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.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Busy week thus far….
I haven’t logged an entry for awhile; it’s been a busy couple of days. Tuesday evening was softball night where I work and our team lost 21-20. We killed ourselves in that game; at least 10 runs were from errors. I normally take over after the 3rd inning and take third base. I did pretty well; 1 single and a walk for 4 RBI’s (a walk gives men 2 bases and knocks in runs if there are runners on second and third) and handled a grounder well enough to throw a woman out at first base. I burned a ton of calories playing softball.
Tuesday also brought some dietary challenges to me; I normally go home for dinner but couldn’t due to softball being so far away and work being so close. I took leftovers from the excellent, healthy Mexican dinner and tore into that. I also tried an Amy’s Bean, Rice and cheese burrito for lunch. It tasted pretty decent for 310 calories. This week I’ve been taking it slow on the cardio side. I’ve been going for 20 minute walks daily, playing softball or mowing (which surprisingly burns lots of calories). I’ll be stepping this up next week after I see the cardio Doc. Wednesday was salad with chicken strips night and that was also surprisingly decent. No red meat as of yet; I’ll likely have a Laura’s lean beef burger for dinner on Friday.
I’m already seeing a positive change to my appearance; I look much less bloated and my face looks more normal and less puffy. My clothes fit better (looser) and I feel like I’m starting to get more energy and focus at work, as well as at home. I do tend to crash when I mentally shut down for the evening, but that’s been leading to a better night of sleep. We’ll see on Sunday if I’ve lost some weight or if it’s just mental.
A huge downside to eating healthier is the amount of time I’m forced to use the restroom. It does make sense; I’m consuming quite a bit of fiber and grains. It’s just annoying to have to do a “status check” every couple of hours before I go anywhere. The gas is more prevalent as well; at least it doesn’t smell. It does scare our cats at times though; our black cat is scared of thunderstorms and has run in terror a few times after some particularly loud ones. I even have startled our little grey cat when he lies next to me. Angela is of course disgusted, but what can I do? I need that device they showed on the “Mad TV” a few years ago. It transformed the sound of gaseous discharge into cell phone ring tones. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB-qtqt7Kj8
Some people might be wondering about what tools I’m using to lose weight. I am lucky enough to have an I-Touch (if you don’t have one, or an I-Phone, get one; best purchase ever) and I use some great apps.
Lose-It: This app is spectacular for tracking food and calorie consumption, calories burned via exercise, as well as setting and updating goals. It saves all food entered so you can add it to future meals, and you can even look up fast food, restaurant, or supermarket foods for caloric intake. It also tracks nutrients consumed (that’s a bit more complicated) and you can view your progress online. The one drawback is the website data can only be seen by you and the supermarket/restaurant database needs updating.
Eat this/not that: a handy app that allows me to find a much healthier alternative to foods I eat or while in restaurants like Applebee’s a much better item on the menu.
How to cook everything: I’ll be using this next week; more to come
Couch to 5k: Ditto
I-Fitness: Awesome app. Has workouts for all levels of exercise, shows proper form and methods of said exercises and has a built in log. Must have.
ShakeSmoothie: trying this out over the weekend
Simply Organic Recipes: Ditto again.
I’m sure I’ll be using and describing some other apps out there in the near future. I’ll also mention EA Sports Active for the Wii as well as Fitness USA, the gym I attend.
See you soon…
Tuesday also brought some dietary challenges to me; I normally go home for dinner but couldn’t due to softball being so far away and work being so close. I took leftovers from the excellent, healthy Mexican dinner and tore into that. I also tried an Amy’s Bean, Rice and cheese burrito for lunch. It tasted pretty decent for 310 calories. This week I’ve been taking it slow on the cardio side. I’ve been going for 20 minute walks daily, playing softball or mowing (which surprisingly burns lots of calories). I’ll be stepping this up next week after I see the cardio Doc. Wednesday was salad with chicken strips night and that was also surprisingly decent. No red meat as of yet; I’ll likely have a Laura’s lean beef burger for dinner on Friday.
I’m already seeing a positive change to my appearance; I look much less bloated and my face looks more normal and less puffy. My clothes fit better (looser) and I feel like I’m starting to get more energy and focus at work, as well as at home. I do tend to crash when I mentally shut down for the evening, but that’s been leading to a better night of sleep. We’ll see on Sunday if I’ve lost some weight or if it’s just mental.
A huge downside to eating healthier is the amount of time I’m forced to use the restroom. It does make sense; I’m consuming quite a bit of fiber and grains. It’s just annoying to have to do a “status check” every couple of hours before I go anywhere. The gas is more prevalent as well; at least it doesn’t smell. It does scare our cats at times though; our black cat is scared of thunderstorms and has run in terror a few times after some particularly loud ones. I even have startled our little grey cat when he lies next to me. Angela is of course disgusted, but what can I do? I need that device they showed on the “Mad TV” a few years ago. It transformed the sound of gaseous discharge into cell phone ring tones. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB-qtqt7Kj8
Some people might be wondering about what tools I’m using to lose weight. I am lucky enough to have an I-Touch (if you don’t have one, or an I-Phone, get one; best purchase ever) and I use some great apps.
