt. My face has also gotten slimmer; I look less and less like Bluto and more like myself. Looking at photographs from early this year, the changes are noticeable.
That’s it for now; I’ll have more tomorrow and describe to you the hell that is Dick Genthe Automotive services. Also, keep an eye out for a few reviews; as it’s veggie month I’ve got some interesting items to tell you about.
I’ve boosted my water intake by 50%. I now drink about 6 glasses of water daily to offset hunger pangs.
I’ve tried to eat bigger breakfasts as well to pump up the metabolism that’s been mothballed for 4 years.
I’ve increased my workout regiment as well.
So…
I’m currently at 359lbs on the GNC scale and 351lbs on the home scale (with no clothes). Clearly, my clothing has a significant impact on my weigh-ins so I’ll be using the home scale now instead and taking photos for proof. Since I started in May, I’ve gone from 376lbs to 351lbs. That’s 25lbs in 6 weeks folks; not to shabby. Now with my current dietary intake I should be dropping faster yes? Not so fast. Last week’s weight loss was a measly 1lb. Looks like I hit that darn plateau.
To break through, I’m consistently using Couch 2 5K and Fitness USA. Couch 2 5K has been amazing for me from an endurance point of view. Also, once I swat away the annoying Gym rats at Fitness USA, I get a decent workout as well. Every time I go in there though, I keep getting asked if I want a personal trainer. Or a personal one on one with the people who monitor the gym. Or a pet monkey. It’s always something. VERY annoying. I will say that it’s been very hard to make time to work out; something always seems to come up. A flat tire on Angela’s car; more on that tomorrow, work, fatigue and personal events. It’s starting to die down so I’ll be back on track this weekend.
Going veggie has been a challenge. I’ve pulled into a few fast food places, only to skulk away in shame. I haven’t had any meat at all but the very fact I pulled into them was bad enough.
I’ve also only tried a few veggies since I started. I’ve realized that I’m still not a big fan. Yet the interesting thing is that I can tolerate eating less meat, which I never thought I’d say. I’m eating a whole lot better and seem to feel better overall except for one thing. I really feel very fatigued at night or of I only get 6-7 hours of sleep. That never was a problem before but now it is. It may be due to the lack of consistent protein. I’ll be looking into that.
My clothes fit very loose now and I’ve also reached the tweener stage of sizes. Right now I’m between 4xlt and 3xlt. My face has also gotten slimmer; I look less and less like Bluto and more like myself. Looking at photographs from early this year, the changes are noticeable.
That’s it for now; I’ll have more tomorrow and describe to you the hell that is Dick Genthe Automotive services. Also, keep an eye out for a few reviews; as it’s veggie month I’ve got some interesting items to tell you about.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Is Organic food worth it?
From Calorie Count.com
When it comes to food shopping, a consumer has to grapple with lots of information. Cost, nutrition, safety, and even the fate of the planet are at stake. But the decision to buy organic vs. conventional food may be the most confusing decision of all. What matters and what does not? I turned to the American Dietetic Association for their perspective.
What makes a food organic?
“Organic” foods are produced under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) regulations. Those regulations are the administrative laws associated with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The NOP defines the production and processing practices required for a food to be certified and labeled as organic. However, some farmers follow organic practices but don’t go through NOP certification, while some conventional farmers use some organic methods but not enough to be certified.
The disadvantages
Organic foods generally cost more than conventional counterparts. Organic milk and produce, the top two organic sales categories, may cost 30 to 100+ percent more. The price reflects higher production costs at the farm level. Organic food relies on more hired labor and it has relatively higher fuel and equipment repair costs. Feed grain raises the price for producing organic livestock because grain crop farmers have been slow to adopt organic methods. Supply and demand also plays a huge role in price. U.S. organic production has more than doubled in the past decade, but the consumer market has grown even faster. In response to supply shortages, Congress is boosting funding for a certification cost-share program and for payments to farmers transitioning from conventional to organic farming.
The neutral issues
Whether organic food is more nutritious than conventional is the subject of ongoing debate. Some studies find that organic produce may contain more phytochemicals and trace minerals, and organic dairy may have more omega-3s, but a recent systematic review of nutrition in organic foods published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organic and conventional foods. Any differences found were very small and likely related to variations in growing conditions, mineral content of the soil, and the fertilizers used. And when it comes to bacterial contamination, there is no difference. Foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls are just as likely in organic and conventional foods.
