Winter Slumberland

Dear Diary,
It is almost winter. Finals are looming and I am stressed out. I work all the time, and then I study. Then I sleep. Rinse. Repeat. Toss in a dash of comfort food and the urge to sleep all winter and-BAM!-winter inactivity can make the pounds cling to thighs like magic. How do we combat this?

Work out early in the evening before the sun sets, extending the feeling of a daytime workout. Fill up on vegetables before settling in to the cheesy, fatty foods. And if all else fails, go out for a post-fatty-dinner walk with the family pup, to help burn off a few of those calories and keep your metabolism cookin'!

The plus-sized pinch

I love shopping. I hate shopping. Shopping online, I love. Shopping in a store, crowded with scrawny twigs who probably ate a half of a carrot stick and a diuretic for lunch makes me cringe. BUT, I do it anyway. Call it self torture. Or being stuck between "misses" and "plus size" clothing lines. UGH! And I can empathize with larger women because the moment you cross the threshold into va-va-vooom voluptuousness, manufacturers assume you've lost your sense of style, and your vanity. Ha!

There is even a clothing line for the voluptuous set called...drumroll please...SAG HARBOR. Now, you tell me-how much would YOU like to wear something labeled Sag anything? Wake up, manufacturers! Twigs do not rule the world, but a good healthy size 14 just might.

The 12 fats of Christmas

To the tune of the 12 days of Christmas...enjoy!

1 Sugar Daddy
2 fried chickens
3 big cookies
4 mashed potatoes
5 pounds of cheese
6 fried ice cream sandwiches!
7 cream cheese bagels
8 slices of pizza
9 quarts of ice cream
10 spiraled hams
11 pots of soup
12 broken zippers!

Happy Holidays!

Work it out!

I love to shop. If the mood strikes, and I have the time to wander through the mall aimlessly, picking up a scarf here, coffee beans there, I will do it. It's never been to excess, my shopping habit. But it is there.

So while I am wandering aimlessly through the local mall, imagine my shock as I am being perpetually passed by a bunch of 180 year old men and women, clad in jogging suits and power walking through the mall. I will concede that it's healthy and safe to walk through the mall, but isn't that just a more centralized type of loitering? Do like I do, mall wanders of America! Purchase a gym membership, then don't use it.

There's always the promise of not going to the gym tomorrow.

Aaah, turkey

Turkey. What a wonderful word, conjuring up all sorts of gustatory memories. Most of them involve family, friends, football...and a larger pants size. But, turkey day is not a day to count calories; instead we should be grateful for our full plates and fellowship.

But the day before Thanksgiving, I was shopping at a local market and was less than surprised to see tons of people with buckets of peanut oil-presumably for the deep-fried turkey. Now that's just ridiculous! Do we Americans have to deep fat fry every damn thing? First it was chicken, then Snickers bars, then Twinkies and now it's TURKEY?

I am thankful for moderation, though I don't practice it on holidays.

'Tis the season

Fall lulls into winter, the holidays draw nearer and the parties come alive. So does the thick heavy foods, rich in fat and low in nutrient value. According to http://mydr.com, "We do not need to eat more food during winter. In colder climates, before the days of artificial heating, an extra layer of body fat might have been welcome." But now, there is no need to pack on the extra calories, but it seems that it is programmed into our pysyche.

So how do we combat these urges? Go for the whole grains before the gravy boat. At family gatherings or social occasions, fill up on the veggie trays before you hit the buffet. And most importantly of all, don't forget to go on a post-binge walk if you're feeling guilty. It'll help keep metabolism going, and help prevent you from packing the pounds.

Chocolate

I have severe chocolate cravings. Like the cycles of the moon, at certain points of the lunar calendar I MUST have it. Studies have shown that it is hormonal, and while some crave salt, I must have creamy fat. Cosmopolitan.com says that women are many times more likely to overdose on the fat. How do we chicks combat this monthly pull to the dark (chocolate) side? Pudding. Chocolate pudding in lieu of the candy bar. Fudgesickles...also good options. Try those, but if you're a guy...suggest this to the ladies from a very safe distance. ; )

According to the website http://cdc.gov, there are guidelines to "proper" alcohol consumption. Peruse, enjoy. Then ask yourself how many people you know who adhere to these provincial rules? I certainly don't know many young people who stop after one glass of wine, and never has it been quoted at a bar that, "I've exceeded my one drink limit..." Well, I have heard it once, but that is not the prevailing school of thought.