Lose-It: This app is spectacular for tracking food and calorie consumption, calories burned via exercise, as well as setting and updating goals. It saves all food entered so you can add it to future meals, and you can even look up fast food, restaurant, or supermarket foods for caloric intake. It also tracks nutrients consumed (that’s a bit more complicated) and you can view your progress online. The one drawback is the website data can only be seen by you and the supermarket/restaurant database needs updating.
Eat this/not that: a handy app that allows me to find a much healthier alternative to foods I eat or while in restaurants like Applebee’s a much better item on the menu.
How to cook everything: I’ll be using this next week; more to come
Couch to 5k: Ditto
I-Fitness: Awesome app. Has workouts for all levels of exercise, shows proper form and methods of said exercises and has a built in log. Must have.
ShakeSmoothie: trying this out over the weekend
Simply Organic Recipes: Ditto again.
I’m sure I’ll be using and describing some other apps out there in the near future. I’ll also mention EA Sports Active for the Wii as well as Fitness USA, the gym I attend.
See you soon…
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What are the 4 lists?
Here you go!
Taken from Good Eats Episode “Live and Let Diet” Where “Alton Brown explains how eating from 4 basic food groups helped him lose 50 lbs without going on a diet.”
Daily
Fruits
Leafy Greens
Nuts
Carrots
Green Tea
Whole Grains
3X Weekly
Oily Fish
Yogurt
Broccoli
Sweet Potato
Avocado
1X Weekly
Red Meat
Pasta
Dessert
Alcohol
0X Weekly
Fast Food
Soda
Processed Meals
Canned Soups
“Diet” Anything
And last but not least eat BREAKFAST (Alton likes his “purple”)
Purple meaning a smoothie with lots of blueberries, blackberries and Acai juice.
I decided on this method because it will prepare me for veggie detox month and still allows me some wiggle room for favorite foods. I added the 2500 calorie a day limit because I need to lose more than he did.
Day 2 went well for me. I had a decent breakfast with fruit, cashews and an orange as my snacks. Lunch was another turkey sandwich with the PURE Bar I detailed in my review (feel free to check it out under “reviews”) a Dannon Light and Fit yogurt and 1 cup of Chex Mix.
The highlight of the day was Dinner. Angela made ground turkey with spicy seasoning (taco meat seasoning) onions, tomato, black bean and corn salsa and as a first for me, Guacamole. It was much better than I thought it would be.
Being at work today helped a lot. It kept my mind busy and off of food. I had 5 meals (counting the snacks) and was able to walk for about 15 minutes, do a few pushups and sit-ups and walk around Meijer for a bit. I also was able to snag a personal blender. Tomorrow may actually see a smoothie finally.
Tomorrow: What apps am I using to aid in weight loss/exercise? And softball time!
Taken from Good Eats Episode “Live and Let Diet” Where “Alton Brown explains how eating from 4 basic food groups helped him lose 50 lbs without going on a diet.”
Daily
Fruits
Leafy Greens
Nuts
Carrots
Green Tea
Whole Grains
3X Weekly
Oily Fish
Yogurt
Broccoli
Sweet Potato
Avocado
1X Weekly
Red Meat
Pasta
Dessert
Alcohol
0X Weekly
Fast Food
Soda
Processed Meals
Canned Soups
“Diet” Anything
And last but not least eat BREAKFAST (Alton likes his “purple”)
Purple meaning a smoothie with lots of blueberries, blackberries and Acai juice.
I decided on this method because it will prepare me for veggie detox month and still allows me some wiggle room for favorite foods. I added the 2500 calorie a day limit because I need to lose more than he did.
Day 2 went well for me. I had a decent breakfast with fruit, cashews and an orange as my snacks. Lunch was another turkey sandwich with the PURE Bar I detailed in my review (feel free to check it out under “reviews”) a Dannon Light and Fit yogurt and 1 cup of Chex Mix.
The highlight of the day was Dinner. Angela made ground turkey with spicy seasoning (taco meat seasoning) onions, tomato, black bean and corn salsa and as a first for me, Guacamole. It was much better than I thought it would be.
Being at work today helped a lot. It kept my mind busy and off of food. I had 5 meals (counting the snacks) and was able to walk for about 15 minutes, do a few pushups and sit-ups and walk around Meijer for a bit. I also was able to snag a personal blender. Tomorrow may actually see a smoothie finally.