The advantages
When it comes to safety unrelated to microbes, organic food has the edge. Organic foods reduce exposure to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, food colorings and additives, animal hormones and antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms. Whether or not governments deem these as safe, individuals may want to avoid them. Pregnant women and children may be particularly susceptible to pesticide residues.
On a global level, organic agriculture promotes a more sustainable food system. Organic farming practices reduce soil erosion and rehabilitate poor soil. They create shelter belts for pollinating insects, birds and animals, and by promoting biodiversity, organic farming makes farms more resistant to weather patterns and pest outbreaks. In addition, organic agriculture lowers energy requirements and helps to mitigate climate change by pulling carbon dioxide from the air into decomposing soil.
Getting around the cost
First, it's more important to eat fruits and vegetables than to skip them for fear of chemicals. But, you can go selectively organic for the produce that contains the highest pesticide levels: apples, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, and strawberries. Organic foods cost less when purchased through food co-ops and the SHARE Food Network. Seasonally available local organic produce can be bought for a fraction of the out-of-season cost. Preserve them for later use by freezing, canning or dehydrating. But remember that local foods might not be organic, and organic foods are not always local. And then, you can always grow your own.
When it comes to food shopping, a consumer has to grapple with lots of information. Cost, nutrition, safety, and even the fate of the planet are at stake. But the decision to buy organic vs. conventional food may be the most confusing decision of all. What matters and what does not? I turned to the American Dietetic Association for their perspective.
What makes a food organic?
“Organic” foods are produced under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) regulations. Those regulations are the administrative laws associated with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The NOP defines the production and processing practices required for a food to be certified and labeled as organic. However, some farmers follow organic practices but don’t go through NOP certification, while some conventional farmers use some organic methods but not enough to be certified.
The disadvantages
Organic foods generally cost more than conventional counterparts. Organic milk and produce, the top two organic sales categories, may cost 30 to 100+ percent more. The price reflects higher production costs at the farm level. Organic food relies on more hired labor and it has relatively higher fuel and equipment repair costs. Feed grain raises the price for producing organic livestock because grain crop farmers have been slow to adopt organic methods. Supply and demand also plays a huge role in price. U.S. organic production has more than doubled in the past decade, but the consumer market has grown even faster. In response to supply shortages, Congress is boosting funding for a certification cost-share program and for payments to farmers transitioning from conventional to organic farming.
The neutral issues
Whether organic food is more nutritious than conventional is the subject of ongoing debate. Some studies find that organic produce may contain more phytochemicals and trace minerals, and organic dairy may have more omega-3s, but a recent systematic review of nutrition in organic foods published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organic and conventional foods. Any differences found were very small and likely related to variations in growing conditions, mineral content of the soil, and the fertilizers used. And when it comes to bacterial contamination, there is no difference. Foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls are just as likely in organic and conventional foods.
The advantages
When it comes to safety unrelated to microbes, organic food has the edge. Organic foods reduce exposure to pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, food colorings and additives, animal hormones and antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms. Whether or not governments deem these as safe, individuals may want to avoid them. Pregnant women and children may be particularly susceptible to pesticide residues.
On a global level, organic agriculture promotes a more sustainable food system. Organic farming practices reduce soil erosion and rehabilitate poor soil. They create shelter belts for pollinating insects, birds and animals, and by promoting biodiversity, organic farming makes farms more resistant to weather patterns and pest outbreaks. In addition, organic agriculture lowers energy requirements and helps to mitigate climate change by pulling carbon dioxide from the air into decomposing soil.
Getting around the cost
First, it's more important to eat fruits and vegetables than to skip them for fear of chemicals. But, you can go selectively organic for the produce that contains the highest pesticide levels: apples, celery, cherries, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, peppers, potatoes, raspberries, spinach, and strawberries. Organic foods cost less when purchased through food co-ops and the SHARE Food Network. Seasonally available local organic produce can be bought for a fraction of the out-of-season cost. Preserve them for later use by freezing, canning or dehydrating. But remember that local foods might not be organic, and organic foods are not always local. And then, you can always grow your own.