How do I know if it’s okay to drink?

The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (1) recommend that if you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, you do not exceed 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. These guidelines also specify that there are some people who should not drink alcoholic beverages at all, including


Individuals of any age who cannot restrict their drinking to moderate levels.
Women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant.
Individuals who plan to drive, operate machinery, or take part in other activities that requires attention, skill, or coordination.
Individuals taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
Individuals with specific medical conditions.
Persons recovering from alcoholism.

Heavy Drinking? What is too heavy?
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day.

*Note: I do not promote the use of alcohol but encourage readers to think critically about what their average consumption is when compared with the CDC recommendations. Not pretty, is it?

BEER HAS CALORIES?

On a recent Saturday night, I went out to join some friends in dancing and debauchery. Men (and their significant others,) complain about the "beer gut" phenomenon, and much like unplanned pregnancies, they wonder just how that bulge happened. I can tell you. The average glass of red wine packs 150 calories, but if anyone has haunted Club Soda lately, they could tell you that most places do NOT pour the 4-oz. serving suggestion. An average light beer weighs in at about 100 calories per bottle, and God only knows how much is in your typical shot. The question must be posed; how many drinks does the average person consume on a debaucherous night on the town?

disturbing crash diets

One of the most disturbing articles I've read regarding crash diets. This is an excerpt taken from http://www.webterrace.com/fad/home.htm. Here's a helpful hint: when a website offers advice telling dieters to AVOID their social ties, there is usually a problem...read and enjoy.

Welcome to the Fad Diet Page! We all know about fad diets and their promise of bringing some instant weight loss. Now before you click on any of the links to the diets you must read this disclaimer: You should always visit a doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. These fad diets are far from the ideal diet and it should be noted that they aren't balanced and the best way to lose any weight is with a careful well balanced diet. I am not responsible for any health issues that should arise because you try any of these diets.

Now a few helpful hints to doing these diets.

Don't do a crash diet for more than 3 to 7 days. Most of these diets are not meant to be kept for extended periods of time. They aren't balanced and not meant to be your permanent way of eating. Now the Atkins diet says you can keep it for extended periods of time, I don't think it a good idea, but the diet changes once you get passed the first two weeks, so if you want to do that extended version of the diet, look it up and get more details on it.


The week that your going to keep the fad diet, don't overexert yourself. While feeling fine during the diet, you shouldn't try to exert yourself too much, it would make it difficult to keep it and may be too stressful on your system.


Don't go out to dinner with friends and other social activities. Nothing is worst then eating something tiny when your friends are eating their heads off. So, while it can be done, it's easier to just avoid those types of situations.


If you get very hungry drink a cold glass of water, it will help to take away the hunger pangs. You could always try sucking on ice to calm hunger pains.


One last thing, once the crash diet ends don't think it's party time and eat out the house...once the diet is over you want to celebrate, just don't celebrate it with food!! Start your well balanced diet once you are done with the fad diet.

good diet pills?

According to consumerdietreview.com, there are some good diet supplements out there. Ones that won't kill you...yet. Science hasn't decided these are deadly thus far.

"Our experts test, rate and compare the diet products you buy.

We arm consumers with potent timely information about what diet products achieve the best long term weight loss results at a reasonable cost.

Review below the top weight loss performers in our easy to read rating system. With five stars for the best and one star for the lowest overall score:


Learn which diet products received the highest marks from our experts."