Tomorrow: What apps am I using to aid in weight loss/exercise? And softball time!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day one of the “4 lists” diet
The day started with me and my wife getting up and deciding that a smoothie sounded great. We pulled the blender out of the cupboard, blew all of the dust and cobwebs off and got to it. My wife Angela put 2 cups of fresh strawberries, 1 whole Mango (peeling that thing was a bitch) a whole banana, 1 cup of “Banilla” yogurt and 1 cup of 2% organic milk in the jug. We placed it on the blender assembly, plugged it in and pressed “smoothie”. The next thing we heard was “buuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz” but no action. We pulled it off, reattached it. Try number 2 was no better. I told my wife “gimme that, you’re not putting it on right!”. “Buuuuuuuuuuzzzzzzzzzzz” accompanied by an acrid burning smell. Uh-oh. Angela tried to mash up the food with a spoon in case it was binding. Back on it went. Click. Nothing. Double uh-oh. Let’s try the food processor attachment! Great idea! Nope. I killed the damn blender. It turns out that the assembly on the bottom of the jar had seized. Thanks to my impatience, I burnt out the damn motor. Whee. Great start.
I love my wife. She’s been very supportive thus far. She’s so supportive she decided to pour the slurry into a mixing bowl and go Norman Bates on it with a potato masher. We both laughed our asses off, chugged down the slightly less lumpy and stringy slurry and added a blender to our growing to do list.
Buying healthier food is very expensive. We decided to go to Zerbo’s over in Livonia for some nuts and healthier options and I wound up spending $47.00 on food products for snacks and smoothies. That’s a half a pound of curry cashews, half a pound of Cajun spice pumpkin seeds, ¼ of a pound of sesame sticks for my future salad eating endeavors as well as a bottle of fruit/veggie combo juice, rye and pumpkin seed crackers and some almond milk with soy. We then trudged around to Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls and JC Penny for a blender. Nothing made sense so we tabled it for later and went to Target and Meijer, spending a total of $108.00 on healthy food choices that may only last about 2 weeks! We purchased no soda, no chips, no sweets and no processed foods. Sheesh.
The good news is that I learned two things about myself. The first is that I can handle 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices of dry rye toast, a cup of chicken noodle soup and a glass of water for lunch. Even with a pack of carnivores over my wife’s left shoulder shoveling in chili cheese fries drowning in ketchup and 44 Coney dogs lying in wait. The second thing is that I need to walk more. We walked for about 2.5 hours yesterday and my dogs were barking. My back was sore and I had a pronounced lean. I even forgot to suck in my stomach while in public.
We carted the entire carload of stuff home, I had a green tea Snapple (not bad, a bit too sweet though) and a pumpkin spice Kashi bar (what’s with all of the pumpkin stuff I’m buying? Am I fixated on fall or what…). I then took a union break with my wife and watched “Good Eats” on the DVR so that I could relax before washing dishes. Apparently, I fell asleep about 4 times and was snoring merrily away quite often. I guess that’s why Angela kept clearing her throat…
Angela made a nice dinner with a Pepperidge farm deli flat whole wheat roll, 2 slices of turkey, 1 slice of 2 % cheese, 5 decent sized carrot sticks (like chewing on a dog toy but not bad with garlic hummus) and a kick ass parfait with strawberries, Banilla yogurt (again) and Hemp/Flax seed granola. All in all a good day of dieting. I consumed 1,668 calories while exercising 401 calories away. I came in way under. That's all for now; break's over!
Tomorrow: What is the “4 lists” Diet/life change? And Mexican for Dinner!
I love my wife. She’s been very supportive thus far. She’s so supportive she decided to pour the slurry into a mixing bowl and go Norman Bates on it with a potato masher. We both laughed our asses off, chugged down the slightly less lumpy and stringy slurry and added a blender to our growing to do list.
Buying healthier food is very expensive. We decided to go to Zerbo’s over in Livonia for some nuts and healthier options and I wound up spending $47.00 on food products for snacks and smoothies. That’s a half a pound of curry cashews, half a pound of Cajun spice pumpkin seeds, ¼ of a pound of sesame sticks for my future salad eating endeavors as well as a bottle of fruit/veggie combo juice, rye and pumpkin seed crackers and some almond milk with soy. We then trudged around to Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls and JC Penny for a blender. Nothing made sense so we tabled it for later and went to Target and Meijer, spending a total of $108.00 on healthy food choices that may only last about 2 weeks! We purchased no soda, no chips, no sweets and no processed foods. Sheesh.
The good news is that I learned two things about myself. The first is that I can handle 2 scrambled eggs, 2 slices of dry rye toast, a cup of chicken noodle soup and a glass of water for lunch. Even with a pack of carnivores over my wife’s left shoulder shoveling in chili cheese fries drowning in ketchup and 44 Coney dogs lying in wait. The second thing is that I need to walk more. We walked for about 2.5 hours yesterday and my dogs were barking. My back was sore and I had a pronounced lean. I even forgot to suck in my stomach while in public.