Friday, May 21, 2010
I’m starting to move things along…
Eating healthy has proven to be somewhat easier than anticipated. Even though it costs a bit more than I’d hoped and I still am not fond of veggies, I have stuck to the plan and have lost 9lbs to date without strenuous exercise. Time to ramp things up…
My plan is to lose 3-6lbs a week until I reach the weight of 250lbs. The best way to accomplish this is to burn more than I take in. To date, I’ve been eating much less than the 2500 daily calories I’ve set as my daily allotment. Walking, housework, lawn mowing and softball are decent calorie burners but not great at building muscle or revving up my metabolism, which is about as rusty as my Dad’s 48 Ford pickup parts in his backyard. I did walk a total of 3 miles last week without breaking too much of a sweat so I figure it’s time to shake off that rust and hit Fitness USA like Kwame Kilpatrick’s thugs push reporters.
If you’ve never been to Fitness USA, I suspect it would be best described as a place where there’s lots of machines and little need of all of them. Most of the people I’ve encountered there are decent enough; they tend to focus either on the treadmill/bike/elliptical machines or free weights. Very few seem to do an actual circuit of activities designed to enhance your health; they seem to focus on key parts only. The place also smells like a Gamestop during a Madden 2010 release event.
My first day at the Westland facility last year was interesting. My only experiences at such places were in High School or College (where training was very structured and precise) and at a local fitness place my city has (Old people, busy young adults and “powerhouses” trying to take turns on antiquated equipment in what can best be described as a janitor closet.) so I was curious as to what I’d see. I was greeted by a hyperactive guy (can’t recall his name so I’ll refer to him as “Brian” since he reminded me of the Office Space character with all of the Flare pieces in that restaurant) who took my measurables and asked me my goals. Me being fat and stupid, told him. Big mistake. “Oki’mgonnatakeyouthroughtheringertodayandworkyaoutheadovahhere”. Huh? “Brian” proceeded to turn whatever semblance of muscle I had left into yogurt. He seriously had me doing stuff Lance Armstrong would have issues with. He flounced around and placed me on what I’d like to refer to as “The Widowmaker”. This piece of machinery worked without any power. It was at a 60 degree angle and was essentially a treadmill that was powered by the operators weight. After falling 7 or 8 times I was certain I was not ready for this machine but “Brian” insisted. I gutted it out, not falling again until after 7 minutes had passed in a 20 minute program. By that time I was ready to throw “Brian” up there and lift that thing to 90 degrees and see how he liked it. Humbly, I then tamely thanked him for his time, acknowledging the fact I was woefully out of shape and not ready for his help. He acted like I threw his cat into a woodchipper and sulked away. I then took my place alongside the other out of shape or senior citizens on the treadmills.
Since then, I’ve gone there a few times a month. I go in there with an angry look and headphones off so that the staff leaves me be.
Next week will be the beginning of my serious training however. I’m not sure I can get away with that as much if I continue to be consistent. We’ll see.
T-Minus 10 days until vegetarian month. During that month I’ll be meeting with a Vegetarian chef and learning some about the costs and culture. I’ll also be ramping up my food reviews. I’m aware I haven’t blogged nearly enough, but with the advent of my workouts I’ll share my ups and downs more frequently. Until then, catch my newest review on Amazing Grass’s “Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion” which was sadly enough not very amazing.
My plan is to lose 3-6lbs a week until I reach the weight of 250lbs. The best way to accomplish this is to burn more than I take in. To date, I’ve been eating much less than the 2500 daily calories I’ve set as my daily allotment. Walking, housework, lawn mowing and softball are decent calorie burners but not great at building muscle or revving up my metabolism, which is about as rusty as my Dad’s 48 Ford pickup parts in his backyard. I did walk a total of 3 miles last week without breaking too much of a sweat so I figure it’s time to shake off that rust and hit Fitness USA like Kwame Kilpatrick’s thugs push reporters.
If you’ve never been to Fitness USA, I suspect it would be best described as a place where there’s lots of machines and little need of all of them. Most of the people I’ve encountered there are decent enough; they tend to focus either on the treadmill/bike/elliptical machines or free weights. Very few seem to do an actual circuit of activities designed to enhance your health; they seem to focus on key parts only. The place also smells like a Gamestop during a Madden 2010 release event.