Editor's Top Diet Pills Reviews

Rank

#1 SlimCiti Hoodia 90s. SuperiorHoodia.com

#2 Phenhermine. Phenhermine.com

#3 HoodiaElite. HoodiElite.com

Google challenge

I dare you, try this. Log onto http://google.com, and type in "diet supplements". Four and a half MILLION responses pop up in about 1 second and the question now is: How do I know what is safe and what isn't?

today

So far, I've had Fruity Pebbles...yeah. I'm starving, and I think a trip to Panera bread is on my "to-do" list. Light on the bread, please. But a fat, creamy soup is on my mind. However, i think it can't be worse than what I ate on my drive home from Charlotte on Monday. Fried lunch courtesy of Wendy's, but I did get yogurt instead of French fries, saving me 180 calories and 14 grams of fat. However, I still had the spicy chicken sandwich, weighing in at 440 calories and 16 grams of fat which is surprisingly 130 calories more than a junior bacon cheeseburger. Wendys.com has all of the nutritional info for all of the foods & beverages they offer, as do most national food chains. Helpful, right? Only if you do your homework BEFORE going to the drive-thru.

Progress

Small changes breed good feelings. I walked 6 miles yesterday, according to my handy dandy new pedometer. Also, I stayed away from most sweets, but I have to say that p.b. cookies are still delicious.

Kori walks!

I realized that even in my ridiculously busy life, I still have time to walk, and can make simple changes in my routine. This will be my social experiment for the remainder of the semester, and I intend to be truthful, so please try not to gasp when I disclose what I am about to.

Currently I weigh 210, more than 30 pounds from the weight I was when I came back to college. I waver between a size 14 & 16, depending on the day. By the end of the semester, I will attempt to shed 18 pounds. From today until final exams, we have 12 weeks, and I will be my own little experiment. By making small, simple changes I intend to see the scales budge...a little. Anyone care to join me?


OH GOD! WHAT HAVE I DONE?

Although I am on vacation (and vacation calories don't count, right?) I am thinking to myself, "Whoa Jess, stop the fat train before it gets outta control..." and on the 10-hour drive from Charlotte, NC to Fort Wayne, I devise a plan. I've already poo-pooed Alli (no pun intended, of course) as a diet drug, and search for other weight loss aids. And I realize something: gimmicks are just that. You need dedication and drive to make your body change, and upon talking to a wonderful, beautiful RN, Kori who recently shed 25 pounds, it struck me like a Big Mac in the drive-thru: Monkey see, Monkey do.

And Kori's secret? She walked. She walks. She will walk. Kori began wearing a pedometer to track her daily exercise, and it's been working. "I didn't even change the way I eat. I still eat like crap."

Well, maybe I'll modify that part. A little bit.

Vacation & The Chubby Pants

It's 80 degrees on Trade & Tryon streets in Charlotte, NC. A warm, almost tropical breeze dances across my skin as I sit with a glass of Burgundy, looking into the eyes of my romantic dinner companion. And I'm wondering about how many calories I'm pumping into my body. Although the dinner of choice is fish flown in fresh from all over the world, it is sauteed in butter, coated in bread crumbs, laden with salt and God knows what...not to mention the side dishes, salad and THE WINE. Did you know that your average glass of Red packs up to 180 calories per serving? How did Betty Ford stay so slim, rest her soul?

Whose Alli are you?

Alli is part of the drug Orlistat, but in a weaker dosage from its sister drug, Xenical. This drug has been around for quite some time, but I have not heard of complications extending from the use of Xenical. So why now, with Alli? Perhaps the marketing professionals are being more forthcoming in order to target a more mature audience? I wonder...does it really work?

Your Daily Gross-Out

I've been looking more deeply into Alli, the newest and hottest diet drug available to the masses. According to the website http://skinnyondiets.com, there is the possibility of losing 50% more weight with this product than going it alone. HOWEVER, studies also indicate some embarrassing/disgusting side effects. Website quotation, take it away!

"Although Alli is somewhat new, there is already quite a storm of controversy surrounding it. Many individuals believe that even though Alli is half as strong as Xenical, that it should still only be used under the guidance of a physician because of the possible side effects. Others believe that it will simply enforce the “quick fix” mentality that many individuals already have about weight loss.

Rather than enduring uncomfortable and possibly embarrassing side effects in order to eliminate some of the fat from one’s diet, many dieters may agree that it is far easier and safer to simply consumer less fat and fewer calories to begin with. An all-natural appetite suppressant like hoodia gordonii has been shown to help control cravings and reduce total calorie intake."