We carted the entire carload of stuff home, I had a green tea Snapple (not bad, a bit too sweet though) and a pumpkin spice Kashi bar (what’s with all of the pumpkin stuff I’m buying? Am I fixated on fall or what…). I then took a union break with my wife and watched “Good Eats” on the DVR so that I could relax before washing dishes. Apparently, I fell asleep about 4 times and was snoring merrily away quite often. I guess that’s why Angela kept clearing her throat…
Angela made a nice dinner with a Pepperidge farm deli flat whole wheat roll, 2 slices of turkey, 1 slice of 2 % cheese, 5 decent sized carrot sticks (like chewing on a dog toy but not bad with garlic hummus) and a kick ass parfait with strawberries, Banilla yogurt (again) and Hemp/Flax seed granola. All in all a good day of dieting. I consumed 1,668 calories while exercising 401 calories away. I came in way under. That's all for now; break's over!
Tomorrow: What is the “4 lists” Diet/life change? And Mexican for Dinner!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Today, it begins...
Today is most likely one of the most important of my life...
I went to a vegetarian festival a few weeks ago and a thought occured to me along the way; I wonder if I can find a way to open my mind a bit in regards to eating more fruits and veggies? What would happen if I tried going vegetarian for 30 days? How difficult would that be? I pondered how that would affect my health and how the true added costs, diet limitations and differing mental state would affect my life. I met a vegetarian consultant while there and discussed this idea I had with her as I wandered through the festival. She seemed receptive and I figured that if I went through with this, it would be an interesting book or blog. There was only one problem.
I hate vegetables.
Don't like the taste. Don't like the texture. I love meat, carbs, beer and sweets. And pizza. But I always eat food with no vegetables.
Well, that needs to change. While eating all of those carbs, meat and junk I've ballooned to 376lbs. I've been between 325-427lbs in the last 3 years. I panic and work out enough to lose some weight, but never can keep it off.
I was feeling pretty bad last week at work and decided to go to the doctor on friday. I also wanted to get some bloodwork, an EKG and talk to her about the diet I was about to go on. She was happy and on board.
After the EKG was taken, I was told something alarming; since the last EKG I took 2 years ago there was a change in the readings that caused her some concern. There could be a potential blockage on the right side of my heart. maybe. Either way, I need to call a cardiologist. Stat. It appears that at the age of 33, I took the correct fork in the road just in time.
So here's the plan; I'm following the Alton Brown "4 lists" method of eating (which I'll explain later) for the next 30 days while exercising for 5 days. I will eat up to 2500 calories daily and will not eat past 7pm. I will note interesting things, like the added costs of becoming healthy, as well as other interesting items. I'll track every item I consume. Then I'll try going veggie for 30 days. Let's see how beneficial it is for me. You'll see all the stuff I buy and have insight into the culture
Tomorrow? Day one and the broken blender fiasco...
I went to a vegetarian festival a few weeks ago and a thought occured to me along the way; I wonder if I can find a way to open my mind a bit in regards to eating more fruits and veggies? What would happen if I tried going vegetarian for 30 days? How difficult would that be? I pondered how that would affect my health and how the true added costs, diet limitations and differing mental state would affect my life. I met a vegetarian consultant while there and discussed this idea I had with her as I wandered through the festival. She seemed receptive and I figured that if I went through with this, it would be an interesting book or blog. There was only one problem.
I hate vegetables.
Don't like the taste. Don't like the texture. I love meat, carbs, beer and sweets. And pizza. But I always eat food with no vegetables.
Well, that needs to change. While eating all of those carbs, meat and junk I've ballooned to 376lbs. I've been between 325-427lbs in the last 3 years. I panic and work out enough to lose some weight, but never can keep it off.
I was feeling pretty bad last week at work and decided to go to the doctor on friday. I also wanted to get some bloodwork, an EKG and talk to her about the diet I was about to go on. She was happy and on board.
After the EKG was taken, I was told something alarming; since the last EKG I took 2 years ago there was a change in the readings that caused her some concern. There could be a potential blockage on the right side of my heart. maybe. Either way, I need to call a cardiologist. Stat. It appears that at the age of 33, I took the correct fork in the road just in time.
So here's the plan; I'm following the Alton Brown "4 lists" method of eating (which I'll explain later) for the next 30 days while exercising for 5 days. I will eat up to 2500 calories daily and will not eat past 7pm. I will note interesting things, like the added costs of becoming healthy, as well as other interesting items. I'll track every item I consume. Then I'll try going veggie for 30 days. Let's see how beneficial it is for me. You'll see all the stuff I buy and have insight into the culture
Tomorrow? Day one and the broken blender fiasco...
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