My first day at the Westland facility last year was interesting. My only experiences at such places were in High School or College (where training was very structured and precise) and at a local fitness place my city has (Old people, busy young adults and “powerhouses” trying to take turns on antiquated equipment in what can best be described as a janitor closet.) so I was curious as to what I’d see. I was greeted by a hyperactive guy (can’t recall his name so I’ll refer to him as “Brian” since he reminded me of the Office Space character with all of the Flare pieces in that restaurant) who took my measurables and asked me my goals. Me being fat and stupid, told him. Big mistake. “Oki’mgonnatakeyouthroughtheringertodayandworkyaoutheadovahhere”. Huh? “Brian” proceeded to turn whatever semblance of muscle I had left into yogurt. He seriously had me doing stuff Lance Armstrong would have issues with. He flounced around and placed me on what I’d like to refer to as “The Widowmaker”. This piece of machinery worked without any power. It was at a 60 degree angle and was essentially a treadmill that was powered by the operators weight. After falling 7 or 8 times I was certain I was not ready for this machine but “Brian” insisted. I gutted it out, not falling again until after 7 minutes had passed in a 20 minute program. By that time I was ready to throw “Brian” up there and lift that thing to 90 degrees and see how he liked it. Humbly, I then tamely thanked him for his time, acknowledging the fact I was woefully out of shape and not ready for his help. He acted like I threw his cat into a woodchipper and sulked away. I then took my place alongside the other out of shape or senior citizens on the treadmills.
Since then, I’ve gone there a few times a month. I go in there with an angry look and headphones off so that the staff leaves me be.
Next week will be the beginning of my serious training however. I’m not sure I can get away with that as much if I continue to be consistent. We’ll see.
T-Minus 10 days until vegetarian month. During that month I’ll be meeting with a Vegetarian chef and learning some about the costs and culture. I’ll also be ramping up my food reviews. I’m aware I haven’t blogged nearly enough, but with the advent of my workouts I’ll share my ups and downs more frequently. Until then, catch my newest review on Amazing Grass’s “Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion” which was sadly enough not very amazing.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Great news all around….
I weighed myself on Sunday and saw that I had lost 6 pounds! Not bad for essentially only a dietary change.
This weekend was a great test of adaptability; I did a lot of shopping with Angela and visited my wife’s side of the family on Sunday. I had little time to make food but was able to skate by with a Kashi veggie pizza (yes I actually ate it and didn’t die a horrible death) alongside some Alexia waffle fries (baked) and had a small piece of cake for my weekly dessert on Saturday. That evening was tough because we hung out with our good friends Ron, Tom and Jen for a bit and that’s when I usually have 5 or 6 beers. I had 1 nice sized glass of wine for my lone alcoholic drink of the week. I brought water and snacks to tide me by so that I’d have healthy choices in case of temptation. I also want to point out that I had no red meat last week, a first for me!
I finally got a new blender Sunday as well. Breakfast was a Starbucks “Venti-nonfat-2 shots of peppermint-hot chocolate- no whip” and a Kashi pumpkin spice bar. Not the most nutritious of choices but it made me feel kinda normal. I’ll be using that new blender tonight…
Dinner was at Angela’s grandma’s home where we ate Mexican style. My mother in law Jan was considerate enough to bring low calorie taco shells, cook with ground turkey and make guac. I had 4 small tacos and a makeshift burrito, eating lettuce, whole grain rice and guac as well as the meat and low cal cheese. I had to pass on the pies Aunt Sue and Uncle Tim brought. They looked great but I only had 300 calories left and it was getting late.
Monday was a blah sort of day; Angela made low cal homemade mac’n cheese. Very nice.
Tuesday, in the midst of the monsoon I went to the cardiologist and received excellent news; the EKG likely showed a false reading and I likely do not have a blockage. I lost an additional 2 pounds and am now at 368lbs. I’m due to roll back to the doc’s office in late June for tests to double-check. He’s very happy with my decision to live a healthier lifestyle.