Yeaaah, the thing about diets is that nobody likes doing them, myself included. I think that many consumers will look at this product while eating a creme-filled doughnut and say, "Hmm, that sounds like a great idea. How bad can the side effects possibly be?" Let me put it to you this way...if you eat said doughnut while on Alli, please wear a Depends because you're gonna need it! Side effects include diarrhea, extra unabsorbed fats leaving via the rear and without warning, cramping, etc. As a young woman who hasn't experienced incontinence since she was 2, I will leave this drug on the shelf-along with the creme-donut.

dining on chips & Tacos...uh oh

Lunch was another delectable Taco Bell choice that I squeezed in between classes. Today is production day at the IPFW newspaper, so I'm crunched for time. High fat, low fiber and I feel disgusting. Good thing I'm not taking the new diet drug, Alli. According to the directions, a dieter must not consume more than 15 grams of fat per meal and I shot past it in a big way, I'm sure. Should I actually be taking Alli, I would be running for el bano as quickly as my feet would carry me, or shopping for a new pair of pants. Also, don't laugh too hard while on Alli, because your pipes may leak, causing unnecessary bowel issues. All in the pursuit of a size six dress. Personally, I'll stick to being fluffy...with dry undergarments.

Purple Haze

I've been researching specific drugs, and it turns out that everything has dire side effects. But how common are they, and how severe can they be? For instance, certain oral antibiotics that are used to treat acne, including monocyclines, can cause tooth discoloration and some other illnesses. Some may cause breathing troubles and even death. Just to treat zits. So why do diet pills get such a bad rap?

Pizza, pizza and more pizza

Even though it is the weekend, my thoughts are geared toward school and the IPFW newspaper. My schedule is all screwed up because of the Labor Day holiday, so I'm scrambling to get things done. The nearest and most convenient food to me is taco pizza from Pizza Hut. Loaded with fat from cheese, meat and bread. No part of this is lean, save for the lettuce and tomato sprinkled on the top. I know this is a terrible move, but I'm starving and out of time to look for somehting else in the fridge, so I inhale 3 pieces, cold. Well, whatever gets the job done, I guess. Tomorrow will be better, right?
Nah.
Cold taco pizza makes a great on-the-go breakfast too. I'll eat fruit later.

drugs

Basic overview: I have taken drugs. All kinds of drugs. But before you think I'm a junkie with a needle hanging out of my veiny arm, let me rephrase. Diet drugs used to be my drug of choice in poor attempts to lost five stupid pounds. Really, why do we worry about five damn pounds when we have so many other things on our plates?
Because, like marijuana, five pounds are a gateway into something more dark and dangerous: obesity. And I worried that my weight gain would segue into more and more pounds. And I tried ephedra when it was legal. I thought I wanted to lose 10 pounds, but ended up losting 30 and ended up looking like a cracked-out skeleton with dark hair.
I was never a runner, but on ephedra I could run for miles on a treadmill just to get 'the shakes' out of my system. Apparently people dropped dead while taking ephedra, and in retrospect I can see why. I almost killed myself, and that is an admission I find to be both painful and illuminating. So now with a slightly smarter approach, I proceed with caution and will try the two most boring ways to lose weight: diet and exercise.

V8Nutrition, Spork culture

I am a college student. I am busy, and it seems like I live my life on campus because between class, research and the IPFW newspaper, there is no reason to leave campus. Exceptof course, to shower. But I don't leave to eat generally, because of the convenience of the fast food places.
But the food here is crap.
Which is fine because I eat like crap.
And in a world of complex carbs, transfats and The Biggest Loser, it's safe to say that we live in a fat nation, and I'm in the thick of it. Since I moved from the uber-healthy, extremely green city of Austin, Texas back to the biscuits & gravy and butta, butta and mo' butta culture of Fort Wayne, I have packed on a few pounds. And I plan on leaving them here by the time I graduate in May, so I will be exploring not only why we eat like we do, but also ways to undo the damage we have done to ourselves in the name of convenience. Diet pills? Likely not. Alternative fixes? Sure, why not? Let's explore together!