I watched the “Biggest Loser” with my wife last night. Granted, they have 6-8 hours to work out daily, personal trainers riding them, a strict low cal diet and a motivation to win $250,000 dollars but I was impressed by the changes they’ve made to their bodies. In between Mike whining about still being obese I learned some interesting things about motivation and gained insight into the competitors mindset while at the ranch. I’m the most impressed with Daris; he works hard and deserves to win. Even with the Lyle Lovett haircut he’s kicking around with. Mike will likely win, or Koli. They have the most to lose in the month before the final weigh-in and should make it work. Either way, they all are winners in my book.
Next week is the beginning of weight training and couch 2 5K. I had to push it back because I twinged my back running like a jackass in the rain to avoid getting wet, even though I know it doesn’t matter how fast you go; you get wet the same regardless. Check out the link below to see what I mean.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090616161658AAutCa5
Tomorrow, I’m reviewing a health food product. I’ll try blogging daily from now on, but can’t guarantee it.
I also plan on adding items to the site, possibly a video entry or two. Feel free to comment anytime; I corrected the blog to allow all comments. If you want to follow the blog, you may have to sign up for a google account (it’s free). Sorry bout that. I’ll see if I can find a loophole. Either way, see you soon!
Namaste
This weekend was a great test of adaptability; I did a lot of shopping with Angela and visited my wife’s side of the family on Sunday. I had little time to make food but was able to skate by with a Kashi veggie pizza (yes I actually ate it and didn’t die a horrible death) alongside some Alexia waffle fries (baked) and had a small piece of cake for my weekly dessert on Saturday. That evening was tough because we hung out with our good friends Ron, Tom and Jen for a bit and that’s when I usually have 5 or 6 beers. I had 1 nice sized glass of wine for my lone alcoholic drink of the week. I brought water and snacks to tide me by so that I’d have healthy choices in case of temptation. I also want to point out that I had no red meat last week, a first for me!
I finally got a new blender Sunday as well. Breakfast was a Starbucks “Venti-nonfat-2 shots of peppermint-hot chocolate- no whip” and a Kashi pumpkin spice bar. Not the most nutritious of choices but it made me feel kinda normal. I’ll be using that new blender tonight…
Dinner was at Angela’s grandma’s home where we ate Mexican style. My mother in law Jan was considerate enough to bring low calorie taco shells, cook with ground turkey and make guac. I had 4 small tacos and a makeshift burrito, eating lettuce, whole grain rice and guac as well as the meat and low cal cheese. I had to pass on the pies Aunt Sue and Uncle Tim brought. They looked great but I only had 300 calories left and it was getting late.
Monday was a blah sort of day; Angela made low cal homemade mac’n cheese. Very nice.
Tuesday, in the midst of the monsoon I went to the cardiologist and received excellent news; the EKG likely showed a false reading and I likely do not have a blockage. I lost an additional 2 pounds and am now at 368lbs. I’m due to roll back to the doc’s office in late June for tests to double-check. He’s very happy with my decision to live a healthier lifestyle.
I watched the “Biggest Loser” with my wife last night. Granted, they have 6-8 hours to work out daily, personal trainers riding them, a strict low cal diet and a motivation to win $250,000 dollars but I was impressed by the changes they’ve made to their bodies. In between Mike whining about still being obese I learned some interesting things about motivation and gained insight into the competitors mindset while at the ranch. I’m the most impressed with Daris; he works hard and deserves to win. Even with the Lyle Lovett haircut he’s kicking around with. Mike will likely win, or Koli. They have the most to lose in the month before the final weigh-in and should make it work. Either way, they all are winners in my book.
Next week is the beginning of weight training and couch 2 5K. I had to push it back because I twinged my back running like a jackass in the rain to avoid getting wet, even though I know it doesn’t matter how fast you go; you get wet the same regardless. Check out the link below to see what I mean.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090616161658AAutCa5
Tomorrow, I’m reviewing a health food product. I’ll try blogging daily from now on, but can’t guarantee it.
I also plan on adding items to the site, possibly a video entry or two. Feel free to comment anytime; I corrected the blog to allow all comments. If you want to follow the blog, you may have to sign up for a google account (it’s free). Sorry bout that. I’ll see if I can find a loophole. Either way, see you soon!
Namaste
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